“Tell me and I’ll forget;

show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.”

–Chinese Proverb

Effective teachers must have a strong desire to serve others.  They must be caring, consistent, and creative when planning lessons to engage all learners.  I believe the best ways to engage learners are to set a purpose, apply the content to real life situations, explore concepts through inquiry and project-based learning activities, and include many opportunities for hands-on activities.

In order to be an effective teacher, I will create an inviting classroom environment that is conducive to learning.  I plan to use the Fish Philosophy in my future classroom because I was very pleased with the results of using it in my student teaching classroom.  This philosophy reminds students that it is okay to "play" and have fun while learning, important to "be there" for classmates and teachers, and that by "choosing your attitude" you have the opportunity to "make their day."  I believe this philosophy is effective because it focuses on making positive decisions, which encourages students to take responsibility for their actions. The students in my sixth grade classroom loved encouraging each other using the phrases from the Fish Philosophy.  We even incorporated these ideas in our class meetings!

By creating a positive classroom environment, I was able to establish trust with all students in my classroom.  I believe this is very important because all students knew I had their best interest at heart.  One of the most meaningful moments in my experience occurred on my last day in the classroom when a student thanked me for being so supportive throughout the year.  he also told me I made a difference in his life and he would always remember me.  My goal is to impact all students by helping them reach their full potential and enriching their lives.