A teacher’s instruction and actions will reflect the degree to which he or she believes that his or her actions make a difference in the lives of the children. Teachers who know that they have the ability to change tomorrow, twenty-five children at a time, will likely set higher goals for themselves as teachers and pursue those goals with enthusiasm. I certainly want to be one of the teachers whose lessons and actions reflect a genuine desire to impact children, not simply transmit information.

          Creating life-long learners is the overarching goal that all the rest of my instruction and interactions are focused towards. I believe that every child is valuable and capable of success. Each child’s success will be measured differently, but each child deserves the tools needed to taste that success. Every mistake is a learning opportunity, and no one is perfect. Good character traits such as honesty, loyalty, and citizenship should permeate every aspect of life and can be demonstrated and fostered by caring, yet firm teachers. I believe that high expectations will yield the best results for everyone involved. Teachers and students alike have room for improvement, and reflection is a necessary component of any growing process. I believe children learn best by interacting with the world around them rather than only learning about other individuals' interactions. Real world, hands-on activities will yield the best educational results while peaking the students' interest. Finally, true learning will only take place in a safe, controlled learning environment. Seeing my students grow and succeed is the most rewarding experience for me, and I will work to facilitate that growth in every way I can.