Looking back over the past year, I cannot begin to express how much I have learned and grown as a teacher and as an individual. Each child I have come in contact with has taught me a unique and valuable lesson. I am incredibly thankful for both of my mentors who have truly taken me under their wings and have freely given of themselves to help make me a better teacher. One of the biggest concepts I have learned from this year and will take with me into my new job and all throughout my life is the FISH! Philosophy our PDS liaisons shared with us as new interns.

The FISH! Philosophy is really a mindset that when adopted into the workplace and into the school day can greatly enhance the effectiveness of instruction and build positive relationships while increasing student motivation. Basically, this philosophy has four parts: be there, choose your attitude, make their day, and play.

BE THERE

I have learned that simply being there for my students can make a great difference in their attitude towards me and towards school. When they know that my heart is there with them rather than wishing I was somewhere else, it helps them know that school does have value in people's eyes and that they as individuals are a priority in someone's life.

CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE

I teach my students that each day we choose our attitude. Every day is not going to be perfect, but we can approach hurdles as learning opportunities rather than complaining. Every day we come to school whether we like it or not. How much would our day improve if everyone determined to make the very best out of the day? The phrase that always concludes our announcements at the junior high and which I have tried to internalize into my own attitude is, "Make it a great day; the choice is always yours."

MAKE THEIR DAY

Sometimes as teachers I think we get a little too focused on treating all students equally, and therefore we miss some of the greatest opportunities to make a child's day. Not every child is regularly told that he or she is special, so I want to be the voice that celebrates their individual giftings and personalities.

PLAY

Children are not meant to only work day in and day out. One of my main goals in teaching is to create life-long learners. What child is going to truly love learning if there isn't some fun and laughter involved? One thing that I think could be a challenge as a new teacher is keeping an orderly, well-managed classroom while still incorporating play into the day. I am ready to take on this challenge, and I know that I will improve each year. Getting the students to want to come to school is a significant accomplishment in itself. This will then open the door to more learning and more productive days for everyone involved!