Children are looking for role models, for people to guide them into finding themselves. As a teacher, I hope to play a part in shaping who my students are. To help them think critically and feel comfortable pushing beyond what they feel capable of doing. To give them a space to take academic risks and know how to effectively express their opinions. To show them that there is always someone in their corner that they can turn to for help. Without teachers, I would not be where I am today, and I hope to give back even just a little bit of what my teachers gave to me. 

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My philosophy is that a safe and effective learning environment is built upon respect: a high level of respect that I have for my students as individuals and the respect that I expect from them in return. When students are given high expectations and clear boundaries that are supported through scaffolded instruction and engaging materials, they are able to thrive as learners. The classroom should be student and learning focused; I adhere closely to a constructivist classroom where my lessons are interactive and student-centered, the interests and knowledge of my students can be explored, and students feel comfortable being in conversation with each other and myself while taking academic risks. Teaching is helping students find their own personal voice, guiding them in discovering what they are passionate about, and giving them a place where they can explore and be themselves. 

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No one student is the same. You can’t expect them all to listen to you if you don’t adapt what you’re saying to relate to them. The battle isn’t what you say, it’s getting them to listen. And to do that you have to speak their language and invite their identities into the classroom. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” I hope to foster a caring and respectful classroom community where students know that I care for them and also have high expectations of them.