I plan to work in an early childhood setting where students are just beginning school in a formal setting. Therefore, not every student will be ready for a total collaborative approach to learning as would be ideal; they will need modeling and guidance to feel comfortable and understand what is expected of them behaviorally and in schoolwork. Behaviorists support this approach to teaching, allowing students to have a “correct” example and reinforcing appropriate behaviors. However, although this is a positive approach to set up a classroom, I will aim to be able to instruct with more of a humanist approach by the middle to end of each year. I believe that a good teacher gets to know each of his or her students to, in the words of Charlotte Danielson, “understand why students are conducting themselves in such a manner . . . and respond in a way that respects the dignity of the student” (Danielson, 2013, p. 45). I strongly identify with this humanistic approach where the teacher considers the student, not just the behavior. From the beginning of each year I will do my best to implement this response to students’ misbehavior.
As stated in my Code of Ethics section, I will make sure all of my actions are caring, respectful, empathetic, appropriate, and ethical. Regarding my relationships with students, parents, coworkers, and the community, I will constantly check in with myself to see that I am meeting this personal standard. Additionally, I believe that the most important aspect of my personal Code of Ethics is getting to know students as individual human beings because, first of all, every human deserves respect and, second of all, when treated with respect, typically students thrive and become engaged in school.
Having taught at a Montessori Preschool during my time in college, one part of teaching that is very important to me is respect for the child. As stated above, I believe that every human deserves respect and will typically be more prone to working hard for success when given it. Therefore, I will run a student-centered classroom which makes everyone feel comfortable, accepted, and as if they will succeed. According to one of my former instructors, Christine Lux, one example of Maria Montessori’s dedication to respecting students is her choice of furniture for classrooms; each piece is child sized and allows the children feel like the environment is theirs, not only the “grow ups’”. Bringing this theory into my future classroom, I do my best to obtain appropriate classroom equipment that enhances learning and addresses needs (such as a comfy couch for reading). Further, throughout my whole life I’ve loved spending time with children, helping them learn and grow. I started working at a preschool when I was fourteen. By the time I was ready to go off to college, I’d had four prior years of teaching underneath my belt. From this, I have learned so much and have made some wonderful connections with others. When I began my elementary education major, I already knew that teaching was what I wanted to do with my life, and that led me to be able to use my time in my placements to work on pedagogy and build relationships. In the future, I will never let my love for children and support for them fade.
I believe in treating people equally. I want to be a resource and advocate for my students not only when they are in my classroom, but throughout their whole lives! So many students never get the opportunity to reach their full potential because they do not have positive role models or someone who treats them with respect and believes in them. I believe that every student can have such a positive future if they find that someone supports them. Therefore, I will make a goal, as a teacher, to always let my students know how much I believe in them academically and as humans. When they come into my classroom, I want my students to feel comfortable and accepted, no matter how disconnected or different they feel from their peers. Creating a classroom environment that is also a strong community is important to me, and because I believe that everyone has something valuable to contribute to my future classroom, I will celebrate differences and what makes us us!
As stated in my Code of Ethics section, I will make sure all of my actions are caring, respectful, empathetic, appropriate, and ethical. Regarding my relationships with students, parents, coworkers, and the community, I will constantly check in with myself to see that I am meeting this personal standard. Additionally, I believe that the most important aspect of my personal Code of Ethics is getting to know students as individual human beings because, first of all, every human deserves respect and, second of all, when treated with respect, typically students thrive and become engaged in school.
Having taught at a Montessori Preschool during my time in college, one part of teaching that is very important to me is respect for the child. As stated above, I believe that every human deserves respect and will typically be more prone to working hard for success when given it. Therefore, I will run a student-centered classroom which makes everyone feel comfortable, accepted, and as if they will succeed. According to one of my former instructors, Christine Lux, one example of Maria Montessori’s dedication to respecting students is her choice of furniture for classrooms; each piece is child sized and allows the children feel like the environment is theirs, not only the “grow ups’”. Bringing this theory into my future classroom, I do my best to obtain appropriate classroom equipment that enhances learning and addresses needs (such as a comfy couch for reading). Further, throughout my whole life I’ve loved spending time with children, helping them learn and grow. I started working at a preschool when I was fourteen. By the time I was ready to go off to college, I’d had four prior years of teaching underneath my belt. From this, I have learned so much and have made some wonderful connections with others. When I began my elementary education major, I already knew that teaching was what I wanted to do with my life, and that led me to be able to use my time in my placements to work on pedagogy and build relationships. In the future, I will never let my love for children and support for them fade.
I believe in treating people equally. I want to be a resource and advocate for my students not only when they are in my classroom, but throughout their whole lives! So many students never get the opportunity to reach their full potential because they do not have positive role models or someone who treats them with respect and believes in them. I believe that every student can have such a positive future if they find that someone supports them. Therefore, I will make a goal, as a teacher, to always let my students know how much I believe in them academically and as humans. When they come into my classroom, I want my students to feel comfortable and accepted, no matter how disconnected or different they feel from their peers. Creating a classroom environment that is also a strong community is important to me, and because I believe that everyone has something valuable to contribute to my future classroom, I will celebrate differences and what makes us us!