“I am not a teacher, but an awakener.” – Robert Frost
As an educator, I strive to understand and inspire each one of my students. I feel that it is important to tap into and embrace the multiple intelligences and inquisitive nature of students. I want to show them that there is much more to reading and writing than just dusty books, pencils, and composition notebooks. There is questioning what the author is saying, theorizing about the true meaning of a piece of literature, connecting the experiences of their lives with the experiences of various characters, using the events that have shaped who they are as individuals to inspire their writing, and having a voice and purpose in the written pieces they compose.
In my classroom, I endeavor to create a true learning community. I want students to feel safe and secure when they step through the door. Students should be encouraged to be individuals. In my lessons, I try to incorporate different learning and teaching styles as much as possible to appeal to students’ varied multiple intelligences. I also want to utilize the ever-expanding pieces of technology to create a 21st century learning environment. An important goal of mine is for my students to feel comfortable to share their thoughts, tell personal stories, ask questions, and to be themselves during class discussions and collaborative group work.
I understand the full responsibility and impact that teachers have on our future. Not just the future of my students, but of the next generation and all the generations to follow. My goal is to inspire my students to take risks and to dig for a deeper meaning and understanding. I want to inspire them to be lifelong readers, lifelong writers, and especially lifelong thinkers and innovators.