A large group of students in the United States makeup a large population of English language learners. Students who are considered English language learners undergo many challenges in their education, and without the necessary support and resources from their educators it can make it hard for them to succeed. A teacher plays a significant role in the success of a child, and it is crucial for them to be able to provide the proper education to students whose first language is not English. It is also very important for teachers to understand the challenges that these students are facing. Having empathy towards the students allows for the teacher to create better connections and relationships to better help them.
I’ve always had a deep admiration for learning because learning is the only path to growth. While education certainly does not stop in the classroom, it is certainly a key place to expand one’s comprehension of a variety of skills and topics. Being in a learning environment like a classroom not only exposes one to a seasoned instructor that can impart knowledge on you but a surplus of different classmates with different upbrings and ideology that expands perception on an idea in a way that gives new light on a concept one may have never seen before.
I am currently teaching at Swainston Middle School in North Las Vegas. Our student population is very diverse, including English Language Learners (ELLs). During this time as a teacher, I have served students with different language needs. It has been my goal to engage ELL students in my lessons as every other student. It is my opinion that as teachers we are all language teachers.
The power of education beings with a great foundation. I believe that we are all born with an innate drive to learn and every child should have the opportunity to experience the power of education in a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment. For this environment to be successful, I will provide students with the space to express themselves, opportunities to explore their curiosity, and ¬experiences in which they are able to grow as individuals. It is my goal, as an educator, to help students discover and foster their ability to learn and build upon their foundation of knowledge. To achieve these goals, it is important that I first understand the role schools within society, the role of students, my role as an educator, the design of my curriculum/classroom management strategies, and the role of parents within my classroom.
Attending school opened a new world for me. I had immigrated from Colombia eight years ago, and as an immigrant I faced several hurdles, such as the language barrier, the customs, the disadvantages of living in poverty, and the legalization in this nation. As the years began to go by, all the hindrances began to vanish itself, it was more a matter of time and perseverance. When my senior year of high school arrived, I was very excited to apply to all the colleges of my choice, nonetheless, from the twenty-five that I applied to, none accepted me.
What do you currently teach and where? I am a December graduate of the University of Charleston. I graduated magna cum laude. After graduation I began substituting. I substituted at a variety of schools in Kanawha County in a variety of grades.
During my three years in the classroom, I have observed that all children are unique with various learning styles and preferences. Although some may categorize children as auditory, visual, or kinesthetic learners, I believe that there is much, more to a child’s learning than can be defined by a single category. Part of my job as a teacher is to discover throughout the year how each individual student learns best. One of the teaching strategies I incorporate to address multiple learning styles is to provide large and small group learning opportunities as well as one-on-one time with each of them. An example of a large group learning activity would include morning circle where we sing our good morning songs, assign daily jobs, and participate
It is my belief that through education. An individual will receive the vital skills and tools that they need to build a successful and prosperous life. Within the educational setting a student should be encouraged, challenged, have their creativity sparked, and feel safe to take risks in learning. I believe as teachers, it is our duty to ensure learning takes place in a safe and supportive environment. I believe that teachers should help develop and foster positive relationships in the academic setting and among students.
Providing an encouraging and safe environment in the classroom is one way to care for students. This environment needs to be one where students can be themselves and positive affirmations or words of encouragement are a daily occurrence. Students need to know that they are safe and encouraged to feel free to explore their knowledge, ask questions, and cultivate their curiosity. Yet, when students explore who they are, teachers sometimes intentionally or unintentionally snuff out their curiosity due to their inability to venture into the challenging questions that students pose.
After completing my first year of post-secondary school at Trent University, it is clearer than ever that I want to be a teacher. Being in the teacher education stream at Trent and majoring in sociology will help me make a difference in the future by allowing me to gain a better understanding of the world around me and give me the tools I need to pass my knowledge onto other students. I hope that by becoming a teacher I will be able to make a change in the world by changing the lives of my students and encouraging them to do their best and dream big. I believe that by becoming a teacher I will be able to make a difference in the future by helping others to make a change in the world by showing them the powers kindness and empathy can have.
To be the best educator I want to be, I believe in many aspects of teaching. One of many that I believe in is that every student can learn and wants to learn and everyone has a right to be educated. To do that, I would have to put an effort to make my teaching interesting and to use the curriculum guide to address some of the key factors that students are in need of learning. Also I believe that classroom should reflect the kind of society in which we want our students to live and lead by providing inclusive environment. Having the positive attitude is also the key to maintain positive classroom environment.
Why do I want to teach? I want to teach because education is a very important aspect in every person’s life. The purpose of education is to be able to teach the student what you can to help them go out into the world, and help them become the person that want to be. You can help them by teaching them everything they possibly can to be able to attain a job in the career field they want to be in for the rest of their life. A role of an educator is to help students grow in their learning and have them can do their work to their best of their ability.
I would like to be a fun and creative teacher. Building relationships with the students is very important. My students should not be afraid to talk to me. All of my students must be respectful and willing to learn.
As a future educator, I believe that in addition with lectures and seminars combined with multiple hands on experiences, I can become a knowledgeable teacher. Since I have completed all of my course work with some hands on experiences, I have enough tools in my toolbox to start student teaching. From the new experiences I get including, constructive feedback, positive or negative, I will be able to take all of this experience and make it into a great learning opportunity that I will carry along with me through my teaching career. I believe, that three specific qualities will lend me to be a successful teacher.
When I was asked to teach elementary school children, I wasn’t sure how should I deliver all the materials to them. Recalling my childhood, my early education was dull and discouraging. There is endless lecturing about hardcore science mechanisms without hands-on experiences. As time passed, I accepted the hidden curriculum in lecture halls: accept all the information given, there’s no need for passion (“Session 10 – School Food Systems: Hidden Curriculum | LFS 250,” n.d.). I appreciate that I am given a second chance to become a member in an elementary school, to teach kids about vermicomposting, and to experience different teaching and learning approaches, which regained my passion for pursuing new knowledge.
