So, I Want to be a Teacher

Emily Brown EDUC 250 C Julia Rheaume Assignment One January 17th, 2012

So, I Want to Be a Teacher Everybody is good at something. Everyone cannot be good at everything. If we were all good at everything then we would not appreciate the things in life that we cannot do. For example, if everyone was amazing at singing as Adele, and everyone released an inspiring album, talented artists would lose their appeal. Singing would lose its ‘wow’ factor; making music as melancholy as a shingle on a building.

Some of us are made to become teachers. Some of us are not. I believe that when one is completely passionate about wanting to become something, and has found that this is their purpose in life, so it must be. I have changed my mind several times about what I want to do with my career. I started with wanting to teach, switched to music recording, nutritionist, full time traveler, I even considered skiing professionally. My conclusion ended right where it started; I want to teacher. Why? I want to work with kids and positively influence their lives. I want to love of these kids. I want to help encourage these kids to be self‐motivated, self‐confident and to love themselves and others. I want to be a role model in children’s lives and be approachable when a student is having a difficult time in life and doesn’t have anyone else to turn to. Growing up, I had several careless teachers. They even voiced allowed they didn’t know what they wanted to do with their lives, and in doubt became teachers. This doubt is not the right reason. Even if I only get through to one student (a year) it will be worth it. If I help one student that can truly affect their life in a positive way, whether it be through writing or taking a risk; that would be worth it to me. My goal is to encourage kids to love life! If you feel like learning chess, but your friends don’t think its ‘cool’, show them that you think it is. If you want to learn how to paint, paint!

Does theatre interest you? Soccer? Rock Climbing? Journaling? Playing the saxophone? Whatever is it

that you are passionate about, go for it! The world has endless opportunities. Open the windows! Do not let some crowd hold you back. Do not be afraid. Be courageous. Be self‐confident. Find balance. Eat healthy. Be smart and listen to your heart. This is what I would love to teach kids. School material is also very important, but if I can encourage these kids to look at life as an adventure rather than a boring lecture in school, and to choose to live healthy, active and happy lifestyles, then that will be enough for me.

Great teaching is taking time to get to know your students. Focus on their strengths. Relate classroom topics and curriculum to real life. If students cannot connect what they are learning in some way to their life, they are only regurgitating information. Good teaching is communicating the context and bringing it to life with enthusiasm, relevance and objectives. Checking for understanding with your class is so important. Independent practice and dependent practice are essential. Closure and review are also very important. All the 8 steps in Madeline Hunters Lesson Plan contribute to great teaching. Good teaching is getting through to students to achieve mastery learning.

My personality is extroverted. I am a people person. I love working with people and working in a team as well as independently. I am a very independent person for my age. Having months of experience traveling different countries across the world, I have gained a lot of knowledge and life experience about cultures, people and life. I have spent time with locals in Laos that believe North Americans are so blessed to have education. And they are right. Education is a privilege and I am so pleased and thankful that for it.

I grew up in a family of nine; all of which have different personalities, learning styles and even learning disabilities. Learning how my sisters learn helps me associate different techniques of teaching.

Knowing how a person with ADD’s brain functions and how their thought processes occur will be useful

in teaching. Having 6 nieces and 2 nephews has only reinforced my love for being around kids and helping them learn.

Some personality traits that may hinder me as a teacher would include learning enough different ways of teaching a concept and having every student understand it. Sometimes I have explained something many different ways, and when the student still does not understand my patience wears thinner.

In the spring and summer time, I love planting the flower beds and helping my parents garden.

Let me tell you, it is not easy work. The days are long, hot and back pain and thistles in the fingers are not uncommon. Teaching is like gardening. At first, you hoe your rows and plant the seeds all neatly in a row. You have your lesson plans are ready. You water them and watch them grow. And in between planting and harvest time it requires a lot of work and patience. Sometimes, lesson plans need improvement and alterations. Weeding out the unwanted plants to allow room for the vegetables to grow is like removing confusing in order for the student to grow knowledge to its highest potential. All plants are different, just like students. Plants need different types of soil, sun light exposure, space and time to grow. Tomatoes and beans do not like growing beside each other and need to be properly accommodated for. Sometimes potato plants get bugs that eat the leaves away. Damaging heat, hungry black birds and dew worms can ruin a crop. Just like teaching. Not all students are thrilled about learning in school. They learn differently and may require bodily kinaesthetic or musical learning styles. There may always be events outside of the classroom affecting each student; whether it’s a health matter, learning disability or a divorce. In reality, all of these things are a part of life, and being able to adapt to these students can ensure a healthy, green and flourishing garden.