"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings.

The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child." 

- Carl Jung

            I have chosen to go into the field of education so that I might help young people on the journey to discovering who it is they would like to grow to become. I enjoy working with my students and find their creativity and youthful spirit to be both energizing and enlightening. It is my sincerest hope that I will have an opportunity to work with secondary level students in a natural science classroom. I have always enjoyed science and I particularly look forward to the opportunities that I can offer my older students when exploring the field of science. Throughout my career I have maintained employment in a variety of helping professions; however, it was not until recently that I realized where that road needed to take me. Finding teaching was like finding the missing piece to my life's puzzle. I realize now that my lifelong love of learning is not simply what I enjoy doing, is what I should ultimately share with others.

Considering the new challenges that I will face as a teacher is both exciting and daunting. In the end it will be my responsibility to expand and cultivate my classroom strategies and adapt to my school’s culture.  I will seek support from other teachers, both new and old, and try to keep myself positive during the stressful times. I am confident that my journey through the Master of Arts in Teaching program has helped to prepare me for the tasks which lie ahead. I have learned and practiced many useful skills throughout this program and I look forward to using those techniques as I prepare to lead my own classroom.

My classroom should be a place where students feel safe, welcomed, supported, and nurtured. I believe that all students should be given the opportunity to learn, regardless of their predicted abilities. It is my goal to inspire their natural curiosity and invite them to join me on a journey of discovery. I want to be able to offer all students an opportunity to enrich their lives, expand their horizons and introduce them to a new awareness of their world. I hope that as I grow as an educator I will remain steadfast in my desire to motivate and encourage my students.

            As an educator it is my responsibility to ensure first and foremost that my students are safe in my classroom. I should never place my students at risk by my action or inaction. This includes preventing them from being exposed to harassment, bullying, teasing, or negativity. Students must feel safe in sharing their thoughts, feelings and questions without fear of being teased or ignored. There are no irrelevant questions. If a student is not comfortable asking a question in front of the class I want them to feel assured that my door is always open for them. 

            My students will come to expect that I will greet them daily with a smile and will welcome them into my classroom for a new adventure. I must challenge myself to find ways of keeping my materials new and exciting for myself so I may pass on this enthusiasm to my students. My students will come to expect hands on activities and plentiful discussion time as well as frequent critical thinking exercises that link our lesson to everyday life. I want my students to find my lessons to be challenging and yet ‘fun’. I am willing to accept that not all students will feel this way. It is my sincerest hope that my students will look forward to learning in my classroom . As a teacher we never know what our students will grow to become; however, it is our daunting task to equip them for their journey. Our students may never need to recall some of the facts and formulas we will teach them; I believe that  the lessons we teach about learning itself and about life will be the greatest tools we can offer our future.