I have wanted to be an elementary teacher since my first day of kindergarten because of the impression that my teacher, a first-year teacher, left on me. Ever since that day, I have always sought out opportunities to gain experience working with children, whether it be assisting my kindergarten teacher in helping my classmates (as I typically finished my work early), a second-grade internship, working at an early childhood center and a nursery, and more. Furthermore, I have been soaking in all these experiences and advice given to me. 

I believe that each student deserves just as much attention, educational experiences, and support as the next. As a teacher, I want my students to obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to be able to effectively contribute to society. Furthermore, I believe that all students should have access to quality education as they grow and develop because every student is great and has the potential to be something greater in this world. I want my students to know that they are capable of great things, that someone believes in them, and someone is here for them. As a teacher, that is my role; to be here for my students and help them develop into their best selves. 

As a teacher, I believe that it is important to prepare my students for the next stage of their lives and the rest of their lives by ensuring that I assist my students in reaching their full potential. I also believe that as a teacher, my role is to support my students not only academically or while they are my students, but both emotionally and mentally, as well as after they have moved on from my classroom. In addition to those roles, it is my responsibility to help my students learn more about who they are and how they learn and express who they are and how they learn. I also believe that my students deserve to know that our classroom is a safe place and that they can confide in me. Therefore, a classroom environment should be welcoming, safe, and comfortable, but also fun and engaging.

​I have taken and continue to take advantage of advice, support, and educational resources, strategies, and assignments provided to me. For example, when thinking about my teaching goals, I start with my education experiences; where I came from, where I am currently, and where I am headed. What I mean by this, is that I have been there and done that. While I know education is ever-changing, I also have an idea of what my students might endure and be feeling. With this thought in mind, I plan to utilize in my classroom some ideas and techniques that my mentors have shared with me, I have seen in my past K-12 classes, and that my current and future instructors and professors use in their classrooms.

​Furthermore, I will create a safe and comfortable environment that is also fun and engaging so that my students want to be at school every day, they want to participate, and they are eager to learn. In addition, I will ensure that the classroom atmosphere, such as decorations, is not too overwhelming or mundane. I will also include hands-on activities, movement, technology, flexible seating, cooperative learning, and opportunities for each student to stimulate their minds as well as allow their curiosity to guide their learning. Additionally, it is important to me to make sure that my students know that it is okay to make mistakes because that is how we learn. It is also important to me to be vulnerable with my students because they need to know that I am human as well. Just because I am a teacher, does not mean that I am perfect; I will make mistakes because I am learning every day how to be a better teacher, how to better educate my students, and how to better help each one of them as a person. 

I will continue to soak in all experiences, advice, strategies, and resources provided to me as these will aid me in cultivating my classroom and making it the best that I can. In turn, this will also allow me to help my students in reaching their full potential and ensuring that they are and feel successful.