Faith Bauman 11/15/13 EDU 218 A

I have numerous goals and values for my future as an educator. I am certain that these will be reshaped as I become a practiced teacher, but I believe that the reasons I decided to pursue teaching will always be goals for me. The first of those reasons is my desire to be a role model to young people. Childhood is a critical time in a persons life. The influence of parents, friends, and teachers help shape who a person will become. This is why teachers must display an ethical lifestyle. The second reason I have decided to pursue teaching, is because I would love to have a job that I will continuously learn and grow in. Teaching provides just that. I look forward to becoming a better teacher and person through experience. Educations purpose is not just to gain knowledge. A teacher has the responsibility to teach his or her students morals, how to use their minds, how to solve problems, and where to find information when it is needed or desired. As John Dewey taught in his progressivism philosophy, I believe that teachers can accomplish these responsibilities through acting as a facilitator, coach, and encourager in their classroom. I also believe as the essentialism philosophy teaches, that teachers need to act as an intellectual and moral role model.

Teachers must always have high expectations for their students in learning core curriculum. I believe that students learn through active engagement and cooperative learning. Students will only learn if they are engaged and interested. Therefore, core curriculum should be taught in ways that interest each student. It is also incredibly important for teachers to be aware of the mixture of students within their classroom. Teaching needs to be approached in a variety of ways in order for every students learning needs to be met. As William Glasser taught in his non-coercive discipline theory, I agree that a classroom should be a positive environment filled with motivation. Discipline should be used, but minimally. The more often a teacher punishes, the less control they have over the classroom. Students may start to lose respect for the teacher if they are consistently punishing. It is better for rewards to be used as an incentive for good behavior. If punishment is necessary, teachers need to remain fair and consistent. Students, who are being punished, need to understand why their misbehaving was wrong and how they could fix their behavior. Teachers can help them understand this through a private counseling session before or after class.