Teaching Philosophy

Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. My grandfather was a professor, my grandmother was a teacher, my mom is a teacher, and my sister is a teacher. I think it is in my blood. When I was little my mom provided daycare in our home, therefore I was constantly around children. I began babysitting at the age of ten. I think these experiences were what made me realize that I love being around children. Since then I have worked numerous summer camps, tutored, was employed at a daycare, taught preschool, worked in a group home for students with Autism, been a nanny, worked in the Chicago Public School System as an aide for an autistic student, and finally as a teacher. I am not part of the AUSL Teacher Residency program and am pursuing my Masters in Urban Education. All of my work experience has involved working with children, which has served to reinforce my desire to teach. I have specifically dealt with many cases of Autism and am pleased that I will be obtaining my LBS1 endorsement for Special Education.

I want to continue teaching because it is a career that I know will remain stimulating and that there will always be a demand for good teachers. That is, there will always be children who need to be taught and nurtured. I think that I excel at this profession because of the manner in which I have enjoyed my prior experience with kids. I am energetic, understanding of individual needs,

patient, creative, and open to new ideas.

Teachers have many responsibilities. For one, they need to be aware of the rates at which children differ in development. They should be able to build upon a childs abilities in order to strengthen their weaknesses. A teacher is supposed to be a positive and encouraging influence on her students. She must take into account that school is only part of her students lives and that many outside circumstances can impact their learning. A teacher should be sensitive to a variety of personal cultures, backgrounds, and special needs and structure activities accordingly. I will strive to do my best to reach each child.

In order to be an effective teacher, I realize that learning is a continuing process that I will practice along with my students. Before I can teach a subject to others, I must make every effort to understand the material. I deem that we gain knowledge through experience and by asking questions about the world around us.

If I can instill the true value of education in students, then I believe I am a successful teacher. Students should learn that education is more than textbook reading but rather, education involves developing each of their intelligences. This way, they will grow to be well-rounded human beings. Children may then develop a strong sense of self worth and make a positive

impact on others.