1. What are your three most important reasons for wanting to be a teacher?

            First, I desire to give back the positive experiences I have had as a student, because they have shown me the joy and excitement of learning. Secondly, I want to be an encourager to the students, pushing them to reach his or her highest potential. Finally, the awesome impact one has in being a positive role model is my greatest reason for wanting to be a teacher.

2. How much do you want to know about your students in order to be helpful to them?

            I want to have a feeling on how I can best assist him or her academically, mentally, and emotionally. However, I do not want to know so much about him or her that it negatively affects my judgment of the student and impedes both my attitude towards the student, as well as my teaching to that child’s fullest potential.

3. What three things do you most want to know about your students?

            I want to know where they are academically (if they have any learning disabilities or accommodations), their learning style (how I can best design my lesson so it enhances their understanding and application), and their family background (how conducive their home life is to aiding their school life).

4. What do you need to know in order to begin your lesson planning for a class?

            I need to be familiar with the curriculum that I am following, as well as what kinds of learning styles are in the room, to aid in the design of the lessons. I need to know the background of what the students already know, and I also need to my assessment in the end. If I know the assessment, I can work backwards while planning the lesson.

5. What four key components do you believe you must include in your plan?

            I need a plan to get them focused, a plan to keep their retention, a logically organized procedure to present the information, and a solid closure. The integration of State Standards should be on every level of the four aforementioned components for a sound lesson plan.

6. When you think about your students, in what major ways do you must want to influence their lives?

            I desire to build capacity in their lives, instilling the desire to be a lifelong learner. I want them to wake up in the morning, excited to go to school and increase their knowledge. I want to encourage self-reflection and good decision making. Finally, I want to model through actions and assist in molding them to be men and women of integrity and character.

7. List and describe two core teaching strategies you most utilize in your classroom.

            Cooperative learning and hands-on learning are two strategies used in my classroom. Through cooperative learning, the student is learning how to be a member of a team, and work together to solve problems. Through hands-on learning, the child is physically applying subject matter, and advantageously solving answers through action.