Dear LTM 612 Students,

I write to you with the upmost excitement and potential for the future. Alverno offers numerous
opportunities for advancing your career in education. Alverno has taught me beyond the abilities
of being a mediocre educator and to be an educator that can make a difference. Alverno has
offered me the education to emphasize their abilities with the Wisconsin state standards. Also,
Alverno has shown me teaching methods that have and continue to enhance my abilities to teach.
I encourage you to engulf yourself in the educational knowledge and resources Alverno has to
offer.
The educational knowledge I am referring to begins with your LTM 612 class and the
class sets the tone for your educational experience at Alverno. The manner this class sets the
tone for your educational experience is through introducing you to state teaching standards and
the Alverno abilities. LTM 612 begins to teach you methods of teaching and introduces you to
teaching through classwork and field placement work. The field placement work gives you a
hands on experience to not only learning but practicing the Alverno advanced abilities as well as
the state teaching standards.
Teaching standards and the Alverno abilities align to create a better learning environment
and allow you to have more fun as a teacher. These concepts have aligned with not only my
teaching style but also the philosophy of education that they have asked you to create to enter
this program. When I was beginning the program the college asked me to create an educational
philosophy and since creating this philosophy it has transformed to an idea that has enhanced my
teaching ability and the students learning experience.

I have used numerous teaching methods to enhance my abilities as a teacher. I would

like to highlight the Universal Design for Learning and the Understanding by Design. These two
frameworks that were discussed with me and enforced throughout the program have changed my
view of teaching. Through these two teaching methods I have become a more effective and
efficient teacher. I have learned to teach to my goals and reach as many student learners as
possible. These two highlighted concepts I learned from Alverno are only two ideologies and
methods you will learn to enhance your ability to teach.
The best advice I can give you is to not give up. Though at times teaching will become
difficult and you will possibly feel like it is not worth the time and effort you administer.
Alverno has not only taught me that teaching is worth my time but that I am making a difference
in the lives of student and teachers alike. The simple fact that you care, genuinely, about their
children is something that will resonate with parents and students for a long time. I close with
the encouragement of not giving up and even though things may become difficult stay true to
your goals and remember you are making a difference in the lives of not just people but future
generations.