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Why I Want To Be A Teacher
Why I Want To Be A Teacher
Why I Want To Be A Teacher
I decided to become a teacher to make a difference in the lives of children. Helping people learn
and understand topics has always been a passion of mine. I have a brother with behavioral and learning
disabilities. Watching him struggle through kindergarten opened my eyes to issues some kids face daily.
I became my brothers homework helper, working on reading, spelling, and math with him. He struggled
to grasp the topics taught to him over the past weeks. After reexplaining the topics and going step by
step through the process to get the correct answer each day, I could see progress. Though I was only a
small part of my brothers academic achievements, I knew I improved his chances of succeeding. In
helping with his success, I realized becoming a teacher would be the right job.
During high school, I helped in a second-grade class and a special education classroom. In the
second-grade class, I was a math tutor. I would sit beside children who had questions about the
concepts taught earlier that day, and I would work one on one helping them understand the math
problems or mathematical process they needed to complete the assignment. One student could not
seem to pay attention while the teacher talked; I retaught the lesson at a desk in the hallway, so he
would have little to no distractions. Then we would go step by step through the homework assignment
until he caught on and could complete the math problems without assistance. A different student
seemed extremely gifted in math. However, since math came easily to her, she refused to take part in
the lesson activities because she was bored. She chose to draw and distract other students while the
teacher taught. I sat beside her in the classroom or out in the hallway to try and keep her on track.
When I was there, she would work on the assignment while the other students learned how to do it.
After helping those two children, I discovered I enjoyed working with students who struggle in the
In the special education room, there were five children who came during their reading time. Out
of the five children, two were at a more advanced level. The special education teacher put me in charge
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of teaching those two, a boy and girl both in third grade, the lesson plan for that day which included
spelling words, reading a section in their reading book, and completing a corresponding worksheet. As
the year went on I found coming to the elementary school was my favorite part of the day. I loved
teaching the two students every morning, and they seemed to enjoy having me as a teacher. About two
months after I started teaching them, the young boy had a change in his Individual Education Plan (IEP)
allowing him to stay in the general education class for reading time. I was so proud of his
accomplishment. His success and the girls continued improvement allowed me to see that special
Teaching special education will have its ups and downs. I will love to work with children who
have special needs whether that be a learning disability or a more severe disability. I will have the
opportunity to observe my students overcome some of their mental and/or physical obstacles to learn
and surpass their goals. There is a sense of satisfaction and delight in helping students master skills they
will need for the rest of their lives. However, it will stand as a challenge if the student cant meet the
basic requirements to pass his or her grade level leading to retention. Another challenge could come
from the parents refusing special education services because it will remain difficult to accept that I
cannot help the child in the way he or she needs. At the end of the year, it will be sad to see the
students leave my classroom; although, next year I get to form new bonds and assist others in their
learning.
Effective teacher behaviors can make all students feel like they have a positive relationship with
their teacher. I will relate to my students in multiple ways. By showing interest in their lives and
advocating for them, I can find out what interests them and what they think of school. Then, I can find
ways to incorporate that into my lesson and work on improving what they struggle with. Offering help
when the students feel behind and becoming their cheerleader can show that I will never give up on
them.
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I plan to use a variety of instructional methods and tools. Examples include class discussions,
oral question and answer, small group discussions, repots, textbook and reading assignments, outlines,
vocab lists, journals, maps, puzzles, flash cards, charts, games, field trips, drama, workbooks, reading
aloud, and brainstorming sessions. I plan to stay up-to-date on new government regulations as well as
new and innovative techniques to teach or help students learn. I will do this by attending education
workshops, reading relevant journals and articles, and talking regularly with a mentor.
focus, assessments, management, and discipline. I will organize the students in comfortable spaces
where they can easily share ideas with their work displayed everywhere. Diverse learning materials and
activities will remain available. Problem-based learning will allow students the ability to develop
individual understandings. I will encourage discussion of different points of view and learning through
questions. My students will have the ability to discuss concerns and content that interests them in the
classroom. Each student will have individualized content created to meet their diverse needs. I will
emphasize critical thinking; thus, students will learn to question their understandings along with
listening and understanding the personal meaning of others. For assessments, students will be
compared with themselves and a set of expectations based on individual needs and differences. Conflict
Resolution will exist as the discipline model in my classroom because it teaches students how to
recognize and solve problems constructively. The students will develop our discipline rules through
discussion and debate, and I will require them to provide the reasoning that underlies their argument.
Many factors and experiences in my life led me to the teaching profession. Effective teaching
methods and a variety of instructional methods and tools will help me foster a nurturing environment
where students can feel safe learning. Moreover, my philosophy of education will help me create my
classroom model. I know teaching will not always be easy, but it will be rewarding.