Education can mean very different things to different people.

There are many factors that

affect any person’s view or opinion on education. To me, education, specifically formal
education, is a way to not only teach children and adults new information, but it is a way to help
each person grow and develop. It is hard to assign just one goal to education. If I had to assign
one goal to education it would be sharing knowledge with others to help them survive and thrive
as they grow. The knowledge that is shared as an educator can vary from schoolwork to life
lessons. Education is happening all the time, whether you are aware of it or not.
As an educator, it is important that the way I am teaching and what I am teaching is
meaningful and understandable to my students. In order to achieve this, I need to provide
quality instruction. When planning for my lessons, there are many factors that I consider or
include to make sure that my instruction is the best that it could be. The first thing I consider is
how I can relate the instruction to my students. If I am able to relate it to what they are
interested in or something they already know, the lesson will resonate with them a little bit more.
Another factor that I consider is making sure I am meeting the needs and different types of
learning for each of my students. Some students retain information by writing down notes while
others need to be hands-on. I try to add each of those components into all of my lessons to
meet the learning styles of each of my students. One other factor I consider is each student’s
ability level. I differentiate my assignments and my assistance based on each student’s ability to
complete the task. There are some students who are able to complete tasks with little to no
assistance while other students need me to work with them through the entire assignment. I
make sure that when I am planning my lessons all of my students are considered so they are
being taught to their ability.
In order to promote a positive learning environment in my classroom, it starts with
building meaningful relationships with my students. I need to get to know my students, their
learning styles, their interests, and any other important information in order to teach them best.
My classroom also needs to be a safe space for my students. I want my students to trust me
and to understand that I have their best interests in mind always. Along with building those
relationships, it is also beneficial to have a reward system or goal that my students are working
towards. This helps to keep them motivated and gives them a tangible reward that they are
working towards. The most important way to promote a positive learning environment is to just
be welcoming to each and every student that walks through my door.
While there is a lot of thought that goes into everything I do inside the classroom, there is
also the component of family involvement. This is a very important part of a child’s education. I
believe that families play a major role in a child’s education. Teachers and families need to
develop a positive relationship to help promote a positive education for each child. In order to
achieve this, there needs to be open communication in both directions. I also believe that
parents need to share with their children the value that education has in their life. If there is a
lack of understanding in the importance of education students will not want to apply themselves
and put in their best effort. The best education requires a partnership between the teacher and
families.
Along with all of my responsibilities directly related to my students, there are professional
responsibilities beyond that. In order to develop myself professionally, I will continue to take
classes and courses related to education. I will also research and apply different forms of
technology that can be used in my classroom. Lastly, I will collaborate with other teachers and
ask for help when I need it. Collaborating will give me ideas that I may not have thought of or
new ideas to help improve my lessons.
Overall, there are a lot of moving pieces needed to be the best teacher possible. As a
teacher, I bring a lot to the table. I strive to build relationships with each of my students, I plan
and prepare for many different situations that could occur while I am teaching my lessons. I also
meet the needs of each of my students to the best of my ability. Finally, I work hard to build open
relationships with each of my families and make sure they feel comfortable reaching out to me.
Lastly, I continue to ask for help when needed, reach out to the other teachers around me, and
continue my education through many different professional development opportunities.