I believe teaching is a lifelong learning process.

Regardless of years of experience, teachers

must be open-minded and receptive to new ideas to keep current with the best practices of
this evolving field. A strong teacher is reflective and willing to experiment with and adapt a
wide variety of teaching methods. A model teacher is a team player who builds a support
system through collaborating and sharing ideas, support, and feedback with other
educators.
I believe in creating a safe, welcoming and nurturing classroom community that is rich in
culture and diversity. I feel all students need a calm yet stimulating atmosphere in which to
grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. It is my purpose as an
educator to help students meet their fullest potential in these areas by creating an
environment that supports exploration and risk-taking without fear of failure, invites
collaboration, and encourages self-discovery. My classroom will be a place where all
students can experience success based on their individual efforts and talents. All students
are capable and competent learners who deserve to be educated in an encouraging and
supportive environment.
I firmly believe the respect I show my students is the respect I will receive in return. I will
take the time to build authentic and meaningful relationships with students and families by
communicating positively with curiosity, not judgment. I will help my students learn how to
take care of and respect themselves, others, and the world around them. I will teach my
students how to build independence and responsibility in developmentally appropriate ways.
Although I will always treat students with compassion and empathy, I will also hold them to
high standards to ensure that they reach their fullest potential.
I maintain that all my classroom activities should be engaging and authentic. To inspire and
motivate my students to learn, I will strive to apply curriculum standards to their everyday
lives. My goal is to foster an intrinsic motivation for learning by building curriculum around
student interests. I create lesson plans that are skillfully differentiated to meet the diverse
academic needs and abilities of students. I also incorporate a wide variety of kinesthetic,
hands-on and technology-based activities in my classroom. All in all, I know that adapting
my teaching style to fit the evolving needs of my classroom will create an enriching learning
environment for each student.