RUNNING HEAD: VISION STATEMENT 1

Vision Statement

Alexis Hoffman

EDUC 3320
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A good teacher lives in the heart of a student for the rest of their life. Although academics

are the focus of education, it has the smallest impact on a student’s success inside and outside of

the school setting. A teacher plays a vital role of a mental model. Eric Jensen defines mental

models as the coherent structures for understanding things (Jensen, 2005, p. 46). A teacher must

portray the characteristics of being compassionate, kind, a leader, and utilizing patience to be an

effective teacher. My vision for myself as a future educator is to live in the hearts of my students

forever.

Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Compassion is the

ability to understand the emotional state of a person and use it to be proactive. There are small

steps of kindness that lead to a larger platform of compassion. Manners are a good first step.

Displaying the correct usage of please, thank you, yes/no ma’am/sir, may I, and various other

verbal communication patterns are small acts of kindness. A teacher can show physical acts of

compassion by holding the door open, offering a hug or an appropriate touch to someone in the

time of need, and respecting the privacy of others. Constant usage of these small acts of kindness

give students and teachers the ability to uplift someone without even realizing it. Joshua Block

states, “Compassionate classrooms are places where student voices and student ideas are

prioritized (Block, 2013).” When a student is having a rough time, it is important to give them

time and attention they deserve. In doing so, students can mirror your actions and help other

students when need be. Compassion is contagious. I want to be able to show students how

intrinsically rewarding and important it is to be kind and compassionate to others.

Leadership is more complex than being idolized. It is the ability to motivate, inspire,

promote teamwork, and communicate well with others. It is also based upon honesty, integrity,
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confidence, commitment, and courage. A leader uses their personal values and morals to make

decisions which promotes the use of honesty and integrity. As an educator it is important to think

out loud about the choices you make for students to understand the thought process you used to

make a decision. Confidence gives students a feeling that they can believe you. Commitment is

the idea of choosing to use the skills and techniques of an effective teacher even when it is hard

to do so. In other words, they see that you are dedicated to showing leadership skills even in

moments of weakness. Leadership is the ability to display an abundance of positive

characteristics and transfer the positive energy onto another person no matter the circumstances

through collaboration. In the process, you produce a good mental model for students to

understand the importance of teamwork. Promoting teamwork gives students the opportunity to

“learn conflict resolution skills and give-and-take orientation that is essential for harmonious and

productive relations” (Kagan, 2009, p. 1.16).

Patience is defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering

without getting angry or upset. As an educator, patience is the key to get past something that is

hindering a student learning capability. This can range from academic delays all the way to

behavioral problems in the classroom. It is important to keep your composure when you are

unsure as to how to solve a problem. Often, students become frustrated when they are not able to

grasp a concept. Patience will guide you to a solution. Jensen (2005) states, “good learning does

not avoid emotions; it embraces them (p. 72).” It will give both the educator and the student the

opportunity to learn how to use time and effort to achieve a desired goal. I want to create an

environment for my students where they feel safe to go at their own pace and obtain the concept

instead of rushing through something just to get it done.

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A good teacher is able to tie morals and values into a student’s education. Thus, the

educator lives in the heart of a student forever by being a positive role model in their life. I want

my future students to look at the past, the present, and the future and be intrinsically rewarded

with the decisions they make through kindness, compassion, leadership, and patience. I plan on

being that positive role model for the students whom don’t have one, and for the students who

do.
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References

Block, J. (2013, December 4). Creating more compassionate classrooms. Retrieved November 3,

2019, from https://www.edutopia.org/.

Jensen, E. (2005). Teaching with the brain in mind. (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: Association for

Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Kagan, M. (2009). Kagan cooperative learning. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing.