Belief Statement

I believe that students learn best when actively engaged in the classroom.

By doing this, I believe I will help the children discover a passion for learning. By allowing

students to engage in the learning process, they will be able to enhance their focus and encourage

them to practice higher level thinking skills, which will lead to meaningful experiences.

Student-centered learning will increase opportunities for students to engage in the classroom and

achieve the set learning objectives for each lesson. Active learning in a classroom requires

students to be moving around and not expected to have them sitting quietly in their seats for the

majority of the day. To increase student engagement, I will plan on allowing a lot of partner

work, where students can help one another to strive academically, as well as build their

communication and helping skills. Hands-on activities, writing prompts, and experimental

activities will help students stay engaged and excited to learn. With these activities, students will

be able to share and collaborate new ideas.

I believe in respect for diversity.

By doing this, I will be able to create a comfortable and welcoming classroom for all students.

As the instructor, I will set the class norms to promote openness and inclusion. A specific way of

setting these norms is by collaborating with the students and make a list. Allowing students to set

the norms will help them feel that they have some control in the classroom community and will

uphold the norms more. These norms will include respect towards all individuals, towards how
they dress, what they eat and how they speak. As the instructor, I will explain how not all

students have the same background and that is okay. It is actually exciting to have students from

different backgrounds so that they can teach us what different things they do at home. Another

way to promote respect for diversity within the classroom is by teaching culturally relevant

topics. Sometimes, certain topics are hard to discuss, but students need to feel that they are being

addressed in an appropriate manner. Teaching culturally relevant topics are not always about

race, but also gender, religion and social status in society. Being able to address that everyone

has different beliefs or live in different houses or travel in different ways can allow students to

rephrase questions. Making sure all questions are answered and addressed will show students

that the topic is serious and that lack of respect towards diversity will not be permitted within the

classroom.

I believe that classroom management is an important aspect of being an effective teacher.

As an instructor, I want to be a mentor, friend, and caregiver to all my students. However, there

is a balance between students taking complete control or partial control in the classroom. I want

my students to be able to respect me for who I am and what my rules are within the class.

Classroom management needs to be established in the beginning of the school year to cause no

problems from arising later on. If students are aware of all the rules and routines, the class runs

smoothly. Consistency is key within the classroom and will take some time, but once established,

I will be able to refer to the rules and routines to keep the class in order. To enforce these rules

and routines best, the teacher has to implement them by being a positive role model. Students

will demonstrate similar behaviors if their influence is role modeling the behaviors consistently. I
believe that with classroom routines and rules, the class will run effectively and allow the

students to succeed.