This I believe....

For one of my class assignments we had to write a statement about our teaching entitled, "This I believe..." Tonight, at our last class, each person had to read what he or she had written out loud to everyone else. I thought I would share mine because when I read it, I felt good about it. For all of my teacher readers who are getting ready to go back to school, I hope you find some inspiration in this!

This I believe…

I believe in the rights of all students to be included and appreciated. Whether a child has a special need, lives in poverty, speaks 4 languages, or does not speak English, I will always see a child first before a trait defined by a label. I am driven to understand the needs of diverse learners and meet those needs while affirming to all children that I care about them and they are important. I know that all students excel in certain areas and struggle in others. It is important to find and acknowledge what each student can do well in order to help him or her gain confidence and the desire to work hard for things that don’t come easily. Effort is what I hold in high regard. Success is important, however the process of getting to that moment of success and being able to recognize what lead to the success is more valuable. I want my students to be thinkers, askers, and active learners; finding pleasure and meaning in discovery, making connections, and gaining a better understanding of their place in the world.

I believe in the importance of understanding where students and their families are coming from. I want to know their perspective and to try my best to understand it. Sometimes that will entail feeling uncomfortable, conflicted, and perhaps frustrated, but I recognize that part of my journey, as an educator, is to continuously evaluate my practices to ensure that my instruction is meaningful to my students and pertinent to their lives.

I believe that my role as a student does not end when I assume the role of the teacher. I am committed to collaborating with colleagues in order to gain new perspectives, being persistent in my professional development, and broadening, reflecting on, and making adjustments to my pedagogy. I want to continuously update my practices based on new information and new personal understanding of learning from my own experiences and those of others.

I believe that the profession of teaching is honorable and I want to live up to a high standard each and every day.

Present. Committed. Inspired.