Throughout the years, my idea of what a great teacher is has not changed much. Growing up, the best teachers I ever came across clearly had a passion for their job. Every day was a new day and was welcomed with open arms. These teachers had the perfect balance of authority and friendship, and at times felt more like a parent than a teacher. I could tell these teachers were emotionally invested in me and truly cared about my future not only as a student, but as a human being. The most memorable lessons that these teachers taught me were life lessons. This is the kind of teacher I strive to be.

    

            Students spend nearly as much time with their teachers as they do at with their families. So in a sense, we become a surrogate parent during this time. With this title comes the responsibility of shaping these children. Teaching today is so focused on the “Test” that we as teachers forget the true meaning of our job. Being a teacher we are not only to help students grow academically, but to encourage them to grow in every aspect of their lives. I feel the best way to do this is to lead by example. Just as we model how to solve a math problem or how to structure a sentence, we should model how to live our lives.

 

 I feel that that biggest mistake a teacher can make in a classroom is to rule by intimidation. Fear and respect are two different thing. Although I will demand respect in my classroom, I will not do so by forcing my children to fear me. I will teach my students that to gain respect you must first give it and respect yourself in the process.

 

Due to the fact that I view myself as a surrogate parent to these students, I want my classroom to feel like a second home to them. I want each of my students to feel comfortable in my classroom, to be able to be themselves and express their opinions without ridicule. Each student will have a place within our classroom family and take part in its inner workings. As a family, we should set the rule for how our house will be run together. I want my students to have a voice and take pride in their family.

 

I want my students to feel like they are an active part of their own education. It is inevitable that I will spend time in front of my class lecturing, but I will strive for this to be a rarity in my classroom. I want my students to be hands on learners. I want them to learn as much through discovery as possible. I will pave the way for this type of learning and guide my students to their own success.

 

As a teacher I will not strive for my students to remember me as a teacher, but for them to remember the lessons that I taught them during their time with me.