How will I teach everyone?

When pushed outside your comfort zones, you are forced to grow. As I read the text book, my eyes were opened to the many perspectives of teaching. I have learned that I must be aware of developmental milestones before I can expect a child to act older than he is socially. I must understand that not all children follow the assumed progression that schools expect out of them. It was drilled into me that as teachers, it is not our job to change or fix the way students are, but to support their individual paths. This includes accommodating all of my students' needs so that everyone can do his or her best work and show his or her best behavior.

The text book makes these great points, “We should be highly critical of what shapes curriculum, instruction and assessment in our classrooms.” That, “our test mania has made testing an act of sorting instead of a means to more effectively teach and learn.” Anyone who disagrees needs to get to know the students in our schools. I have witnessed this first hand the difference between teaching to learn and teaching for tests. The outcome of the child who is being taught to love to learn is far greater than the child who just memorizes for next test. I saw a boy with learning disabilities in a CDC classroom raise two hundred points in his reading scale in one year. When the teacher praised him radically for it he was even more motivated to read through his very first novel.

I will make a big deal out of the progress of my students. I will show enthusiasm for what I am teaching them. I will get on their level and invest my time for them. Because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can accomplish anything they put their minds to. I know that they are smart and can accomplish their goals and I want to help them shoot for the stars.

I have found that teaching has to be a selfless career. My passion as a special education teacher is to develop students to their fullest potential and beyond. My goal is to see where my students are presently, find out their individual strengths, and use their strengths to build up their weaknesses. I will try with my whole heart to not write off a kid just because I am having a bad day. That takes sacrifice and a daily choice. I will make it known to them that they are important and they are loved and that the world needs them for who they are. And that is why they are here; to give to the world what they have, because only they can give what they have to offer. No one else can be them. No one else can do their thing the best.

Teach them the joy of learning.