I
know now I was meant to be a teacher. I got my undergraduate degree in Early
Childhood Education but at the time I was 18 when I decided and at that age I
had no idea what I REALLY wanted to do. After I graduated at 21 years old, I
taught two years in third grade. I loved the kids and I loved to teach them but
I did not like the politics involved with my teaching and my curriculum. I had
to hide my voice in my classroom. I had to compromise my beliefs even though I
had no idea what my beliefs were. After moving to New York, meeting my husband
and having two children of my own, I can see clearly I want to be an educator,
or as Ann S. Epstein says, an "Intentional Teacher". ( 2007)
In
this class, I am really looking forward to working with a small group of
educators and discussing experiences in teaching over the next few months. I
believe I will take with me many lessons, ideas and deeper thoughts to
education and grow to be an intentional teacher. I hope to have the “repertoire
of instructional strategies” (Epstein, 2007, pg.3) As I look at the topics
we will discuss in the course, I hope to learn the best way to plan and build a
meaningful curriculum, learn the best ways to assess children at all
developmental levels, and have a better understanding as to why I will do the
pedagogy I choose to do in my own classroom.
I
look forward to stepping into another classroom in a new school and observing a
new teacher and his/her strategies for teaching. I look forward to meeting new
students and observing how they learn best. I am hoping to absorb all of the
information and take it with me to my current job or a new job in my future. The
deeper I get into the educational world, I hunger for the knowledge of research
and the intellect from the wealth of experience. I am excited to become the
best teacher that I can be and to grow with children and other teachers in the
world of education. It is important the most important job.
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