What makes a worthy teacher?
Chelsea Lawrence
I truly believe that student-centred learning has positive outcomes for one’s success in our school system. Embracing principles of democracy, experimentation, and reflection will help encourage a classroom to become more student-centred. When developing unit plans I think of ways in which students can become actively involved in each individual lesson, I want them to know that they are important characters in everything I create. I believe that most students will try to achieve greater success once they know their teacher truly believes in them. Building strong teacher-student relationships will encourage students to become more proud of their work, which will lead to a higher degree of learning. It is this philosophy that I am trying to follow in my classroom.
A goal of mine, that I believe is constantly being developed, is incorporating multi-literacies into the classroom. While creating a unit plan, I always strive to integrate diverse mediums of teaching into my lessons. In doing so, I believe I can expose the full potentials of each and every student. I believe that students need to feel proud of their strengths and instituting multi-literate lessons helps to encompass the strengths of all children in the classroom. Discovering that not all children are strong readers and writers has influenced my methodology. Therefore, I believe a worthy teacher is one who can create unit’s plans that are all encompassing. Multi-literacies need to be addressed in a worthy teacher’s classroom. Children need to be aware and feel proud when they interpret concepts through various mediums.
My experience as a student teacher has further manifested in me the importance of relationships in the classroom. I believe that a worthy teacher is one who can create a positive classroom atmosphere that is non-judgmental, non-prejudice, understanding, and that welcomes diversity. These atmospheric characteristic’s will make students feel safe and secure. In my classroom I do not want students to feel afraid or apprehensive to speak and participate. I want all students to realize that each and every one of us is a unique individual and we must embrace our individuality, and I think the classroom is an excellent arena to share our diversity.
In addition, I believe a worthy teacher is one who always includes interaction in his or her practice. Providing students with the opportunity to touch and feel the materials will help them understand concepts more clearly. When I read prescribed learning outcomes I think of ways to relate the material to the students. I want the information and concepts to be relevant for all students. Students learn the best when material is relatable, and a worthy teacher will practice this ideology in his her classroom. I believe that figuring concepts out with teacher guidance is far more beneficial to a child’s learning than a teacher lecturing the child on what the concept is.
