Nothing is greater to me than seeing a smile on the face of a child. And their best smiles are the ones that arrive after surpassing a challenge. As well as facing challenges, students should be able to share and express their opinions as their knowledge is tested. These two concepts have merged together to be my reason for aspiring to be not only a teacher, but English teacher.
Involvement will be essential to my classroom from both me and my students. I will show my involvement through my enthusiasm in the classroom and in my school spirit through ways such as attending multiple school events and participating in school activities. I feel that if I am involved, I will trigger my students to be involved in both the classroom, like class discussions and alternative assessment projects, and in the school, like attending school events and participating in activities. Another goal for my involvement is the possibility of detached parents becoming interested in the school and their children's school lives.
Keeping active in the classroom will consist of different strategies of teaching. I believe in some lecture, but mostly in class discussions, assembling projects, and group work. The projects will be a use of alternative assessment; it is important to incorporate projects such as newspaper articles and presentations into the classroom. This will allow the students to not only be creative, but critical thinkers as well. Cooperative groups will have work that includes diverse activities, for instance brainstorming and literature circles. These group activities are essential because it helps students' interaction with peers, which is a stepping stone to real world communication.
Students need to start trusting their own opinions, as well as their classmates'; they are not as far off from the concepts as the typically think they are. Stemming from this, I will create an environment for the students that they will feel confident in themselves, in academics and society. By creating numerous Speaking, Listening, and Viewing activities throughout a year, the students can become more outgoing.
As I look at the reading aspect of a Language Arts class, I will not just focus on the classics or the canon. I will go beyond. I am more worried with teaching lessons dealing with "Who they are?" and "Where they are headed in life?" My focus will not be "What was?" because there is too many life lessons that will have to be skipped. I feel that some of these life lessons are vital to becoming successful in today's society.
Focusing on writing will be directed towards strengthening the skills each individual student has once he/she enters my classroom. If I have to supply mini-grammar-lessons throughout the school year, I will do so. Students will experience different types of writing. Some of the writing will affect their personal path in the future, such as a college essay, research paper, or even writing manuals. Some pieces may reflect writing within alternative assessments, like the newspaper article. No matter what the style of writing, the practice will help the students in strengthening their writing skills, which will help raise PSSA scores, and expressing their opinions.
Within my classroom environment, my students will feel comfortable but not too comfortable. They will know to respect each other and the different opinions and backgrounds within the classroom. If a student tries to challenge such classroom rules, he/she will be disciplined by me, instead of by higher authority. In-class discussions will allow the students to feel more comfort, as I welcome their opinions. My students should want to try new things with their work and be open for new ideas, as I will be open for new ideas and strategies over the years.
