Why I Want to Be a Teacher

Why I Want to Be a Teacher

EDT 109

Julie Scott

Dr. Elizabeth Engelhardt

There are many reasons I have for wanting to become an early childhood teacher. I feel

that in this early stage of life, these children are like molding clay. They have many different

types of people in their lives that influence the shape their clay ends up taking. These people

include parents, siblings, peers, extended family, and also teachers. By being a teacher, I would

feel like such an important model in kid’s lives. I have also had quite a bit of experience in

teaching. I have led several classes in preparing children for the sacraments of the Catholic

Church and by being a part of this, I have significantly impacted the kid’s in a way that no one

else has before. I have given them the knowledge as well as the confidence and courage to enter

the Catholic Church as an official member. I love the feeling of being able to change children’s

lives and being a teacher is such an amazing way to do that.

Unfortunately, Erin Gruell doesn’t compare to any teachers I have had. However, if I was

to compare her to someone, it would be my 12th grade English teacher. She got on a very

personal level with our class and made us feel comfortable in class. She never spoke down to us

like so many high school teachers, and just teachers in general do. My teacher talked to us like

she was one of us which made it so much easier to go to her for help if we needed it and just to

speak our minds during class discussions. In this way I feel like she is somewhat comparable to

Erin Gruell.

By taking the Kiersey test, I have discovered that I am an artisan. According to Kiersey

Temperment Report, Artisans are the temperament with a natural ability to excel in any of the

arts, not only the fine arts such as painting and sculpting, or the performing arts such as music,

theater, and dance, but also the athletic, military, political, mechanical, and industrial arts, as

well as the "art of the deal" in business. Artisans are most at home in the real world of solid
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objects that can be made and manipulated, and of real-life events that can be experienced in the

here and now. Artisans have exceptionally keen senses, and love working with their hands. Their

actions are usually aimed at getting them where they want to go, and as quickly as possible. Thus

Artisans will strike off boldly down roads that others might consider risky or impossible, doing

whatever it takes, rules or no rules, to accomplish their goals. This attitude also gives Artisans a

winning way with people, and they are often irresistibly charming with family, friends, and co-

workers. Artisans want to be where the action is; they seek out adventure and show a constant

hunger for pleasure and stimulation. Artisans are impulsive, adaptable, competitive, and believe

the next throw of the dice will be the lucky one. They resist being tied or bound or confined or

obligated; they would rather not wait, or save, or store, or live for tomorrow. In the Artisan view,

today must be enjoyed, for tomorrow may never come. Artisans seek to make an impact upon the

organizations where they work and upon society at large. Their alertness to current realities, the

joy they take in variation, and their tendency to follow their instincts to 'what works' make them

good troubleshooters and negotiators, talented performers and craftspeople and excellent leaders

in all kinds of emergencies and chaotic situations. In fact, bringing playfulness to situations can

be one of your greatest contributions to being a teacher. The strengths of Artisans are obvious.

They are warm, energetic, and adventurous. Behind all of these great strengths, however, hide

some weakness. If you are always plunging ahead to the next big project, you may miss the small

things that are also necessary.

In the VARK questionnaire test, I found that I have a strong Kinesthetic learning

preference. I am average in visual and aural learning, a little weaker in reading and writing , and

very strong in Kinesthetic.

In the early childhood video, they talk about how important praise is. Praise is key for

children. The teacher talks about how the students have different cheers or claps to celebrate the

success of their fellow students. They also talk about attention getters. The teacher has quiet

symbols and other kinesthetic and auditory techniques to get the attention of the children. With a

group of 1st graders, these techniques are essential to keep them under control.

In the 5th grade video, one of the things they talk about is the students getting to know

each other as well as how the classroom works. The teacher expresses how she spends a couple

months of the beginning of the year to teach cooperative learning and to get the kids to know

each other. They have to know how to work with each other and to be comfortable. The teacher

states that this is extremely important at that age. The key is to make everyone feel like an equal.

This is the delicate age where the kids are starting to become inclusive and make judgments on

others. This teacher makes sure at the beginning of the year that this doesn’t happen.

In the high school video, the teacher talks about middle school compared to high school.

He believes that the high school students carry more of a sense of mature thinking as well as

deeper and more intellectual thoughts. However, he likes the middle school students’ energy

which also energized him. In his high school course, he has a program called “The Essentials

Program”. This helps students who are falling behind. This program helps motivate students and

works with them on a personal level and works with their specific strengths and weaknesses.

In the Intervention Specialist video, the teacher goes through her basic day as an IS

teacher. This teacher moves from her own self-contained classroom as well as students in a more

inclusive classroom. She talks about cross categorical which is taking care of many different
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special needs all in one setting. Working directly with special needs students is satisfying to the

teacher because she loves seeing how the kids develop and grow. She loves being a part of this.

I want to be a teacher because I have a great attitude towards helping children. It is

important to provide them with full attention and care because I know that each child is special

in their own way and they deserve the utmost respect. I feel that I can provide my charismatic

personality towards the children in my class as well as my kinesthetic and artisan strengths. With

my experience and personality, I think that I would make a great teacher.