There are so many benefits that go along with being a teacher.
While it still has its many
consequences, there are a lot of positives that influence why I chose this profession. Several of
my own past experiences have influenced my desire to learn more about this profession. As a
student, you rotate through different schools and so many different teachers, and each one has a
different impact on you. Each teacher is unique and provides students with new insight to
everyday ideas. I find it very inspiring that one person can make such a difference in a child’s
life.
Being a teacher requires a great amount of knowledge and patience. One personal skillset
that I think will be beneficial for me as a teacher is my patience and kindness. I have always
enjoyed helping others for no other reason besides wanting to. I love assisting young kids with
things that I am passionate about as well. One of my favorite activities is assisting at a dance
studio and getting to inspire children to learn and be creative. I think these experiences have also
greatly influenced my desire teach.
The field observation that we competed helped me gain a lot more insight as to what it’s like
actually being a teacher. I sat in a classroom and observed the atmosphere as well as the
dynamics. I saw the interactions that occur between the teacher and their students and I think it
gave me a better personal idea of what being a teacher is really like. There are so many behind
the scene things that go into being a teacher that an outsider doesn’t always see. Those who don’t
work within a school district don’t know the meetings and prep work that go along with being a
teacher as well as the extra hours they have to put in.
After evaluating different philosophies, I think the educational philosophy, essentialism,
most closely fits my current beliefs about education. This philosophy states that our culture has a
core of common knowledge that schools are obligated to teach to students in a systematic and
disciplined way. I believe this best fits my beliefs because I think that the common core subjects
that are currently taught in school are very beneficial for student’s growth. I think that the
psychological orientation that closely fits my current belief is the humanistic psychology. This is
a psychology that represents personal choice and freedom as well as awareness and personal
responsibility, and I agree that all of these qualities are very important for inside a classroom.
One historical event that I think set the stage for how I view teachers and school is teaching
that occurred in the American Colonies from 1620-1750. During this time teachers were very
unappreciated and disrespected. The lower the grade you taught, the less respect you received.
Teachers worked for very little pay and many of them didn’t have an education of their own. I
think this period helped set the stage for my views because it demonstrates how teachers have
always gotten overlooked even though they work they complete is very important.
As a teacher, I would want to implement four main instructional strategies. These include
direct instruction which means I would teach directly to the class. I think this would be a good
strategy because it allows everyone to listen and learn the same thing, as well as give students the
chance to be encouraged to participate in discussions. The second strategy is interactive
instruction. This one is my favorite form of instruction because it is how I personally learn best. I
think it’s very beneficial for students to be hands on and engaged in learning activities. The last
two strategies are experiment learning and independent study. I think experiment learning is
another fun way to incorporate learning into a classroom, and for certain student’s independent
study is also very helpful. I think it is good for students to have the opportunity to work on their
own to put their own knowledge to use.
Finally, since teachers have so many tasks and obligations to complete, there are several
characteristics and skills I would need in order to continue in this career. I need to be accountable
and trustworthy, this way principles and parents can rely on me. I also need to excel in having
good communication and listening skills, as well as having empathy and patience. Some steps I
can take to achieve my goals and reach the requirements for a teacher licensure are completing
school. First I will need to obtain my bachelor’s degree and complete any state-approved teacher
education program. I will also need to pass a general teacher licensure exam as well as the Praxis
test. I can also take steps such as volunteering as a teacher aid and working in other positions at
different schools. This way I have the opportunity to get hands on experience and learn more
about the profession.
