I believe that every child has the right to attend a school that provides them with a safe and caring environment. This is done best when there is not only a positive classroom but also a positive school community. As teachers, we are an integral part of creating this environment. We can do this by treating our students, our coworkers and our environment with respect.
I believe every child is a unique individual who learns in a different style and at a different rate than his or her peers. As teachers, it is our job to respect this by differentiating through content, process, product and environment. I believe that in order to do this effectively, the students need to understand that everyone has different needs and that not everyone will be treated equally; they will be treated fairly
I believe that we should take a more humanistic approach to teaching. This will allow our students to see us as people too, which will also allow them to relate to us. However, we need to remain professional and know where to draw the line.
I believe that as teachers, we need to be prepared for every day. We can do this by having a plans for our lessons and for dealing with behaviours. These plans should not be hidden but made clear to the students through the statement of classroom expectations along with the physical practice of them. We must follow through with our expectations in order to gain trust and respect from our students.
I believe that we guide children towards maturity through the curriculum. The curriculum is an important part of teaching but remembering that our students are humans with basic needs is equally important. They will have difficulties learning if they are preoccupied with stress. When they are involved in a classroom community where we the teachers have their best interests in mind, they will be able to grow academically. Learning seems to have negative and stressful connotations attached to it. By making our lessons fun and inquiry based, we can help combat these associations.