It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.

- Albert
Einstein

Through creative instruction and activity, I believe it is my role as a teacher to reawaken a

natural joy of learning in my students and promote an environment of intrinsically motivated
learners. Like A.S. Neill, I believe that anything can be learned if a student is intrinsically
motivated and it is my job as an educator to cultivate this. To achieve a culture of learning, my
ideal classroom will have a significant focus on active learning and hands-on activities. Students
will be given the opportunity to interact directly with subject material in an effort gain a deeper
understanding and to yield a more concrete representation of how the subject material relates to
real-life situations. It is important that students are given an opportunity to interact with material
and develop their own perspectives as they prepare for life outside of school.
Prior to lesson development, it is important that I have a deep understanding of the
individuals in my classroom. Meeting the needs of all students is of utmost importance to me,
and thus, I must be mindful of each individual student's learning style and differentiate the
learning process accordingly. It is clear to me that not all students are going to come into the
classroom with an outstanding willingness to learn, but through differentiation I strive to ignite
the light bulbs in those individual's heads that say: hey, learning can actually be fun.
Individualistic learning does not only apply to instruction, however. When considering the
numerous different skills each student brings to the table, I will allow for alternative assessment
to best meet these student's needs. It is important that a teacher is patient and works diligently
with each student to best ensure success and this is something I plan on demonstrating in my

classroom.
By recognizing the needs of my students, it is clear how important collaborative learning is
in the classroom. In sports, a successful team is not one that rides on the back of an individual,
but one that works cooperatively as a unit. This is a philosophy that I have discovered to be true
growing up as an athlete and as an individual in a community. The idea of collaborative learning
is one that is reemphasized as one of Hayes' 21st century skills. The ability to work in groups is
becoming increasingly important as not only does it promote learning, but it is a vital element of
life outside of academics. When planning group activities or assigning group work in class, it is
important to create diverse and inclusive groupings in which the needs of individual students are
not being ignored. In my future classroom, it will be important to take into consideration
individual's learning styles and the role that they have in a group, as well as intermingling
individuals who are having more success with those who may be having difficulty. Peer learning
is an effective means of attaining knowledge and a strategy I plan on implementing in my work as
an educator.
Teachers are one of the most influential individuals in students' lives and can be one of
two things: a tool of torture or an instrument of peace. By bringing positivity to the classroom
everyday and a willingness to learn, I hope to instill similar qualities in my students. It is
important that all students are able to find a role model in their own lives and I strive to give all of
my students someone to look up to. I hope to achieve this by dealing with my students as
individuals and not just another cog in the machine; taking the time to get involved in their
schoolwork as well as their extracurricular activities. It is important for me to know what my
students' interests are and be able to encourage them for any extracurricular endeavours that
they may be pursuing. Developing relationships with my students' parents will contribute to my

goal of getting to know my students and will also promote a culture of learning in the home.
Parents who are invested in their child's education are an important factor in student success
and it is important that this support system is in place. Having a teacher who visibly cares and is
invested in one's success can make coming to school easier for students and help in developing a
strong level of mutual respect.
My teaching philosophy will undoubtedly change as a result of new learnings and
experiences. It is vital that as teachers, we are always looking to improve and develop within our
profession and our philosophies must be adjusted to reflect this. While it is important that we do
not stubbornly rely on a philosophy that may be outdated ten years down the road, I feel as
though my core values will remain the same. Through collaboration and respect, I will create a
positive and safe environment to learn that optimizes my students potential for success and
creates a culture of lifelong learners.