MichaelGolabek PhilosophyofEducation Theroleofateacherisntsomuchasaninstructor,butaspecializedtoolthatappliesthe informationinsuchawaythatitindividuallyreachesandpromotescriticalthinkingandsocial developmentineverystudentintheclassroom. Mygoalandresponsibilityforeducatingchildrenisfirstandforemost,tofocusonthechildren. TeachingcanbelikenedtoaprismAstreamoffactsenterbutimmediatelydiffuseintoawide arrayofmeanings.Educationinitselfisadynamicprocess,andateacherspurposeisnotto focusononedirectlineofapproach,butrather,varythestylesandadaptinsuchaway,thatall studentsareengagedInessence,spendingtimetoexamineeachwavelengthinthespectrum. Asteachers,itisourdutytoensurethateverystudentunderstandsthekeyconceptsofthe lesson,andadaptourteachingstylesappropriatelytomeettheultimategoalofstudent applicationandsuccess.Byunderstandingthedifferentvariablesthatcompriseaclassroomin 21stcenturyAmericaandmanipulatingthemforstudentachievement,Ivebeenabletoguidemy studentsonapathtosuccess.

Thistaskcannotbedonealone,anditislikewisetheresponsibilityofthestudentandparentsto beactiveparticipantsintheprocess,wheremyroleistopromotecollaborationbetweenall partiesinvolved.Maintaininganopenlineofdialogueandinteractionisnecessarytoensurethat thestudentsindividualizedneedsaremet.Mygoalistoguidemystudentsindevelopingtheir distinctivevoiceandbecometheirownadvocatesinfuturesuccesses. I'mastrongbelieverindifferentiatedinstruction,andcomingfrombothamedicalandspecial educationbackground,Ihaveaparticularappreciationforeachstudent'suniquecognitivewiring andskillsetstheybringtotheclassroom. Eachstudenthasuniquestrengths,anditismyjobtodrawfromtheirwiderangeofskillsand adjustmylessonplansaccordingly,highlightingtheseindividualstrengthsandaccommodating formystudentswherenecessary.Myresponsibilityistoensurelearningtakesplaceineach individualstudent,andthroughdifferentiationandadaptationmyexpectationsarenotonlymet, butsurpassed. Todayscultureisconstantlyonthemoveandeverevolving,andsotooshouldourteaching style.Itisourresponsibilityaseducatorstostaycurrentinbothtechnologyandvernacular,in ordertomaintainalevelofcredibilityinourclassrooms. Incorporatingthingslikelessonrelatedblogs,tweets,andcurrentinternettrendsandmemesare usefulactivitiesintodaysclassroom,astheyreinforcekeyconceptsinthematerialwhilealso providingstudentswithamediumthatsbothinterestingandfamiliar.Ivebeenonbothsidesof thetechnologycontinuumduringmyteachingcareer.Duringstudentteaching,Iwasblessed

withhavingaschoolthatprovidedaSmartboard,Projector,Elmo,Chromebooks,andaGoogle Docaccountforeverystudentinmyclassroom,sotechnologybecameastapleinmyteaching repertoire. However,havingalwayswantedtoworkwithurbanyouth,IwasinstantlyhiredbyChicagoPublic Schoolsuponcompletionofmyteachingprogram,whereaccesstotechnologywasvery differentfromwhatIhadjustexperiencedinasuburbanschooldistrict.Liketheconceptof technologyitself,Ineededtoconstantlyevolveandadaptmyincorporationofitinmyclassroom inordertoachievemyintendedgoalsandfindsuccess.Ibecameamasterofimprovisation, oftentimesusingasimplethinglikemypersonaliPhoneasateachingaccessoryinmylessons. Imadeitapointtotransitionbetweenthesetoolsduringmylessons,makingclassroomas entertainingandinformativeaspossible.IalwaysprovidepaperhardcopiesofwhateverIm teachingsothatinherenttactileneedisfulfilled,andonoccasionagoodoldfashioneddryerase boardisthebesttoolforthejob.Imafirmbelieverthatit'stheactivitiesandteachingthat shouldcarrythelesson,andtechnologyistheretofurtherenhancetheoverallexperience. Ultimately,mygoalaseducatoristoensurethatmystudentsreceivethebesteducation possible,andbecomeactiveandintelligentmembersofthecommunity.Asteachers,weare themeans,utilizingvaryingapproachestoensurethateachspecificstudentisreachedand entersadulthoodwithamasteryofcriticalthinkingandenoughexperiencetosucceedas individualmembersofabroaderglobalsociety.