Abbie Strasser

Dr. Tim Fiegen

EDFN 338
Proofed By: Josie Wolf and Writing Center
Why Do I Want to Be A Teacher?
Henry Adams stated, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where

his influence stops.” By entering the field of education, I will be able to make a

positive difference on the future of children. The challenge of stimulating the

next generation to become life-long learners is exciting to me. I have always

appreciated the educational experiences and opportunities that I had while

attending school in the Lennox School District. Because of these positive

experiences, I feel the need to contribute what I have been taught and “give

back” to society while I fulfill my desire to make a difference in the lives of

students.

The influences in my life have had an impact on my decision to enter the

field of education. I have had the opportunity to be employed with the Totally

Kids School Age Daycare program with the Lennox School District. Developing my

philosophy of education, communicating with parents, interacting with special

needs students, and experimenting with discipline techniques with age levels of

Kindergarten through Fifth grade students have all enhanced my ability to

become an effective teacher. My mom is another huge influence in my life. She

has been a teacher for 25 years in various elementary positions. I have basically

grown up in her classroom. I have witnessed the impact that she has on her

students that extends far beyond the classroom. She finds the strengths of each

individual student and builds upon those strengths to form relationships. She

provides multiple educational opportunities to help with weaknesses to create a

successful learning environment. I have learned patience, management, and

organizational skills while volunteering in her classroom.

My learning philosophy can be defined by the model that uses

constructivism. I believe students are active learners who should be given

opportunities to construct their own frames of thought and develop personal

meaning through activity based teaching and learning. I believe that the role of

the teacher is to prompt and facilitate discussion. One of the main focuses in my

classroom would be to guide students by asking questions that would lead them

to develop their own conclusions on each subject. The learning environment in

my classroom would place students in spaces such as round tables or clusters of

desks where they can collaborate and share thoughts and ideas about the diverse

learning activities and materials that have been provided. I believe that the way a

teacher introduces and uses general principles for establishing rules for discipline
will set the tone for classroom interactions, creating an environment that is

conducive to learning and that minimizes classroom interruptions. This discipline

strategy focuses on the process of teaching students how to recognize problems

and then solve them constructively with minimal assistance from adults. I believe

a teacher’s voice reflects the values, ideologies, and structuring principles

teachers use to understand and mediate the histories, cultures, and subjectivities

of their students. Teachers need to be aware of the voices of their students as

well as their own. Students need space to explore, take risks, make mistakes, and

take corrective action. They need to listen to each other with respect, build on

one another’s ideas, challenge one another to supply reasons for their opinions,

assist one another in drawing inferences, and seek to identify one another’s

compassion. I believe that teachers should be leaders who view change as a

rational process. We need to provide an environment in which students can learn

analytic skills and participate in helping society determine the direction that is of

most worth. I would lead students and provide many opportunities to wrestle

with problems that characterize society. Students can question their own

thinking and share ideas with others. I want to make a difference.