"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." -Martin Luther King Jr.
A Cuban revolutionary by the name of Jose Marti once said, “The first duty of a man is to think for himself.” This phrase, although too gender specific and over a century old, still remains applicable to all people today. I aim to instill within my students an ability to think for themselves and become responsible, well-rounded citizens of the world. This task is not a simple one, but there are a few specific goals I aim to achieve.
First of all, I recognize that the subject of history is not always a favorite of students. The relevance of events and people long past seems far removed from the present day lives of adolescents. Yet through differentiated instruction, I will strive to make history matter to every single student in my classroom by way of discovering how historical events may somehow connect with the personal interests or lives of the students sitting in my classroom. I do not require that students love history, but I would be truly thrilled if they at least respected its significance and worth.
One of the key aspects I want my students to get from my classroom are the skills of research and literacy. Through study of primary and secondary sources, I hope that my students will become literacy-savvy individuals who are able to critically analyze a wide variety of resources. The development of research and reasoning skills will aid them in any career field. To add to this, I believe that by employing individual and group work, as well as in and out of class assignments, students will develop the ability to be responsible in their daily work, both in and out of school.
Next, my teaching style will vary with the dynamics of my classroom, as well as the subject material. I wholeheartedly believe that students learn best when they are actively participating in their education, but I also recognize that students will have a multitude of individual strengths and learning styles that must be catered to in order to achieve success. Being aware of these various differences will help me to differentiate instruction to the individual needs and readiness levels of students.
Finally, let me simply say that the dynamics of a classroom are far more complex than what can ever be espoused in writing. There will be a multitude of challenges that I will face, but there will also be incredible challenges for my students as well. Keeping this big picture of individual student success in mind will, I hope, help me in helping my students succeed.
A Cuban revolutionary by the name of Jose Marti once said, “The first duty of a man is to think for himself.” This phrase, although too gender specific and over a century old, still remains applicable to all people today. I aim to instill within my students an ability to think for themselves and become responsible, well-rounded citizens of the world. This task is not a simple one, but there are a few specific goals I aim to achieve.
First of all, I recognize that the subject of history is not always a favorite of students. The relevance of events and people long past seems far removed from the present day lives of adolescents. Yet through differentiated instruction, I will strive to make history matter to every single student in my classroom by way of discovering how historical events may somehow connect with the personal interests or lives of the students sitting in my classroom. I do not require that students love history, but I would be truly thrilled if they at least respected its significance and worth.
One of the key aspects I want my students to get from my classroom are the skills of research and literacy. Through study of primary and secondary sources, I hope that my students will become literacy-savvy individuals who are able to critically analyze a wide variety of resources. The development of research and reasoning skills will aid them in any career field. To add to this, I believe that by employing individual and group work, as well as in and out of class assignments, students will develop the ability to be responsible in their daily work, both in and out of school.
Next, my teaching style will vary with the dynamics of my classroom, as well as the subject material. I wholeheartedly believe that students learn best when they are actively participating in their education, but I also recognize that students will have a multitude of individual strengths and learning styles that must be catered to in order to achieve success. Being aware of these various differences will help me to differentiate instruction to the individual needs and readiness levels of students.
Finally, let me simply say that the dynamics of a classroom are far more complex than what can ever be espoused in writing. There will be a multitude of challenges that I will face, but there will also be incredible challenges for my students as well. Keeping this big picture of individual student success in mind will, I hope, help me in helping my students succeed.