Why I want to be an Educator

This is something I wrote to include into my education e-portfolio...

Why I want to be an Educator

I believe everyone has a purpose in life, and with each purpose there is an ambition. Most recognize this ambition as their “calling” or “dream,” and it allows them to develop specific skills that will help them pursue their desirable profession. There is also inspiration. Somewhere down the line, someone inspires another to follow along the same professional field. Together, I believe that ambition and inspiration go hand-in-hand in guiding people towards their chosen career. For instance, by my ambitions and inspirations, I know that I want to be a teacher.

As far as I can remember, I have always enjoyed learning. I remember spending my childhood summers reading about mummies, Spartans, and long-lost ships that sank below the waters. I read anything that sparked an interest! To this day, that deep passion has not faded. Along with the love of learning, I also love sharing what I learn.  This love of learning and sharing are vital reasons I chose to pursue a teaching career. The unique thing about my way of learning is that it has to be made interesting, therefore I am continually searching for new ways of sharing what may seem like the dullest familiar knowledge into something relatable and new.

 There also have been several impacting teachers in my life — from history to literature, even from science to math — that have inspired me to carry on their “legacy.” These teachers made learning seem new and fun. They were also positive influences and truly were role models to their students. This gratitude and respect for them are also why I have chosen to become a teacher.

A third reason is that I love working with kids. The most recent exposure I have had with kids is with my two-year old sister and nine-month old brother. It is a blast to sit with them and read books to them and just explore new knowledge with them! I truly enjoy working with the youth. I believe they have so much potential, and that it is the job of both the teachers and parents to help bring out that potential. From the best-behaved student to the most disruptive, there is a willing mind ready to learn. Despite obstacles students may face, I believe each student is equal, special, and vitally important to this world.

Why do I want to be a teacher? The simplest answer is that I just do! I do not see myself as a doctor, lawyer, or any other professional. I see myself as a teacher! I believe that my love of learning and sharing knowledge, coupled with my past inspirations, makes me dedicated in helping today’s students find their ambitions and guiding them into tomorrow’s respectable future leaders of the world.

Picture Day Memory

Clip-art by Microsoft Office

This past Wednesday was Picture Day for the faculty and students at the school where I am student teaching. All the second graders were excited about having their pictures taken, so I thought I would share with them one of my vivid memories of past picture days. I recalled the story of when I was in fourth grade and had pictures after coming from P.E. 

It was a warm day, and we had been running around the track course. Somehow, my nice, prepared hair was no longer nice-looking! When it was time for pictures, I took a comb and simply started combing my hair back, like I typically did that year. At the time, as I was standing in line and waiting my turn, I was puzzled as to why several teachers kept laughing at my hair. I was certain that I had combed my hair, so why were they laughing in my direction? Well, I did not know it at the time, but it turns out that by combing my hair back I had given myself a very poor unintentional impersonation of the "Elvis" hairdo. To this day, I cringe every time I see my fourth grade portrait!

Anyway, the students loved the story. They found it amusing how their "teacher" made a terrible picture when he was a kid. When we got to the room where the photographer was, I was under the impression that the only ones having their pictures done were my cooperating teacher and the students from my homeroom. Well, imagine my expression as I discover that all interns had to have their pictures taken too! To some, this would be less horrifying news, but I had just recently taught two classes about the sun's energy, and I had tried on a couple of hats to show examples of how to be safe outside in the sun by wearing decent hats the proper way. Once I found out that I had to have my picture taken too, I automatically returned to the memory of my fourth grade portrait. I was like "Oh, no!" The students thought I feared getting my picture taken, so it amused them as I asked several, "How's my hair, is it fixed okay?" Thankfully, a couple of the kids were honest and told me areas that needed flattening down. I just hope I don't have another poor "Elvis" hairdo!

Changes...

     July started off the journey of the several changes in my life that I have encountered so far. In July, my favorite movie series ended on a high note, but it was bittersweet to say farewell after a decade of being entertained by characters who I have loved since I first read their original book-forms.


     August was the huge change in my life as I left a job to start my student teaching for my final semester in college. It was difficult to say goodbye to those I worked with at the university's library where I worked. For three years, most there had became like family to me. I had felt as though I had made some very good friends there, so saying goodbye nearly tore my heart into pieces. However, I could not have continued working there with the more important task that I was going to take on, even though there were times near the end where I considered changing my mind. Two weeks before I left, an opportunity for work-study funds was offered, and it took all my strength to turn that offer away. I said my goodbyes and I prepared for my role as a second grade student teacher.


     I started my student teaching two days after leaving the library. I started the first week by helping my cooperating teacher and by attending meetings and preparing for the return of the students. Though my cooperating teacher is wonderful, and the school environment is welcoming, it has been quite an adjustment. It has been three years since I was jobless, so it has been a little weird to not schedule my time for work. However, the task I now have is nonetheless work. I arrive at my school, plan lessons, help my cooperating teacher, attend meetings, and is responsible for caring and educating the students just like a real teacher does. That is the purpose of student teaching and interning at an elementary school! But it is a reality that I never really grasped until now.


    The students are great, and all 60+ have been some of the best 2nd graders I have ever seen during my education journey as an elementary major student. One of the biggest tasks I have come across during my internship is trying to remember everything I have learned and done in my education classes and try to apply them to current situations I think would  provide assistance.


     However, there have been moments where I have felt lonesome, because, though everyone (teachers and staff) has been wonderful, they are still new to me, so I have to get use to them. Plus, I miss all of my education major classmates, and those I worked with as a student worker in the library. But no matter those feelings, each time before arriving at the school, I ask God to be with me, and guide me throughout the day. No matter the changes that come my way, I know I'll always have Him!

    

Summer of Cooking...

I'm so glad that it's now summer...Since school ended for summer break, I have been trying new dishes for my family. The favorite, so far, was the dessert I made the other night: Individual Cookies and Cream Pie. You simply buy a box of Jello's cookies and cream 5 minute pudding mix, a package of individual graham cracker pie shells (small for each person, usually 6 to a package), and a can of whipped cream. Fix the pudding as directed on the box, then put a few dabs of whipped cream in it and stir until firm, then put a spoon or two full of the pudding into each individual pie crust. Top with more whipped cream. Room temperature will start to liquify the pudding, so refrigerate or freeze until ready to eat. Actually, if you freeze the dessert (like I did), then it becomes a nice ice cream dessert that people can hold in their hands and eat.

So, it's been nice experimenting with different dishes that I have come across or came up with on my own (like the above dessert), so it's a nice hobby for me to do during the summer...

Movie Moment: Tru Confessions

Tru Confessions is a movie that appeared on the Disney Channel in 2002 and starred Clara Bryant as Tru Walker and Shia LaBeouf as Eddie Walker - twins who are entering high school. The only difference between the two is that while Tru appears like a regular teenage girl, her brother, Eddie, is labeled as "different" all because has a mental disability. The movie is actually an adaptation of the novel, Tru Confessions, by the author Janet Tashjian. I remember watching this movie years ago on the Disney Channel, and the thought of it came back to me recently due to an upcoming assignment that I have to do in regards to critiquing a movie around the subject matter similar to Eddie's. Thankfully, I was able to count on YouTube for having it on its website.

This movie is one of the great things that have come from Disney, and it is a shame that there are less examples on its network nowadays. Another disappointment is that you cannot find the movie readily available aside from users on YouTube. We need more movies like this, to show the younger generation the gift of acceptance and kindness and genuine love.

Educational Videos: Fire Safety

This previous semester (fall), I had to write a safety unit for my Teaching Health class. The topic for my unit was applying safety habits in our daily life, and for one of the five days/lessons I chose to do a fire safety lesson. In my lesson, I decided to search for videos that I would show to students if I were to actually perform the lesson in a real classroom (to be exact, a second grade classroom). The following are most of the videos that I thought were appropriate and covered the message of being safe with fire.

"Kid's Fire Safety"

Video Source: YouTube's AtlantaHomeShow channel.

"Be Cool About Fire Safety, pt. 1"

Video Source: YouTube's barlowgirl61087 channel.

"Be Cool About Fire Safety, pt. 2"

Video Source: YouTube's barlowgirl61087 channel.