There are many definitions of teacher and many understandings of what the role of an educator is. To me a professional educator is someone who facilitates in the expansive process of education and exploration within the individual. This facilitation, or mentoring, benefits not just the individual but also benefits of the community by creating trenchant minds that challenge the world they live in to be a better place for those that come after. A professional educator must bring their passion and creativity into the classroom everyday and be enthusiastic about educations, and inspire their students to take and active and interested role in their own learning. But above all it is through critically reflecting on their practice, and modifying their practice, based on their own observations and contemporary research that a professional educator can promote the values of democracy and bring justice into their classrooms by identifying, and meeting the needs, of all who come through their doors.
Theories of childhood development have influenced the way we educated children, as these theories change overtime it is the responsibilities of a professional educator to critically analysis these paradigm shifts and incorporate evidence based trends into the foundation of their teaching practice. Much of the stagnation in the public school system could be attributed to teaching modes that perpetuate the teacher-centered, lecture based, methods. This educational model does not take into account the various learning styles of individuals and multiple intelligences. The kinesthetic learner who learns through natural discovery, or the visual learner who learns though dynamic interaction with images and spatially represented knowledge are poorly s...
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... the intimate connectedness of everyone and how great their personal impact can be. It is this awareness that can translate into justice-in-action inside and outside of the classroom.
A professional educator is at heart a professional student, always learning, reflecting and changing as they engage more deeply with their profession. Only a passion for education will perpetuate the kind of self renewal and critical insight that are essential to the growth and maturation of a professional educator; and that cannot be taught but must be excavated from with the individual. It is through their passion, energy, creativity and love that a professional educator ultimately models, and inspires, in their students a thirst for knowledge, a passions for justice and an inquiring, critical mind which has the confidence and the tools to be an engaged citizen of the world.
Methods and approaches to teaching have been greatly influenced by the research of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Both have contributed to the field of education by offering explanations for children's cognitive learning styles and abilities. While Piaget and Vygotsky may differ on how they view cognitive development in children, both offer educators good suggestions on how to teach certain material in a developmentally appropriate manner.
An outstanding educator possesses unique qualities that set him or her apart from others in the field. Ask any student about a favorite teacher and listen intently as he or she describes that person with a smile. Ask a parent of a child who will enter first grade in the fall about the teacher choice for their child. The parent would describe the outstanding educator in their desire for that special teacher. The qualities of an outstanding educator are easily recognized by those whose lives they touch, shape, and change on a daily basis. It is in this writing piece that they will be described and discussed.
“The path of development is a journey of discovery that is clear only in retrospect, and it’s rarely a straight line” (Kennedy-Moore & Lowenthal, 2011). Because development happens this way, it can have many implications for teachers. There are multiple factors and processes that contribute to the variability of individual development of children, however, these differences can be overcome and teachers can give every child the support they need to achieve. Factors specific to the middle childhood years include vocabulary development, differing temperaments, development of attention, fine motor coordination, gross motor skills development and concrete operational development, including conservation, classification and seriation. Although they can create some disorder, these factors should not significantly hinder a child’s education, but teachers should adjust their lesson plans to accommodate all kinds of abilities, including physical abilities.
There will be various professional attributes discussed in this paper that have contributed to my success and growth as an educator. A discussion
During elementary school, children are not only developing their physical bodies, but there minds as well. They a...
In order to promote the best outcome from the curriculum we must consider that each child is an individual in their own right. Tricia David (2001: 55) states that early childhood should be a time of “spontaneity and of exploration according to individual interests”. Thus accounting for the child’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as their likes and dislikes, provides a curriculum, which will promote optimum development. This is also known as a ...
I chose education as my career path because I hope to be able to make a small difference in a child’s life. Time and time again I have seen children being educated poorly and/or not having appropriate role models in their life. I feel that an educator must not only be able to convey to the student the classroom material, but also be a counselor, coach, mentor, and a parent. Failing to fulfill these roles gives a child the chance to slip through the educational system without having the opportunity to influence them to some degree.
I believe educators are one of the most important careers out there, without them where would we be today? Would you be reading this paper? Would you still be able to read, write, or have an educated conversation? Do you know how to pay for things at the grocery store, and know if you’re receiving the correct change back? Do you know how to tell time, so you can manage your day?
...child needs and deserves a secure, caring, and inspiring environment in which to blossom and flourish emotionally, intellectually, socially, and physically. It is my desire as an educator to provide my students with the learning environment necessary to motivate and inspire each and every one of them to become to their fullest potential. For myself, teaching is about giving; giving the students support and security, giving them respect and dignity, giving them opportunities to succeed and a quality education, and not only giving them my time and effort but also giving myself. Our society requires its children to not only receive a solid education, but that they are taught by a highly qualified educator who is sensitive to their individual needs and deeply committed to their success. I am such a person and will always strive to do the very best by my students.
As I ponder over my personal professional development experiences as an educator the realization of how one has developed over time is personally satisfying. Educating children especially children with special needs is a challenge within its self. As a teacher it is important that this writer makes a positive influence with students. There are going to be certain ideas that one tries to uphold and other discriminations that one will not allow. Everyone has their own beliefs teachers should do what is necessary not to infringe on others, but show children different way to think so that they have all the information needed to make educated choices. Children are open-minded they have not yet had to deal with or understand the injustices that they will encounter. If children are taught from an early age they will have the ability to succeed especially children with special needs as an educator my main goal is teaching the purpose of public schools, and education reform. It is my purpose to influence children and be positive influence.
Being a teacher is not an easy task as many people could think. To be a teacher does not only imply to know the subject to be taught, it also includes being willing to constantly improve oneself integrally, as much as updating the resources and materials one uses in teaching. Reflecting and analyzing over and over again the best way to teach to learn and how to make students to extend what has been learned. The many hours spend in the classroom will never be enough to plan lessons, prepare materials, review pupils tasks and exams, as well, all the administrative requirements one has to cover for whatever institution we work. Besides all this a good teacher, a professional one, will have to find the time to keep preparing to improve oneself.
My philosophy on education and learning is simple; to teach my future students to the best of my ability to achieve academic success. As well as getting to know my students well. Getting to know a little of their background can help make a difference in our teaching career. As a teacher, we care for our student’s educational needs and to achieve a full potential in their learning ability. I believe that education is an individual, unique experience for every student who enters a classroom. Having a passion for teaching and providing students with a proper education should always be a teacher’s top priority.
The teacher in the classroom encompasses several roles. Resource, facilitator, and mentor are three of them. The teacher must be a resource that provides ideas and lessons to be learned. The teacher also must be a facilitator that encourages creative thinking, exploration, and mastery. The teachers is responsible for what needs to be learned. The subject matter that is taught is based on both curriculum as well as the world that students live i...
The role and responsibilities of a teacher is very complex. Teachers are responsible for making sure their learners acquire the knowledge they need, but also achieve their qualification by the end of the course in a safe learning environment, so they have the skills and experience they need to start their careers. To achieve that goal a teacher must be creative, professional, flexible and knowledgeable enough to deal with daily challenges and find different ways to help their learners needs. Establishing a safe and stimulating environment for learners, creating mutual respect and set goals that stretch and challenge learners of all backgrounds and abilities.
First, I realized that, teachers carry a lot of weight on their shoulders and have great responsibilities. They have to balance the curriculum, students, parents, lesson plans, common core, and upper management and still maintain a professional demeanor. Second, educators must follow a strong code of ethics. They must be professional at all times with students and colleagues, keep confidentiality, not have or show any prejudice or bias, maintain safe and positive learning environments, help students with problems, and hand out disciplines accordingly. Lastly, I found that when you’re a teacher, your education never stops. Teachers are always trying to improve their own education and professional growth, both for the benefit of their students and for the benefit of themselves.