This I believe Reflection

This visual essay project served as an effective way to demonstrate what we believe about teaching while integrating technology. It forced students to leave their comfort zones and use technology to express themselves. It simultaneously helped students familiarize themselves with different technology applications such as garageband and i-movie. Personally, I have discovered how to get my opinions and ideas out there for everyone to view. I gained an insight to what having a personal learning network is like and demonstrated a way to express my ideas in an interactive way.

OER

Open educational resources are a learning experience for both students and teachers alike. As a future teacher, I will use them in  my classroom similar to a flipped classroom. They will be a resource that I can assign for homework and discuss the implications of them in the classroom.  Furthermore, I can give my students access to resources that they won't be required to use, but might be helpful to them. Dr Math and other resources like it are great examples of such. My students will be able to get on OER Glue and see my curriculum, as well as a list of resources that I have found for them. For them, the possibilities are endless. From actively involving them in their own learning to discovering new resources and communication skills (Open Study.com), open educational resources set a base for student growth and achievement.

Part of being a teacher is continuing the learning process. Open educational resources are a great way to lead from discovery to knowledge. Reading through the material that I will be searching through for my students, I will pick up on key concepts and ideas that I will be intrigued by. From there, I will research the discovered concepts, and thus learn useful ideas such as how to better my curriculum or class management or related topic.

Believing in Students

“I believe that they will become what you believe they are.” This quote from my high school math teacher and role model Mr. Stephen Simcheck really set my future. I realized the significance of the role teachers have in their students’ lives and how I wanted to be the one to make that difference.

Starting from day one, my parents have always supported me, imbedding in my daily thoughts the idea that I can do whatever I set my mind to accomplish. I could be anyone. I chose to be a teacher and make a difference in the world by educating our future.

From that decisive moment on, I have worked my way to living out my dream of becoming a math teacher. I aspire to help students discover their true potential of creating their own dreams and living them out. Moreover, I hope to be the voice of my parents for every student that needs or lacks support in their home or personal life. I believe that every child has a dream, no matter how small or obscene. Teachers need to provide an avenue for these dreams to become reality, and the only way to do so is by continuous encouragement. Children need to be believed in. Teachers have an incredible influence over their students’ lives, from classroom conduct to future careers and everything in between. From teachers, students learn how to live.
I believe that every student can go out in the world and live out their dreams. Students can become what their teachers believe they are. As a teacher, I will constantly encourage my students, making sure they know that they have the potential to live out their dreams. I believe that they will become what I believe they are; capable of anything they set out to do.