An Approach To My Teaching

I've wanted to teach the Elementary level for a a very long time. Before I even attended school, I remember knowing I wanted to become a teacher. There wasn't a question about what career path was right for me. As I grew older I found a love for lesson planning and organizing projects. I loved showing children colors and describing the steps to write a story. I've always been firm with children. Despite that, they always seemed to have fun while I taught them concepts. Teaching children has been a dream of mine for a very long time. Now that I'm putting those steps in motion, I've also started to think about the type of teacher I want to be.

I've had my fair share of great teachers and horrible ones. I've found that the ones that I've learned the most from and appreciated are the one's that have a middle ground in teaching. They aren't supremely strict in rules and regulations, but they also don't let children run around wild. They have a gentle, but firm hand guiding the way to a world of discovery and enchantment. They made learning fun and interactive. I've made it a goal to do the same. I don't want to completely lecture as I teach. I want to introduce hands on activities that help students learn. I don't want students to be afraid to ask me questions. I want them to know that they need to follow the rules, but the rules aren't meant to stop or hinder learning.

A very integral part of learning today involves the use of digital technology. I grew up on the internet, cell phones and television. I plan to use technology in the classroom. However, I also plan to know its limits. Technology shouldn't be teaching the classroom- that's my job. I think technology can become a great aid in teaching, but it needs to be a balancing act. It's important to not let one overtake another.

I've found some great educational blog posts that can further help teachers:

• http://www.sciencefix.com/ 
• http://readingyear.blogspot.com/
• http://youthvoices.net/