Education in not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire ~Yeats As I spend more time in schools, I realize that I appreciate

almost everything about the classroom environment. As students develop ideas and make new connections, I know that my work is meaningful. Learning experiences and personal reflection have profoundly influenced me as a teacher. I strive to guide and motivate students in their educational goals and challenge them in all aspects of learning, in the same way that many teachers have guided me. One of my responsibilities as a teacher is to educate each student according to his or her needs and interests. I do my best to place the personal preferences and experiences of my students as focal points of each lesson. A students needs are a top priority. I will make modifications to lessons according to the needs of students. Technology has made accommodating multiple intelligences exciting. I use PowerPoint, Prezi, and other visuals to reinforce the multiple intelligences. I also incorporate activities and options that allow students to learn according to their preferred intelligences. My English classes often take the form of workshops. These workshops consist of a miniature lesson and student centered learning. Students have opportunities to explore and inquire each mini-lesson tackled. I use thematic units as a base, reaching a wide range of learners effectively. This method allows me to join a structured curriculum with topics chosen by students individually. Students have the freedom to choose writing topics and reading materials. As they make selections, students accept the challenge to think critically about topics of personal interest. I assess students consistently according to the objectives that apply to the activity. Workshops foster, flexibility, varied instruction, critical thinking, and a student centered classroom. The self directed work that I incorporate is extremely beneficial. Critical theorists believe teachers should help raise students awareness of critical issues and emphasize equality. It is essential that secondary students begin understand themselves

as well as the world around them. I gear structured reading and writing mini-lessons toward helping students develop both personally and academically. The foundations of language arts are key to helping students make connections between their lives and the world in which they live. My goal is to help them escape their bubble, and expand their perspectives. As global citizens, it is imperative that my students be able to articulate their thoughts and effectively communicate with others. One of my goals as a teacher is to help my students achieve their goals, as well as, helping students become productive and active members of the communities in which they are a part. While teaching and learning at the secondary level, I have the potential to teach content that helps shape a students reading and writing style. In turn helping them competently communicate with the rest of the English speaking world. Many incorrect habits can be avoided if corrections occur early in the formation of one's writing skills. Writers notebooks are a perfect solution to correct writing mistakes and track progress. Teacher researchers such as Penny Kittle have shown that writers notebooks are an excellent complement to writing classrooms. It is essential for students to read a wide range of material. Reading and understanding the importance of classic literature is indispensable for students of any age. There are many adaptations of classic literature; works by Sophocles and Shakespeare are accessible to most reading levels. These writings share adventures that most students will enjoy. While, at the same time, students discover allusions and cultural references that maintain the relevance of classic literature. Simply put, teaching is both challenging and rewarding. Students are individuals who approach subjects with unique perspectives that allow them to relate with material in their own way. Creating a dynamic learning environment, where diverse minds can thrive is my main goal.