From kindergarten through high school, students have the potential of spending 13,000 or more

hours in the classroom. During this time, the brain is experiencing its most crucial stages of
development. These stages can be altered and changed according to the experiences and environment
the students are surrounded by (Jenson, 1). The potential impact I have on these students, relies largely
in these hours. Recognizing the importance, I must create an atmosphere that ensures stability and
constructivism for their growth. I want to be a positive influence that imbeds confidence in my students
to reach their own goals and exceed any expectations they have placed on them. I realize at this stage in
their lives, they need genuine and authentic time to help develop their knowledge, skills and frame of
mind. I am passionate in promoting the use of authentic assessment in order to fulfill the students
interest on the relevancy of education outside of the classroom and ensure authenticity (Kagan 15.4).
Driven, committed, and goal-oriented are all major qualities that come to mind when I think of
an exceptional teacher. A teacher such as this, must care for the students in such a selfless manner in
order to treat each of the students goals as a priority (DuFour, 2). They are willing to endure the many
hardships as a result of indifference or defiance in the classroom. I believe this type of commitment
paves the way for one of the key essentials of an educator, being passionate. School becomes very
habitual for students. They begin going through the motions just to make it through each day. They lack
passion, a reason to be excited in the classroom. As a teacher, being passionate about the content
invites the students to welcome emotions needed in order to make learning meaningful and
memorable (Jensen, 69). Engaging the students in the classroom requires more than the characteristics
of a teacher but necessary skills as well.
The qualities of a well-developed teacher empowers the skills they possess. A great teacher
must be student-focused. The world is rapidly changing and evolving more into a technology based
society. The students today have never known a world without technology. As a teacher it is crucial to
understand how to integrate their interests and prior knowledge into new content. This approach
requires the teacher to be is a critical thinker, problem solver, and efficient manager (Texas Teacher
Proficiencies). A student-centered classroom is focused solely on adhering to their individual needs and
interests. This atmosphere engages the students, enabling the teacher to become more of a team player
and a facilitator to the classroom than the traditional podium teacher.
When the teacher is able to transform her/his role into more of a facilitator for the classroom, it
becomes student-centered. As a result, a positive experience is created for the students of this
classroom. Key elements in creating an environment geared to the students are cooperative learning,
accountability, and differentiated instruction. Both the teacher and the students are reflected through
these elements by the mutual interdependence it creates (Kagan 4.2). Cooperative learning opens the
floor to the students to build upon their peers' knowledge and develop their own understanding to the
content (Kagan 5.8). They hear different mindsets or approaches from their peers that they may have
never considered before; their input becomes a necessity. Multiple intelligences are brought to the
attention of the teacher, as the students are actively expressing different learning dimensions.

Through this learning style, students are able to broaden their way of thinking. Individuals are able to
celebrate their own uniqueness and find growth in themselves.


It engages the students on multiple levels;
Facilitation of a student-centered classroom is a key characteristic of effective instruction,

There is a trust that is held in this profession. Teaching has the potential of reversing this world a
little at a time. I choose teaching as the profession I want to pursue because I aspire to be one of the
leaders who passionately serves, loves unconditionally, and teaches selflessly for the betterment of
someone else.