I believe that as an educator I have a responsibility to uphold the highest standard of teaching, to stay up to date with current reforms in education, and to guide the development of the children of our future.  It is my primary responsibility as an educator to ensure that my students are properly prepared for their next academic steps in their lives.  Therefore, I consider my teaching to be critical to the future of my students, as they will take from my classroom ideas and attitudes that may affect the rest of the educational careers.

            Each time I step into a classroom, I try to perfect my vision of my ideal classroom.  Although each field experience has been different, each picture remains constant.  In order to construct a classroom environment that is favorable to the successful development of my students, I believe in a, at least, semi-democratic classroom. In order to guide students to take responsibility for their own learning, I see myself as a facilitator of learning.  I believe that students construct knowledge as they build new ideas upon prior knowledge.  As teacher, I serve as a source to help them learn at their optimal level. 

            It is extremely important for students to be able to work collaboratively with others as well as on their own.  This particular skill is focused on much of the Kindergarten year as well as most primary grade years of school.  Critical thinking is more of an advanced school year ability, but always based on skills learned in those first few years of school.  I believe in alternative forms of assessment. The use of portfolios, peer evaluations, self-evaluations and authentic assessment allow me to assess each individual’s strengths and weaknesses as well as give students a chance to learn from each other.