I believe all children are unique, capable individuals with endless possibilities. Given the proper environment and a nurturing teacher, the child can mentally, academically, and socially thrive inside and outside the classroom. Children teach me to look at the world with a fresh, creative perspective. As a mentor and educator, I strive to find what motivates and inspires my students by exploring their interests so that we may learn and grow from one another. If student engagement is connected to their interests, then they will have a natural motivation to learn. Teachers are mentors who guide students to self-discovery and open the world to curiosity and possibilities.
I believe education is about developing the whole child. Every child is special. Every child is unique. Every child can love and grow no matter their age or developmental level. It is the duty of a teacher to discover what students are interested in and build on that passion. The classroom is a place where the community accepts change, embraces cultural differences, and welcomes individuality. It is this cultivation of recognition that allows for a strong, positive classroom community for the child. |
The child has
a hundred languages but they steal ninety-nine. The school and the culture separate the head from the body. They tell the child: to think without hands to do without head to listen and not to speak to understand without joy to love and marvel only at Easter and Christmas. They tell the child: to discover the world already there and of the hundred they steal ninety-nine. They tell the child: that work and play reality and fantasy science and imagination sky and earth reason and dream are things that do not belong together. And thus they tell the child that the hundred is not there. The child says: No way. The hundred is there. - Loris Malaguzzi |
My Image of Child
"The greatest sign of success for a teacher...is to be able to say, the children are now working as if I did not exist."