Thinking about heart, I looked at the first sentence of my teacher website, "I love my career...the way I see it, I am "just a big kid who gets to go to school everyday." I love to learn, I get excited about going to school...I challenge myself to learn something brand new each day. However I wondered do others really see that in me? Will my new students be able to tell, I teach and lead from my heart? It made me think, what is it that I want my students and their parents to know about me, but most importantly how do I want me children to see me as a teacher. Here are a few things to give you insight into me as a teacher:
1. I am Passionate. -- I am very passionate about my career and being a life-long learner. I spent many days over the summer learning about new teaching strategies, reading books on spiritual growth and professional growth, and discovering my strengths and opportunities for growth.
2. I like a little chaos. -- There are very few days, when my room is not in the "controlled chaos" mode...what better way to discover one's creativity and enhance one's problem solving skills. There is a quote on my wall from Einstein, "Creativity is intelligence having fun." When giving students the freedom to create and have fun, one finds my room moving in many different direction.
3. I like silence. -- Ok, so you are probably thinking she just said her classroom is chaos! Yes I did, however there is also a period of time each day for reflection, to think about the learning taking place...some would say that silence is bothersome, but I embrace it and discuss the importance of reflection.
4. I am a little crazy. -- Boy Band Fridays says it all...there may be even a little bit of dancing to get the students moving around...the get brain waves moving. Who knows sometime there might even be a pirate in my room!
5. I teach from the heart. -- A book I read this summer, "Lead for God's Sake", discussed the difference among three ways of motivating: through rewards, through fear, or from the heart. This book reminded me what is important in teaching, it is about the relationships we build with those around us. I want my students, parents, and my kids to know that I care. I pray. I believe. And all of this is a reflection of my heart.
When you put these elements together, the outcome is "a big kid who loves to go to school everyday and gets the opportunity to inspire those around me."