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Education is more than the content areas, math, science, social studies, English and reading. It is more than textbooks, homework, and tests. Education involves many things, and several concepts that cannot be read about in textbooks. Education does include math, science, social studies, English, reading, and spelling; however, it also includes learning about one�s self, daily living, and others around you. Many people have their ideas of how one gains a good education, but I believe that everyone gains their education in a different way. Some learn by reading, others by listening, others by doing, and some learn from a combination of all three. In my classroom I teach so that all of these methods are met. I want my students to learn and understand the material given to them; therefore, I do my best to teach to the needs of all of my students. I provide plenty of time for my students to read, because that is a very important aspect of learning. I do many hands-on activities, because I believe that students will not only have fun, but learn at the same time. My students spend some time listening to me talk about the subject, for those students who learn better through listening. I assess my students in a variety of ways, because I believe that not all students do well on paper and pencil tests. I not only teach my students what the curriculum says to teach, but also life skills. I believe it is important for students to know themselves and to get to know others around them, and also how to live and manage their daily lives. I believe it is very important for the teacher and students to have a good relationship and good communication. I want my students to enjoy their time in my classroom, but also have respect for me as the teacher, and all the other students in the class. In order to do so I believe the students should have input on the classroom rules. At the very beginning of the school year, as a class, we came up with a list of five classroom rules. This way the students feel they have some form of ownership and will be more likely to follow the rules. I allow my students to have as much fun as they want as long as it does not get out of control and they are still learning. I maintain control of my classroom by allowing my students a certain amount of time to work on each assignment and when the time is up if they do not have a large portion or all of the assignment completed, then they are not allowed to interact with each other on the next assignment. I believe group work is more fun than working individually; however, if the students are not getting their work done when working in a group they are not allowed that privilege. I do my best to make sure my students feel safe, loved, and wanted in my classroom. I want my students to trust me and feel comfortable talking to me or coming to me for help or advice. I work with my students on communication, so that there is an open communication throughout the classroom. I want my students to feel like we as a classroom are one big family and we support and encourage each other. My students know that I love and care for each one of them; however, when they misbehave they have consequences. When a student first starts to misbehave I first go stand by that student and continue on with the lesson, hoping that with the teacher close he/she stops the behavior. If the behavior continues I try and get the student involved in what I�m talking about by asking him/her questions. If this does not stop the behavior I assign the other students in the class something to work on, then take the misbehaving student out of the classroom and talk with them to try and find out why they are misbehaving. If the student refuses to talk or will not stop the behavior I either put them in the safe seat or send the student to the buddy room. I try different strategies to stop the behavior before I send the student to the buddy room. I believe that by talking to the student, that allows them to let out some anger, or simply getting them out of their seat and away from the other students, might stop the behavior. Education is very important for students of all ages, and a good education must begin in the early elementary grades. Therefore, as an elementary school teacher I work hard and provide the best quality education I can for my students.
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