“The Student-Centered Classroom”

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expressions and knowledge,” stated Albert Einstein.  Mr. Einstein was obviously on the right track when he made this statement.  Teachers have a duty that surpasses many others of the world today.  Teachers are the ones who guide, nourish and provide people with knowledge and critical thinking skills.  In order for teachers to be able to reach their students and make a difference in their lives; teachers need to make their students the central and most important part of their classrooms.  Teachers need to have activities to involve the students in their learning process.  Involvement is the biggest part of understanding.  By having a student-centered classroom, teachers are awakening the joy of learning in their students.

In order to create a student-centered classroom, teachers must take on the roles of facilitators, not dictators.  Activities that allow for this kind of learning autonomy are group discussions, groups editing, performance, WebQuest, independent film projects, etc.  By giving our students more responsibility in their learning we are also teaching them to be accountable for their actions, thoughts and taking pride in their hard work.  By example teachers are not only teaching content, but behavior and character.  Teachers are some of the biggest givers.  We give ourselves to our students.  For the 10 months we have them, they become our life, the thoughts we think, the air we breathe and even after they have left us our minds always wonder where they have gone.  What have they become?  Many people complain that teachers are babysitters and that it’s an easy job with summers off, but they don’t really know what it means to be a teacher.  Through our actions and words we teach our students the importance of caring for others and how that can change the world.