It's hard to be a teacher by Jaden

It's hard to be a teacher by Jaden - June 2019 Scholarship Essay

The three most important things I’ve learned about teaching and education from Mrs. Tavares, that I had no prior knowledge about, is one; that teachers have a huge impact on how students conduct themselves, try, and how engaged they are. In our youth, elementary years, kids are very impressionable. The first thing I remember her teaching me is your classroom should be a safe haven for students. Her room smelt of lavender. And while we thought this was for no reason at all, she discussed the importance of certain factors that make classrooms and school a place of peace and how it can create both happy and dangerous environments for students learning.
To be an elementary teacher you have a lot of pressure placed on you because what you say will affect the children. Being careful with your words and developing a love to learn early on is primarily the goal. Two, students can sense how devoted you are to the lesson and your desires. Children are able to sense whether you’re prepared with a lesson or not. They are quite perceptive and some f the classes that I’ve attended have demonstrated unto me how easy it is for students to lose focus. In order to keep the students interested and focused, you have to be prepared and set guidelines. Three, that if the students do not progress, it falls on the teachers shoulders to understand the problem. Teachers have a difficult role to fulfill. It can be overbearing at times, however, it must be taken seriously because it affects many children and how they think and engage in the lesson. Although students may agree with the teacher and say that they understand, it isn’t until they perform well that it shows.
There are many other aspects of teaching that I’d like to know more about. Things like how to help a student one on one without slowing down the class, how to teach special needs in a regular class, how to work with other teachers, what to do if there is an issue between students and it distracts from class.
Overall, I think that this career is a noble one. I am considering a career in the educational field because it something that I feel would make me happy. As shy as I can come across, I love the interaction and impact you can have on others. I want influence students to have fun while learning and to reward their small efforts. Learning is about trying and having a growth mindset Children are such a great example of that. Itʻs rewarding to help others and because the youth is so impressionable, I want to make a good impression on them so that they will feel wanted and safe when they attend school. I am considering both elementary and middle school, as a result of the many observations Iʻve attended. I am not sure which area I am best suited towards, however, I would do both if possible. I enjoy the elementary because it is so lively, exciting, and the students are willing to try. Though, I enjoy the middle atmosphere because they are a bit more intuitive and are going through many different changes in their life in which I can relate to. If there's a period in life that seems the most difficult, it is middle school. To be a teacher there would be very fun because students donʻt often see what lies ahead for them and I would hope to inspire them to try new things before they miss an opportunity. I would choose middle school to teach because they are at a point in their lives where they can handle responsibilities but they are also reaching a point in their lives in which they try to find their place. Itʻs a very awkward place that puts enough stress on them as is, so itʻd be helpful to have someone that understands and wants to help. Taking what Iʻve learned from this semester, Iʻd include collaboration projects, counseling, creative boundaries, movement, and classroom designs to hopefully give my future class and bit more encouragement and pep. There are many things that go into a classroom and most of what a teacher learns isnʻt taught. Having experience and that interaction with the students is what provides the foundation of becoming a teacher.