My role as a teacher is not only to educate each student for a year, but also to develop a community of lifelong learners. It is important to me that my students learn the material presented to them in class as well as learn to love learning.  In order for this goal to be achieved, it is necessary that I get to know each one of my students individually so that I can help them succeed by designing plans to meet each of their developmental needs. It is important for every teacher to understand that students vary in ability and speeds in which they grasp concepts. As George Evan eloquently states, "Every student can  learn, just not on the same day, or the same way." People have an intrinsic motivation to learn, and when the material they are presented with is at their developmental level, they are more likely to successfully accomplish their tasks.

I would like to build a classroom community in which all of my students feel included. A classroom should be a place that students feel safe, not only physically, but also psychologically. They should feel free to express their ideas or questions they have openly without fear of getting the answer wrong or being reprimanded for asking "stupid questions". I want my students to be able to ask me any questions that they may have and know that there are no stupid questions. Making the classroom a comfortable place to learn follows Krashen's Affective Filter Hypothesis, which states that in or for children to make information comprehensible, they must be in an environment that they feel comfortable in. Teachers can foster a comfortable community environment with community building activities as well as generating classroom rules about respect.

Each class room should recognize and celebrate all of the different cultures represented. Deborah Meier proclaims, "Good schools, like good societies and good families, celebrate and cherish diversity."This will further create a sense of understanding and community in the classroom. Some elementary schools make an effort to have a multi-cultural day or multi-cultural week. As teachers, we should acknowledge and celebrate the diversity in our class rooms every day. This could be done through classroom decorations, read alouds based on different cultures, and allowing students to bring cultural items for show and tell.

As a teacher, I will facilitate the learning that goes on in the classroom and do my best to make my lessons comprehensible and enjoyable. However, it is the parents and community that take on the role of educators in the home and outside of the classroom. Based on Vygotsky's theory on the Zone of Proximal Development, children are capable of doing a certain amount of work on their own, but they can achieve even more with scaffolds from teachers, peers, and parents. It is essential for teachers to make an effort to establish a connection with parents and/or caregivers. Establishing these personal connections can be achieved through home- visits, parent conferences, open-house events, and even by inviting them into the classroom. When students have a combination of a devoted teacher at school and family members who actively support their education at home, they consistently have someone to go to for assistance, and therefore are more likely to be successful learners.