School should be a safe haven for students.  It should be a place where students feel safe from harm, as well as safe to express their ideas.  Unfortunately, a teacher can not provide a safe environment for children outside of school, but when they are in school, it is the teacher’s job to make sure they feel welcome, respected, and safe.

            It is the teacher's role to create a community within the classroom.  A classroom is a community of learners.  It is a place where students should feel supported by their teacher and their peers.  The teacher should be the facilitator of this community, not the ruler.  Concepts and ideas should be open for discussion.  Students should feel safe to express new ideas.  Each child has a unique identity to bring to the world, and a child's classroom is the ideal place to foster it.

            Teachers need to build self-esteem in their students.  Students should feel confident in who they are as people and as learners.  Teachers need to be understanding of certain hindrances and differences in each of their student's lives, and must adapt and respond in order to help each and every student grow emotionally and academically.

            Self-esteem within the students will lead to the valuing of an education and the desire to seek knowledge.  A teacher needs to be aware of many forms of intelligence, and be able to enable each form and each student to grow as learners and to be proud of their ability.  A teacher should help students to think analytically, critically, and creatively.  Educational strategies and methods of learning should be deemed more important than the right answer.  It is incredibly important for the teacher to teach the basic skills of reading, writing, math, history and so much more, but in addition it is important to teach these concepts while also teaching how these skills will translate into other areas of student’s lives.  Teachers must implement creative strategies to instill this knowledge in their students.  A good education is the foundation for leading a successful, contributive, happy life, as well as for succeeding in further educational experiences.

            It is important that a teacher respect who a child is and who their family is.  Each student has a myriad of personal experiences that we can all learn from.  It is important to include their personal story, as well as their families’ history and culture in the classroom.  Teachers should have a connection with each student's home life.  Parents, relatives, and guardians should feel welcome to participate in their child's education.  The family members should feel respected and therefore open to contribute to the educational experience of all of the students in the classroom.  Every individual, whether they be a farmer, a lawyer, a doctor, or a construction worker has knowledge to share.  A teacher should use the resources of their students’ families as a source of knowledge.

            Also, it is important that each student's families are aware of all progress, as well as struggles that their child may be encountering in school.  An effective teacher has an ongoing dialogue with students and families to ensure the most productive and beneficial education possible. 

            A teacher should create inspiration in the students, as well as be inspired by them.  Every child has the potential and ability to learn and to contribute to their classroom community.  Teachers must teach what is necessary for each student to succeed, but also go beyond.  They must challenge their students and nurture their differing needs.  A teacher must build a foundation of trust, respect, and confidence in order to ensure that each of their student's unique potential is reached.  The classroom must be a safe place to learn and pose questions, and it is the teacher's responsibility to do all of this.