Why I Want to Be a Teacher

Why I want to become a Teacher

Becoming a teacher has been a life-long dream of mine since I was in grade school. I remember sitting in Mrs. Lawrence’s 5th grade classroom wanting to be just like her. I had planned to go away to college the fall after my high school graduation but sometimes life has other plans for you. My plans have taken longer to reach then I anticipated but I now have the opportunity to reach those dreams to nurture and motivate my student just as Mrs. Lawrence did. I know teaching is my calling and I want to be able to influence and mold future generations by being a positive role model in their lives.
I have been working on being a role model teaching Sunday school in my church for years. I am trying to positively influence my students to be a kind and loving people. It is so rewarding to see the kids faces light up when they learn and understand the stories we are studying. Becoming a teacher in the classroom setting I believe is similar but on a grander scale. I find Sundays challenging finding ways to get the message across and keeping their attention, but little by little I am seeing changes in them and I know that teaching is what I long to do. I know that teaching in the school setting will be challenging as well but I am up for it.
Although the main commitment to my students will be to teach the school curriculum in a way to meet the required objectives, I would like to use of variety of strategies and be creative in my teaching plans. I hope to arouse the student’s curiosity and foster a desire to continue to learn. Another commitment that I think is equally important is to recognize each student as an individual. Although we will be teaching subjects we also teaching children. I want to understand their academic abilities, personalities, and who will be their main support in regards to school. I want to know what motivates them to do their best and what will hold them back. Understanding the parent’s commitment to their child’s education is essential in helping the child reach their potential. I know think this will make me a better teacher.
Teachers can have a huge impact in the community they work in. This can be accomplished inside and outside of the classroom. Keeping the lines of communication open with parents on how their child is doing on a regular basis is needed. Parents need to be a part of the overall plan encouraging their child at home. Together we can assess the progress of their child. Most parents will appreciate knowing how their child is academically and emotionally throughout the school year. Outside the classroom, teachers can assist the community at large by understanding issues within the community they work in. If safety is an issue in the community, a teacher might volunteer to make sure the kids arrive and depart safely to and from school. They may have the opportunity to participate in a community fund raiser or community walks making it a better place to live. This shows parents and others the teacher cares about their community. Teachers that are visible in the community are portrayed as positive role models and caring individuals. It will have a positive impact on the families they service.
There are so many rewards to teaching. Intrinsic rewards can be defined as knowing that you have accomplished what you need to do to move your students forward in the education system. Teacher’s have the ability to see their students gain the knowledge needed to advance to the next level and be well prepared. It is rewarding to see kids having fun learning and develop the social skill to be successful in life. The interactions that teachers have with children on a daily basis and the impact that they can have on their lives is something that I am looking forward to. The extrinsic rewards that teachers have are nice too. I do not know many jobs where you have all of your holidays off including your summers! The pay is reasonable in most areas and a pension and health insurance is great benefit too.
I am looking forward to the day that I can walk into my classroom to motivate, education, and encourage children to embrace learning. I know teaching is my calling. I want to be a positive role model for not only in my church, but my classroom and the community as a whole. It has been a life-long dream of mine and I want to be the best teacher that I can be.