Teaching is an evolving and reflective process. It has always been a dream of mine to become a teacher and to finally be living out this dream, I could not be happier and would not change a thing. Teachers never stop learning there is always room for improvement. Influences from social relations and workshops make me a better teacher. I love everything about being a teacher! Everything from lesson planning, marking, decorating the classroom, interacting with students and staff, every single part of it. I am very old-school when it comes to using technology but during placements and throughout my Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa, I have become very fond of using technology in classrooms. Technology can make things a whole lot more efficient if time is taken prior to having all students and parents on board. The remainder of this statement will touch on my personal characteristics that make me an effective teacher, as well as my outlook on teaching.

            My philosophy of teaching and education ranges from a multitude of perspectives; from classroom management to modes of communication, from my beliefs to my expectations, from my experiences to my professional continuing education and social influences. It stems from my roots and who I am as an individual. Firstly, I am an athlete and I have always been a student-athlete and I will continue to be a teacher-athlete. I am a personal trainer/ fitness instructor and these professions goes hand-in-hand with the teaching profession because they are both forms of teaching themselves. I have forever had a passion for seeing others feel accomplished mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As a teacher, it is my duty to create an atmosphere for students to experience academic success through learning curves and learning failures and celebratory achievements. I will now go into more into depth about some traits that I believe are what it takes to be an effective classroom teacher. These traits include: organized, patience, consistent, has good communication skills, is encouraging and positive, and a good listener. These traits make up who I am as I have evolved from to enhance my teaching practices.

            First, being organized is important because it saves time for learning. Organization comes with goal-setting and planning. As a teacher, lesson plans and unit plans must be planned and organized far in advance. This alleviates issues closer to the school year. I am able to stay organized after establishing my own system and methods to stay on track and keep my objective in line. I use sticky notes all the time. I have always been someone to write everything down whether its taking notes in class, keeping a list of friends and family’s birthdays, grocery lists, etc. As a visual learner, this method allows me see what must get done for the week(s) to come.

          Next, patience is a real virtue and possessing this trait can make a good teaching a great onTeachers must be capable in listening to students whether it is about a personal issue, something happening at home,or something that they do not understand in class. This idea of open communication a.k.a. "democratic interactions" according social behavioural theories, is critical to student success. Academic success roots from how willing parents are to help their children practice what they have learned so  they can later apply it in real life. If a student develops anxiety over presenting in front of the class for example, how will I adhere to inclusivity.  Encouragement comes into play here where teachers must put a positive spin on any task. Listening to the needs of our learners is one of the most fundamental aspects of teaching. It is our role to adjust and adapt to the needs of our learners. Taking the time to get to know all of your students and their families early on makes future conflicts a lot easier to resolve. Patience and good communication skills then correlate and are both equally as important. 

          Third, consistency must be incorporated when involved in teaching practices. Being consistent as an educator means creating systems within your classroom that students can conform to. These systems end up being ingrained in their heads. Most young students enjoy routine and if teachers stick to their structure and routine, more success will come out of learning. If their routine is thrown out of whack, they lose motivation and this could create ripple effect among students. A practical application of this occurrence is in my practicum when my students come into class every morning, the first thing they do is look at the "horaire" displayed on the whiteboard. If there is something a little different, the day might not go as smoothly as it usually does. Establishing specific structures and routines, as well as classroom expectations at the very beginning of the school year to set the standard. 

          Inclusive classrooms encourage diverse students to express who they are no matter how they identify, how they learn, how they look, or how they view the world. Teachers will learn how to involve all students while reaching all of their needs. I am a teacher who prioritizes self-efficacy and self-regulation, yet these skills do not come so easily to young children. Therefore, it is the duty of the teacher to prompt students to reflect on their own learning skills and take learning into their own hands use metacognitive skills. For example, by teachers asking a lot of questions, it provides students with the confidence to do the same in order to extend their learning. This is just one way to self-regulate in a classroom. See below for a brief visual about my beliefs on inclusive education.

          Overall, my teaching philosophy is based on the fact that knowing my students beyond their academic presence is vital in order to help them achieve high academic success and accumulate tools and skills for real-life applications. Based on the idea that all students are unique and learn in different ways and have different skills, and as an educator, the way I teach must be adaptable and cater to a wide range of learners. Building a sense of trust and belonging in the classroom makes for a more efficient and enjoyable learning experience.