As an educator, I strive for my students to feel seen and recognized in my curriculum. I want my classroom to create an environment for my students that is either a mirror, a window, or a sliding glass door into their own personal lives or the lives of others around them, as Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop proposed. If I have the opportunity to work with younger children, this concept for my classroom will open my students' eyes to experiences that may mirror their own lived experiences or provide a window into another perspective. On the other hand, working with older students it will provide an introspective guidance of our own biases, and better yet, may possibly spark a conversation of change.Â
I want my students to understand that I am not the only teacher in the classroom, but they are teachers to each other and to myself as well. With this mindset that we can all learn from one another, I hope my students feel safe enough to speak their mind, offer new insight, or ideas. I believe that students are equal contributors to their own education and the world around them, with an open line of communication and trust. With that, I won't just be the educator they want, but I will be the educator they need.
I believe that the process of learning derives from making mistakes. If we never make a mistake, we will have never truly challenged ourselves. I want my students to be content with making mistakes, as they will know, a growth mindset is the root of learning and education.
The most important aspect of teaching to me is knowing that all my students are unique individuals. To me, the one thing these children share in common is that they all have me as their teacher, but their opinions, stories, experiences, and emotions about education, and what that means to them, are all worth listening to. One student may say school is like a job, while others may say it is an escape, and others may say it is an opportunity. My role as their teacher is to offer their education, best suited to their own needs. Through my collaboration with my students, they are able to provide insight to help create an accessible, safe, and forever-growing learning environment.