I believe that every student has their own individual set of needs and abilities.

It is my desire to relate to each student on a personal and professional level in order to enhance their individual learning. It is my goal to work along with peers, parent, and students to promote better understanding to all involved in the learning process. It is my belief that education is the foundation of a better functioning society. Learners must first learn about themselves and then they will be able to relate better to others in society. Promoting education starts with the teacher but also involves parents, peers, and students all working together within the community. I believe education is essential for students to gain better understanding of the people and world around them which ultimately affects the society we live in. It is for this reason that I believe it is critical to teach young people social studies. The social studies discipline is a subject of learning that includes many different content areas related to people and their environments. It is my belief that you can learn a great deal about the present by learning about the past. I believe in Jean Piagets cognitive development theory which states that children are able to reason logically with families situations. A students understanding of their own ancestors struggles and triumphs can lead them to a better understanding of where they are today and what they want to accomplish in the future. Learning about social studies helps people examine the world around them which is essential to child development. It is my goal to teach social studies in grades 7-12. It is important to start by setting a good classroom climate so that all learners are provided an appropriate place to learn. Like Erikson, I believe teachers can have a significant impact on how students feel about themselves. Building good relationships and working well with students, peers, and parents is important to teaching children in secondary school systems. It is a goal in my class to create relationships where students feel free to interact with me, as well as, other students in the class in order to increase their own knowledge of the subject. I also agree with Kohlbergs theory on moral development that states teachers should explain the importance and needs of consequences because as children mature they take on the rules of the community. In my classroom I plan to allow students to assist in making classroom rules and consequences. I believe it is useful for students to be able to identify with others in order to learn about themselves. It is crucial to use several appropriate teaching strategies and assessment methods for teaching the social studies discipline. I believe that the use of lectures and discussion are two efficient approaches to teaching that will engage student learning by interacting with others while learning the subject matter. Another effective teaching strategy that I would implement is the use of collaborative group projects which allows students to move freely in the classroom while interacting with each other to promote learning. Writing is an important tool that is critical for teachers to use regularly to build the writing skills of students necessary for assessing

their learning. Public reviews of group projects and other assignments is also a good technique for assessing student learning in secondary education. I believe it is critical to implement several different teaching strategies and assessment techniques to ensure that students are learning the material being taught. My philosophy of education is one that centers on each individual learners right to obtain knowledge without limitations. I became a teacher because I want to help students obtain the knowledge they need to fulfill their dreams in life. It is my goal as a teacher to work along with peers, students, and parents to emphasize the importance of obtaining knowledge. It is my dream to reach out to all learners no matter their culture, race, religious beliefs, background, or exceptionality. I believe as a teacher, you must assume the role of an extraordinary leader in your community in order to present an example for others to follow. Susan S. Newton