Learning is hope for becoming better individuals, for gaining intelligence and for implementing practical experience in our future. Since we always tell our children that they should plan for their futures and work to realize those goals, the teaching profession should “practice what it preaches” by helping young people to reach those goals. I believe that respectful, caring bonds with children and their families are the vital foundation for a wonderful early childhood experience for a student. Parents are the child’s most important teachers. I believe that families are the most important aspect for the student because they are their child's first teacher. I am an active listener in the parent and child’s everyday learning environment. I believe that children can learn through play, interacting with others, their experiences, and hands-on learning activities. I strive to have upmost respect and love for all the children I teach.

 

            Creating a community in the classroom environment is the beginning for setting the child up for a successful year academically and socially for their development. Everyone is a teacher in my classroom, not just the teacher. Age appropriate resources are available everywhere in the classroom at the child’s access. Children should be able to depend on their classroom community by the consistency of guidance and schedule of routines that are present.  By doing this I am able to provide that feeling of safety that is associated with predictability for children needs and expectations.

 

                As a teacher of young children, I would like to help them grow in self-confidence. To do this successfully I would like to help the children to develop a very positive self-concept. The vehicle to effectively help develop self with young children is play. Judith Turner in her book “Creative Play” says; “Play is vital to the normal development of a child; he/she learns more through play than by any other means”.

 

To gain an understanding of how valuable play is to children, think of the differences between a baby, a toddler and a preschooler. The changes that occur are not just physical; here is a growth in social/emotional skills, language and cognitive levels. These developmental areas are given a chance to develop within a kindergarten setup. The children are continually at play inside and outside. They are playing in a number of situations. They can be active/passive, involved in individual or group play and they can be noisy or quiet. I programme to facilitate these situations and timetable to allow for a flow of movement to enable a variety of play situations to occur. There is a balance between teacher directed activities and activities that are child directed. Kindergarten is a rich learning environment that provides children with opportunities to explore and discover how they fit in the world about them. They come to kindergarten from home with this curiosity quality. I will try to nurture and encourage their enthusiasm.

 

In addition to the children learning educators will also need to focus on health and well-being of the child. We believe that custodial care is a part of the children education. For children to be able to learn they need first to be happy and healthy. Children need to eat, sleep and bath regularly in order to maintain their physical health. Children also require respect and for adults to show caring and compassion as well as develop healthy relationships so that they can well emotionally stable. Children basic needs have to be met in order for them to be capable of learning. If a child is sick, in pain or emotional they will not be able to learn as they do when they are healthy.

 

            I also believe that teachers should set specific and clear expectations, standards and goals from the very first day of the class. Once they are set, they should be adhered to throughout the remainder of the year. I believe setting high standards for students in an important way to get students to rise to their potential. Teacher should also set specific goals of students. Long term goals for students should be set what they are learning later in life.