I Will Be a Great Educator

Running head: I WILL BE A GREAT EDUCATOR 1

I Will Be a Great Educator

TUDENTS MEAN

EDU 100: Issues in Education

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I WILL BE A GREAT EDUCATOR 2

I Will Be a Great Educator

Since I was just a kid I knew then that I had always wanted to be an educator. I have

always had a passion for working with children. The joy of being able to impart in life lessons

knowing that I could make a difference for the children in my care. “An educator is one of those

people who goes farther that what is expected. It’s the teacher who makes relationships with the

student more important than the content, but because of those relationships, the content comes

alive” (Sackstein, 2016). I want to be a great educator who does both. I will invest my time and

effort as a teacher to learn new skills that are fun and engaging to facilitate student learning.

Working with a mixed age group, I strive to be the teacher who not only focuses on the

curriculum but the educator who is skilled and focuses on the development and progress.

Teacher vs. Educator

Like many of my classmates that I have met this first week of class, I have found that

many of us have always wanted to be teachers at a young age or because of a great impact that

we have encountered being moved or inspired by a teacher. “Teaching isn’t just a job to an

educator it’s a calling. The passion and commitment of ones desire to amplify the voices and

dreams of the many children” (Sackstein, 2016). I believe this rings true to both a teacher and an

educator. I think everyone has had a few great experiences with teachers that have touched our

lives and because of them we also want to be able to touch the lives of those in our care. I

anticipate that as a teacher with the proper guidance of a mentor and collaboration with other

educators we can strive to fulfill our dreams of being the best teacher and educator. In an

Academic Journal of Educational Sciences & Psychology, a study by Faragau-Dragos and Gudea

(2019) stated that “The mentor is not a teacher delivering courses in front of an auditorium in full

lecture room. The mentor is a practical guide for those who aspirate for a teaching career”

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(p.19). Having a mentor has been a key component to my success allowing me to dig deep

within and bring out the best in me. With confidence, I can be the best teacher who teaches the

curriculum and the best educator who can apply life-lessons as a teachable moment,

Personal Evaluation

Assessing the traits and qualities that make me a great teacher and educator, I value each

student and model respect in building a strong positive relationship with the children. Building

their confidence and assisting them to set a goal and achieve them. I inspire and model kindness

as I show compassion for their learning and personal success. As a twelve-month program, the

children in my care do not change every year unless I get a new student. This allows me the

opportunity to get to know each child personally and watch as they progress through the years

that they attend. I am dedicated to making sure the content is fun and engaging for the children.

I find ways to build on their skills and knowledge to challenge their thinking. If I set out a

project that is easy for the fifth and sixth graders I challenge them by adding a twist to make it

dimensional.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I will continue to reflect and make changes necessary to improve my skills

to enhance my performance in the classroom and for a better environment for the children. I will

continue to build strong relationships with each child and model kindness in hopes that they will

remain kind to themselves and others. I will continue to learn alongside the children in my care

as I still have a lot to learn, and they are who I set out to inspire. I will be a great teacher and

educator!

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References

Faragau-Dragos, M., & Gudea, N. (2019). Students’s experience before and after training.

Journal of Education Sciences & Pshychology, 9(1), 17-21. Retrieved from

http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy-

library.ashford.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=136457342&site=eds-

live&scope=site

Sackstein, S. (May 2016). Teachers vs. Educators: Which are you? Retrieved from

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/work_in_progress/2016/05/teachers_vs_educa

tors_which_ar.html?intc=main-mpsmcs