Mindy Skipper Philosophy of Education I believe in the future of education. Students are that future.

It is because of the students that education and learning are important. It is the job of the teacher-leader to ensure that learning is taking place within his or her classroom so that students are given every opportunity to learn and grow intellectually. The classroom is the place where learning takes place. It needs to be an environment where students feel comfortable and safe. The classroom needs to be a place that is managed by the teacher-leader so that the classroom activities can run smoothly and learning can, therefore, take place. It is the responsibility of the teacher-leader to be consistent with the rules of the classroom. No two students are alike. Every student has his or her own personality and learning style. I believe that it is important for the teacher-leader to keep personality types in mind while teaching his or her class. Each student comes from a different environment and lives with different circumstances. Those outside forces can impact how the student learns inside the classroom. Teacher-leaders also need to keep in mind the different learning styles that the students of his or her classroom have. There is no lesson that can work for all students if the teaching is not varied to incorporate all learning styles of the different students. Just like no two students learn the same way, the lessons do not need to be taught the same way. The teacher-leader needs to keep the students excited and the lessons interesting to keep the students engaged in learning. As a Social Studies teacher, it is important in my class that when I prepare my lessons they are not all lectures. I need to mix up my teaching styles so that my students can learn without my teaching style becoming dull. I will use various technologies in my classroom such as PowerPoint, Smart Board, videos, short clips, and computers to demonstrate my lessons. I will also use dramas to act out examples, projects to allow student participation, and discussions to ensure the objective is being reached. Not every lesson is going to work for every class. The teacher-leader needs to be flexible and willing to make adjustments to his or her lesson plans in order to make the opportunity for learning the top priority in the classroom. When a lesson does not work, it is necessary that the teacher-leader assesses his or her lesson and alters the material or style of teaching to ensure that the objectives of the class are being met. For example, in my classroom if an objective is not met to the extent it was designed to, I will reteach the lesson in another manner. Instead of a worksheet I would have the students do a group project, or instead of a video my class would have a discussion before reassessing. I want my students to learn and grow in my classroom so that they can mature and succeed as assets to the community to which they live. It is the responsibility of the teacher-

leader to ensure that the students learn and grow in their education to prepare them for their future. I believe that the purpose of education is for every student to be given the opportunity to succeed and achieve his or her highest potential.