Shanna Allen

Professor Alana Margeson and Professor Leigh Belair

EDU 261 - Reflection 1
September 4, 2016
Letter to my Future Students
The principle goal of education is to create men and women who are
capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations
have done. - Jean Piaget

Hi class! My name is Ms. Allen and I am so excited to be your teacher

this year. I believe that each one of you is unique, capable and competent
human beings. Each of you bring something special to the realm of learning
and you will be valued and treated like equals in my class. I look forward to
learning with and from you on your journeys to becoming lifelong learners!
Being a teacher and a student both demand hard work, determination,
collaboration, a willingness to learn, flexibility, and determination. I will
observe and become aware of each of your learning styles and will use a
wide range of learning materials and learning strategies to better relate
content to you. I will be positive guiding, encouraging, and supporting each
of you. Together we will test limits, share, and learn and grow every day
inside and outside of the classroom.

My philosophy is to prepare students for the future. There are new,

exciting advances in technology being made on a daily basis which opens up
many opportunities for children to learn and grow. Students who learn the
importance of applying their skills in a technology dominated world is
essential to their future. My students will be taught internet safety,
appropriate use, and how to be good digital citizens. I will always do my best
to guide my students in being innovative thinkers, creative problem solvers,
and will model how to adapt to change. Over the years, many teachers
continue to teach with the same old routines of lectures, worksheets, and
writing things down with pencils and paper. Instead of continuing with this
pattern, It is my goal to make learning fun, engaging, and centered around
my students interests by integrating technology appropriately.
I will use technology as a tool to enhance childrens learning. They will
create, learn, and will become more responsible in taking charge over their
own learning. Todays generation, myself included, is immersed in social
media websites, texting, e-mail, listening to iPods, playing video games,
ect What better way to teach a child then speaking their language! I will
challenge my students to think outside the box and to find creative ways to
display and present information they gather. I will use the constructivist
teaching method as it states students learn best while being actively
involved in learning through hands on experiences. Technology will help my
students meet learning standards and objectives by allowing them to have
access to up-to date information right at their fingertips. Not only does

technology benefit the student, it always helps parents become more

involved in their childs learning. Ways to do this are through email, apps, or
certain website where the parent can see important updates, their childs
marks or their assignments.
I will aim to create and maintain an atmosphere that encourages
curiosity, self-exploration, and self-expression. My classroom will always be a
place where all students will be welcomed, valued, encouraged, cared for,
accepted, and believed in. I will always strive to help students set personal
goals in an attempt for them to reach their fullest potential. I will do this by
asking open-ended questions, getting them to take responsibility for their
own actions, giving feedback, and supporting them through the good and
bad. Students wont learn through dictation. If you tell them, they will forget,
teach them, they will remember, and if you involve them, they will
understand. I will continue to further my knowledge in technology by
learning from other educators and will stay up to date on new innovations in
an attempt to have the most successful learning environment for my
students. Regardless of my content area, I will provide my students with a
21st century education by incorporating technology in the classroom.