My Beliefs

     When I'm asked to come up with my beliefs I automatically come up with quite a few. I'm not one to dilly dally and waiver over making decisions. But then I have to think about what they mean, what my core beliefs are in relation to what my practices will be. This takes me back a step, what are my core beliefs, how do I come up with them when I haven't taken a step in a classroom and everything I have done has been based on book work? I certainly have done teaching in different formats and the last couple of days has made me really step up and think about how I am making impacts on students every single day. So what are my beliefs? In an effort to be thorough I have come up with a few of my core beliefs and while I do know they may become farfetched over time this is what I have right now.
     1. Every student has the ability to learn something new. This is broad I realize but one that I firmly hold to. I have worked with special needs students for a long time and going back to school as an adult I know that it is hard. However, every student has the ability to learn something new, something from a different perspective.
     2. Teaching/learning is fun. This is a core belief and one that has to be stretched by both the students and the teachers to hold true. It may be boring material but the process can be fun. Holding with my first belief I feel that that process of learning and teaching can sometimes be the most important part of the process.
     3. A relationship can be built in even just a short period of time. Impressions are made in just a few seconds, relationships can be formed off of each of those. It is important to give the pair, whomever that pair may be, time to form and build a lasting relationship. The teaching should be personalized as much as possible which will help this considerably.
     4. I believe in my students. I believe they can do anything they put their minds to. I believe they are creative, imaginative and successful and will go many places with the right guidance.
     And this is it. I'm sure there will be many more over time. I'm sure that the way that I put these in to practice will continue to grow and adapt and change over my career. I do know that these core beliefs I hold and will hold for my future.