"Exit Slip in Class"

1.)  What is the good? Who is the good person living in the good society?

- The "good" is those who are willing to help one another to progress. The good person living in the good society is the person who has utilized their willingness and attempted to help others, thus making society not co-dependent, but instead cooperative and unified.

2.) What is the purpose of education?

- The purpose of education is to better each individual during their developmental years and beyond, which in turns better society / the world.

3.) What should everyone learn? Why?

- Everyone should learn their explicit curriculum, naturally, but beyond that they should learn about themselves, what they're interested in, what inspires them. If a student / person in general has a strong fundamental knowledge on core subjects, as well as their passions and genuine interests, they'll be well rounded with a (hopefully) clear direction!

4. What is the nature of learning?

- We are learning every day, at almost every moment during the day. Because of this, learning can be overwhelming, as it's pervasive in the metaphorical sense. It can be difficult as a student or teacher to properly "learn" something, but it's important to understand that all forms of learning are adherently good and helpful. All in all, learning is everywhere, and it should be appreciated rather than feared.

5. What is "excellent" teaching?

- Excellent teaching is teaching that transcends the simple transferring of knowledge from instructor to the instructed. Instead, it revolves around the teacher presenting said knowledge in an interesting, unique, and clever way that all students can appreciate and utilize in future endeavors. At the same time, this kind of teaching is a two-way street, where each party can learn something valuable!

6. What does school do?

- School provides the tools necessary for students to progress and grow as individuals :-)

Personal Attributes / Professional Skills, Attributes, and Abilities

Personal Attributes:

I am someone genuinely interested in the success and development of others. I love to watch my friends/peers progress and do well with their goals, so I'm sure this will surely carry over to my future students. Without sounding too pompous, I'd like to think that I'm funny. Not, like, knee-slapping funny, but you know, somewhat funny. It has helped me in subtle ways time and time again, and as a student I've always appreciated when my teacher has a sense of humor, so! I also think that I'm genuinely creative, and I intend to apply this to teaching to the fullest of my capabilities. Not to mention, I'm very accepting of differences!

Professional Skills, Attributes, and Abilities:

I am (honestly) hardworking, cooperative, flexible, and sincere in my efforts. I think the combination of these attributes is very important, as it allows for work well on my own terms (as well as with others). Teaching isn't always a solo profession, so being able to work hard no matter what the circumstances are, I think, will benefit me. Additionally, I'm punctual, organized, and pretty dang good at allocating personal responsibilities over a stretch of time, which will allow for me to run my classroom smoothly and timely. As a student, I always hated when teachers took "forever" to grade my papers/assignments!! Lastly, I'm a good writer and reader. I understand the mechanics, have an understanding of what works/what doesn't, and can offer credible advice on topics revolving around the English language. Oh, and might as well include that I'm a "problem solver" too!

I've never talked myself up this much before, haha, it's so, so weird to do so.

Goals as a Teacher

My goals as a teacher are relatively simple. I hope to be:

• Fun
• Interesting
• Unique
• Knowledgeable
• Resourceful
• Professional
• Caring
• Patient
• Successful
• Compassionate
• Friendly
• And all of the intricacies and nuances that fall between each of these terms

I also hope to inspire and drive my students to be better learners, thinkers, and people in general : )

My Core Convictions About Teaching and Learning

I believe that teaching and learning go hand & hand. To be a truly successful and empowering teacher, you have to be willing to learn, whether it be from students, faculty, parents, what have you. This willingness is vital, as it lets your students know that you, too, are still a work in progress. This, in a sense, humanizes you as a teacher, making you more of an empathetic and compassionate figure. 

Additionally, teachers need to be there for students, to be someone to offer love, answers, respect, and safety. They need to be there for their students no matter what their background (socioeconomic, religion, sexuality, etc) is. Teachers in a lot of ways are havens for their students and exist as the bright light at the end of the dark tunnel. It would be such a shame for that light to go out. With that mind, as much as teachers must be willing to teach, students must be willing to learn. There has to be, in some capacity, a mutual understanding between the student and teacher, where each agrees to fulfill their responsibilities for one another. If this unspoken agreement is honored, I do believe that the relationship between the two parties will flourish, nurture, and better both involved. All in all, my core convictions are simple: be willing, be loving, be understanding, be THERE.