I believe that education is a foundation in which every child can begin to shape their unlimited potential. As educators, we are given the opportunity to help shape not only the minds, but also the lives of our youth. It is important for children to gain confidence and insight into a world of possibilities.
A child's education opens the doors to the endless opportunities in the world far beyond the walls of the classroom. It is every child's right to be whoever they want to be and do whatever they want to do.
"The goal of education is not to increase the amount of knowledge but to create the possibilities for a child to invent and discover, to create men who are capable of doing new things."
Jean Piaget
Meet Lucas:
As I began at my first student teaching placement, I knew the initial step would be getting to know my students and building trust. In my opinion, little to nothing is effectively accomplished before this step is set into motion. Lucas was one student in particular who I could tell from the beginning would be more of a challenge to connect with. This is a student who has several walls built up and a hard time masking any emotions, which is actually one of the things I love most about him. It makes him undeniably authentic and transparent, and you will always know his true feelings. Day in and day out, I made it a goal of mine to have at least one meaningful interaction with him. As the days went on, I could tell Lucas began trusting me more and more. Eventually I would introduce a project to the 3rd graders in my class where they would be making their own GoogleSlides presentations. When it came time to present, I was wondering how Lucas would respond. He came to me and said, "Do I have to present?" to which I responded, "Well, I think it could be fun! What could we do to help you feel more comfortable?". From there, Lucas and I practiced together everyday until he felt confident enough to present. As you can see from the picture, Lucas absolutely loved it once he was up there! He presented with confidence and heart, and loved answering his classmates questions once he had finished. I hope this was an experience that carries with Lucas as he continues on his educational journey. I know this was an experience that will always stick with me.