Personal StatementWhy I want to become an elementary

school teacher

A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches

a heart.By, Lauren Bonaldo

1. I want to make a difference.

I want to to be an elementary school teacher so that I can make a difference in young kids lives. As an elementary school teacher, you not only have to teach students key subjects such as math, reading, writing, and science, but you also get to teach them important life skills and valuable information that they will carry with them the rest of their lives. Teacher’s spend many hours with their students each day, allowing them to get to know each other personally and create strong relationships. Students learn to trust their teacher and share personal information from outside the classroom, and often stay connected years later. In Dr. Redman’s book Don’t Smile Until December she tells us a story of how her mom’s “three former students from her seventh-grade class, taught in the 1940’s, planned and coordinated her retirement party. One is a principal, another is a teacher, and the third played an active role in the education of children at his church” (Redman pg. 6). I feel that there is no better reward to being a teacher than knowing that you created a special bond with students in your classroom and have made an impact in their lives.

2. I love that young students have so much to learn.

As an elementary school teacher working with young kids there are always new things for them to learn. There are so many new concepts that young students have not yet been exposed to that teacher’s can introduce to them for the first time. At such a young age students have so much room for growth, improvement, and new accomplishments. At the beginning of the year a student may not know the alphabet or their multiplication tables and by the end of the year they are spelling words and have mastered multiplication. Their energy and excitement to learn is inspiring and creates a fun and positive learning environment. I believe growth in a classroom is a very rewarding experience to be a part of.

3. I believe education is very important.

I feel that elementary school is where the foundation of education starts. As an elementary school teacher you can help students create positive learning habits, instill a love and importance for school and create a fun learning environment where students will find it exciting and enjoyable to come to school. I believe teaching young students to have a strong work ethic, to work hard, and give their best effort in everything they do will help them have bigger and brighter futures.

4. I love all subjects.

Being an elementary school teacher, I love that you get the opportunity to teach a variety of subjects such as math, reading, and science. This makes teaching more exciting and fun than repeating the same lesson plan all day. This also allows the teacher to see the strengths and weaknesses of their students. If a student is not so great at math but excels in science then you can reward the student for their accomplishments in science, but still work on strengthening their math skills. Teaching multiple subjects will also allow for more creativity in lesson plans and different activities throughout the day.

5. Teaching allows for a more flexible lifestyle.

Having a family is something I greatly value, and I feel that being a teacher will allow for the perfect balance between being a mom and still having a job. Although teachers get weekends, summer’s, and holidays off, “work doesn’t stop at the classroom door. There are papers to grade, lessons to plan, parents to call, all done after the teacher is off the clock” (Redman pg. 10). However, teaching allows for a more flexible schedule and allows the teacher to plan and get their grading done when they choose. Teaching is perfect for raising a family because you typically get out of school at the same time as your kids, you can attend sporting events, and plan family vacations. Growing up my mom was always a stay at home mom, and I know that I am who I am today because she was there to guide and support me through everything I did. I hope to be there for my kids like my mom was for me.

Redman, P. D. (2006). In Zucker F., Rabanera G., Reese J. and McBrien J. L. (Eds.), Don't smile until december: And other myths about classroom teaching. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin Press.

Works Cited