As a teacher, my first responsibility is to create a nurturing and safe environment. Children need to know that they are valued individuals and have a right to be respected and cared for. I recognize the importance of keeping my students’ best interests at heart, while teaching under a philosophy of mutual respect. My continuing goal as a teacher is to uphold this philosophy while learning and practicing the most current educational methods and strategies, so that I may provide a safe and effective learning environment for my students. As my students are learning, I am most certainly learning as well!Of all the core subjects, I am most passionate about teaching literacy. The more a child reads, the better reader and writer they become. Children learn to read through reading and writing! Each time a child reads, knowledge is gained which enhances comprehension through the use of background knowledge as well as the ability to make connections. As students become more familiar with reading strategies, they will become more independent, thus obtaining responsibility for their own learning. In addition, I believe that children must be immersed in quality literacy activities in all content areas for ultimate application and learning to take place.Furthermore, I need to keep questioning everything I do. I need to make certain that I am staying current with the latest research and best practices for children. I have to be accepting of change and be courageous enough to implement new programs and concepts that will extend my students' learning. As a teacher, I will guide my students towards reaching their full potential, in the hope that they will grow to become caring, responsible members of society.