Lots of words here! But, what it all boils down to is that I believe my students should come first.

*I believe that students should have a say in what they learn because if they are interested in the topic they will be engaged and involved, and will benefit more from the lesson.

*I believe that teachers should guide students through the learning process because when students learn through discovery they retain more knowledge.

*I believe that curriculum should focus on personal responses because this helps students grow as individuals.

*I believe that curriculum should involve discussion because this allows students to learn from one another and understand the views of others.

*I believe that teachers should allow students to have their own interpretations of literature because this emphasizes the importance of the student as an individual. Everyone’s experiences are different and this affects the way that we view the world.

*I believe that, as a Lutheran school teacher, I should incorporate faith and Gospel into every lesson because this shows students the importance of faith in every aspect of their lives.

*I believe that standardized tests do not always accurately reflect student progress in English because literature is objective.

*I believe that parents should have an opportunity to be involved in their child’s education because parental involvement can boost student performance.

*I believe that in the public school setting religious literature still has a place because it can be read and interpreted objectively.

*I believe that technology is a useful tool that should be used carefully because it can become a distraction that inhibits learning.

*I believe that a classroom should be a safe place for students because they may not feel safe anywhere else and a safe environment increases productivity.

*I believe that teachers should constantly assess themselves against CARE strategies to ensure the success of all students through differentiation.

*I believe that teachers should hold their students to high expectations because students will rise to new challenges.

* I believe that teachers must change their mindset about student “deficits” before they can help their students view themselves in a positive light.

*I believe that differentiation is an integral part of student success because fair is not equal and not everyone learns in the same way or at the same level.