"Teaching is to touch a life forever." That is my purpose as an educator and what a great opportunity I have had the past 14 years to touch children's lives positively! The curriculum areas I teach in my classroom are math departmentalized, language arts, spelling, and social studies. My philosophy has changed greatly from my first teaching experience to the past few years. I have been able to affect what children learn, how they learn and how they feel about themselves. I have the unique opportunity to be a source of encouragement, praise, and positive motivation in children's lives. I believe my enthusiasm towards teaching/learning is "caught" by the students and this develops within them a positive attitude toward learning at an early age.

I am capable of meeting student's different learning styles and needs. Three important aims of education in my classroom are:
· Teaching children to be respectful, responsible, reliable and good citizens,
· Teaching the "whole child" oppose to just knowledge based,
· Instilling values of a "love of learning" and recognizing growth in each student.

Because I have a gift of creativity, which can transform learning into memorable experiences, my students gain beneficial insights and instructional strategies. As a teacher, not an authoritarian, I want to guide and advise students and let them have choices to what they learn. I am open, flexible, and willing to try new methods and risk their failure. I will respect each student, accept and teach to his or her strength and weaknesses, and build from there with warmth and compassion. My curriculum is based on what needs my classroom has. With the help of a curriculum guide and many resources available, I will choose activities and lessons centered on the needs and learning styles in my classroom. These activities may change every year because of the diversity of students and their prior knowledge. I believe my growth in understanding the uniqueness of children's learning styles and abilities will influence "what" and "how" children learn in my classroom.

As a teacher, I am caught in the societal conflicts of divorce, drugs, and unemployment. Alone I cannot solve these problems, but children can feel safe and confident in my room. They will feel comfortable sharing their opinions, ideas, and feelings and know they have value. Students will learn that discovering, exploring, sharing, risk taking, and creating are healthy and nourishing experiences.

If you would enter my classroom you would notice a safe and respectful atmosphere. My students have a "love of learning" which I model daily. Desk arrangement is changed often and classroom management skills are clearly evident. My students enjoy being in my classroom and love the variety of activities I plan. The students will be doing hands on activities, demonstrations, projects, role-playing, journaling, cooperative group activities, class meetings, self-esteem builders, and a variety of lessons. My love of teaching is clearly seen in the rapport I have with the students.

Most importantly, one of my goals is that children will learn that education is a positive and rewarding adventure. What a privilege and great responsibility to be entrusted with a child psychologically, emotionally, socially, and physically for nine months of his/her life. Nothing excites me more!

Taine J. Fruit
5th Grade Classroom Teacher