User:Aburk018

'"The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards." - Anatole France'

About the Author

Hello there! My name is Amanda Burke. I received my Associates of Arts and Sciences degree, from Virginia Highlands Community College, with a concentration in Education. I am currently a student at Old Dominion University in the PreK-6 teacher preparation program, working on completion of my Bachelor's. I would eventually like to complete a Master's program as well, possibly in special education or as a reading specialist. My goal is to teach elementary school in Southwest Virginia. I love working with younger children, but I am willing to teach any grade. Staying here in Southwest Virginia is very important to me. I believe that our area, with it's increasing economic challenges, is at risk educationally. We need high quality teachers to motivate our children, give them hope for our area, and provide them a superior education. These are not unreasonable or unreachable goals.

I graduated from Chilhowie High School in 1998, and attended Radford University for one year. I transferred to the community college to finish my associates, and then decided to get married in November of 2000. I went to work for a call center for the next several years struggling with whether I really wanted to teach or not, and if not what I did want to do with the rest of my life. Our first son was born in November of 2002 and my second son followed about four years later in January of 2007. After the birth of my second baby, I decided to become a stay at home mom and finish my education. The decision to teach is honestly attributed to my children. They have taught me so much about myself, and confirmed my goal of teaching. I love to see them learning new things. The look of curiosity and accomplishment when they are faced with a new challenge or a new idea is very rewarding to me as a parent. I want that excitment for learning, not only for my children, but for others as well.

My Educational Philosophy

I believe to be an effective teacher, the classroom must be approached with an enthusiasim for teaching. If your students feel you are not interested in the material being taught, then they will also not be interested. A positive attitude is essential. Every student is different and has different ways of learning and retaining information. I want to be able to mix different teaching styles to reach each and every student. I believe that every student is teachable. I am in support of inclusion of students with special needs in the classroom. It is important for children to feel like they are part of the group and not singled out. I also believe that this helps the other students learn respect, compassion, and acceptance of those who may be a little bit different from themselves. There should be a standard requirement that each student should meet for assignments. If a child feels like there isn't as much expected of them, they will not feel that drive to give it their all, or push themselves a little further. One on one time with struggling students is important. The classroom should be a warm, inviting, and comforting environment. I believe that the elementary years are the first steps to shaping a person into who they will become. Good citizenship, anti-bullying, and general respect and concern for the fellow student should be emphasized each and every day. I believe that learning should not stop when the school bell rings. Getting parents involved is very important. I think when a child is struggling an improvement plan should be developed with the parents to help the student as much as possible. Parents should involve themselves even further by joining organizations like the PTA, and volunteering their time in the classroom. This shows the children that their education is important to their parents, and that they are supported as well. With the use of encouragement, patience, and positive reinforcement, every student can learn.