What would a rainbow be without one color? This is what teachers and parents should ask themselves. Like rainbows need more than one color to be a rainbow, students should receive more than one area of teaching to be successful. I have an eclectic view of education. I believe we can work with (nurture) any and all students that nature gave us and help them become amazing individuals. "Treat people as if they were what they should be and they will become what they are capable of becoming", this message by Goethe is the foundation of my beliefs. I look up to Nell Noddings and try to build off of care along with ideas under essentialism, progressivism, and behaviorism.

     Essentialism means we should follow areas of tradition in American education. Respects for authority, perserverance, importance of duty are some of the virtues that should be implemented in the classroom. We should set up the foundations for curriculum in all ideal disciplines: math, natural science, history, language and literature. Essentialism reminds us that we are role models who should be preparing students with basic skills: a body of knowledge and minds that are disciplined and practical.

     Progressivism helps teachers keep a respect for individuality. Everyone learns differently. We can learn by doing because we are social animals who learn through active play and activities that have meaning. Teachers should encourage students to be curious, open-minded and try new things. By creating lessons that are interesting to students and where students are interactive, teachers can keep them motivated. Progressivism also tells us that we should be preparing our students for the real world where they will work with others have effort based outcomes.

     Behaviorism shows teachers how to reinforce opportunities of the environment that serve to strengthen or reduce behaviors. It is our responsibility to facilitate learning and establish acceptable behavior. Here are some ideas of how teachers should behave:

 Teachers

• Learn from every experience and every person they meet.
• Seek on-going professional training to refine their practice.
• Remain current about educational research.
• Ask endless questions and really listen to the answers.
• Try new ideas, reflect on results.
• Are prepared, organized and resourceful
• Volunteer in community. 

This model is a good start, but it leaves something out.

      Care, "People want to know how much you care before they care how much you know". Like I've said, I firmly believe that teachers can increase attendance and promote student success through meaningful relationships with students. Jane Roland Martin came up with this "school Home" philosophy. By creating a domestic environment rather than a designed course we can effectively reach students. Classrooms should be a place where students find safety, security, love and nurture. Martin came up with the 3R's and 3C's: reading writing and arithmetic & care concern and connection. Teachers should offer climate and routine in the classroom because its not always offered at home.

     Knowledge is power and in order to empower tomorrows future students need more than one type of education. Basic skills like reading, writing and arithmetic are essential. Students should also be taught how to communicate reason, solve problems and think critically. It’s also important to teach students to learn about who they are, where they came from, how to learn from their experiences and the importance of having goals and plans of action for their future. I think we need to keep trying and take different approaches to make sure they help every child. Listed below are some statements about students from a prior teacher. I adopt these ideas as my own.

Beliefs about students: (By Dave McMenamy)

• Every student is capable of learning.
• There exists at least one way to teach every child. Failure of a child to learn is the systems fault.
• Every student's ability to learn is unique.
• Not every child responds the same way to different ways of teaching. It is important to experiment to try to find techniques that students respond to.
• Every student is capable of growing.
• Students can learn and grow. Students can learn that pre-conceived notions about people, cultures and the world might not be accurate.
• Every part of a student's life affects their learning.
• Learning takes place everywhere a child goes. Ignoring the effects that outside influences, such as family and friends, can have on students is a mistake.
• Every student enjoys knowledge (having learned).
• Students want you to make them learn. They might not choose to pick up a book and read it, but they will thank you afterward for facilitating their reading.
• Student’s self-esteem, self-worth and pride are affected by education
• Student’s education will be a lasting impression on the way they feel about themselves and their success.
• Every student can learn to be tolerant and empathetic.
  Hate is taught. No mind is unchangeable.