1. Kyker 1
KristaKyker
Education
ProfessorGallagher
February27, 2015
“Purpose-MissionStatement”
Growing-upina familyof educator’swasnotalwayseasy. Havinga motheras a teacherwas
verydifficultattimes. Iwasexpectedtodomy homework,getstraightA’s,participatein extra-
curricularactivities,andtonever,ever,embarrassmymotherin frontof otherteachers. My mothernot
onlyworkedhardinthe classroombutshe alsopursuedhermaster’sdegree while teachingfull time. I
use to complainwhenshe waswritingher Thesisbecause she alwayshadpapersspreadoutall overthe
kitchentable andthere wasno roomfor me to color. Really,Ijustwantedtobotherherenoughto
distracther fromstudyingsoI couldhave herall tomyself. AsI grew older,the cumbersome thingsthat
I had hatedaboutmy mombeinga teacher,became the same charactertraits that made me proudto
tell me peersthatmy momwas a teacher. I alwayslovedtospendtime withhersettingupherroomat
the endof eachsummer,andstoppingintoto watchher teachwhenI washome fromschool. However,
I didnot know that I wantedtobe a teacheruntil Ihad myown children.Mymomwouldteachme
educational activitiestodowithmy girlsinorderto helpthemlearntheircolors,theirnumbers,andthe
alphabet. Sometimes,Ienjoyedthe gamesmore thanmygirlsdid. I enjoyedteachingthemsomuch
that I realizedIwantedthe opportunitytodoitagain. I wantedthe chance to experiencehelpingother
childrenlearnandhelp theirimaginationsgrow astheylearned. Mygirlsare bothin school now and I
have had the time to devouttoschool again. I have decidedtofollow inmy mother’s footstepsand
pursue a teachingdegree. Mygoal is to provide childrenthatlacksecurityanddirectionintheirhome
livesthe opportunitytoachieveaqualityeducation.The responsibilityof helpingmoldchildreninto
productive,educatedmembersof oursocietyismymotivatingfactorto become ateacher.

2. Kyker 2
Teachingrequiresseveral characteristicthatneedtobe followedinconjunctionwitheach
other. Humilityandstabilityare the firsttwocharacteristicsthatI have that will make me successfulin
formingrelationshipswithmystudents. Teachingrequiresbuildingtrustwiththe childreninyour
classroom.Itis importantfora teacherto admitwhentheyare wrong butalso toadmit thattheydo not
knoweverything. Thisgivesteachersthe opportunitytolearna new conceptwiththeirstudentswhile
learningtogetherhelpstoforma secure bondbetweenthe teacherandthe student.Whenateacher
admitsthat theydo not knoweverythingordonothave a specificanswertoa questionaskedbya
student,itgives studentsthe opportunitytogainconfidence when askingforhelp.Anothercharacter
trait that isimperative forthe teachingprofessionisgivingstudentssecurityandstability. Many
childrendonothave eitherof these thingsathome and have learnedtonottrust adults. Inorder fora
childto learn,theyneedtofeel safe,secure,andstable. A teacherthat comesto school everyday and
leavestheircaresatthe classroomdoorcreatesa stable classroomenvironment. AsI have journeyed
throughmotherhood, beingadevotedmother, hastaughtme how to create a safe andstable
atmosphere formygirlsbutremaininghumble andconsistentinmyactionsandthinking.
Beinga teacherrequiresempathywhilealsomaintainingcertainexpectationsfor achievement.
Beinga motherof two little girlsthatare elevenmonthapart,hastaughtme to setrealisticand
measurable goalsformygirls,while alsoremainingflexible inthe schedule forthese goal tobe met.
Let’sface it, life happens,andashumanswe are not at our besteverysingle dayof ourlives. The keyis
to admitthisto childrenandshowthemhow to overcome thisobstacle withcopingtechniquesand
differentstrategies. Everychildwill notreadorwrite at the same time asanotherchild. The important
thingisto set measurable goalsforeachchildandbe able to show themtheirprogress. Byshowinga
childhowmuch theyhave improvedsince anew conceptwasintroduced,itgivesthemthe confidence
to take the nextstepsnecessarytowardunderstandingandmastery.

3. Kyker 3
Teachingalsorequiresunbiasedandwell-roundedthinkingwhilekeepingthe globaldiversities
that existinoursocietyinmind. A teachershouldalwaysconsiderthe differentcultural andethnic
make-upsof theirclassroomwhendesigningtheircurriculum. Parentsof childrenwhospeakEnglishas
theirsecondarylanguage needtobe includedintheirchild’seducationplan. Teachersalsoneedto
considererspecial assistance forchildren whoseprimarylanguage isnotEnglish,inordertocreate a
smoothtransitionandequal educationalopportunitiesforthischild. The technologythatisavailable
todaycan help teacher’s bridge language andethnicbarriersbetweenthemselvesandtheirstudents
whenthe school lacksthe resourcestoprovide them. Goingintothe teachingprofessionisahuge
commitmentthatrequiresthe hardworkanddirectionof a drivenprofessional whoiswillingtowork
longerhoursthanwhenthe school isopen. A professionalthatdesirestobe a goodteacherrealizesthe
demandsof teachingbefore enteringintothe profession. Ihave made the decisiontodedicate mylife
to my childrenand teachinginordertopush childrentosuccess.Iwatchedmymotherspendmany
eveningssittingonthe familyfloorwithherlessonplans,whileincitingmybrotherandIassisther with
cuttingout crafts forthe next day’sschool activities. My motherwasalwaysevaluatinghow her
teachingimpactedherstudentsandwasaware of what teachingstrategieswereworkingandwhich
oneswere not. She enthusiastically soughtoutinnovative waystoteachherstudentsconceptsthrough
visual andhands-onactivitiestohelpembedthe conceptshe wasteachingintotheirmemory. Finding
an area of interestforstudentstoaide ineducationcurriculumissomethingthatmymothertaughtme
duringheryearsof teaching. If herstudentswere notunderstandingtheirlesson,she wouldfindaway
to teachit so that theywould. Beingdedicated,driven,anddeterminedtohelpguide children
successfullytothe level of masteryisone of myprimarygoalsfor becomingateacher. Childrendeserve
to have someone thatwill supportthemunconditionallyandfindawayto overcome obstaclesthatare
keepingthemfrommovingthroughalesson.

4. Kyker 4
Beinga teacherrequiresthe abilitytobalance manydifferentobstaclesandactivitiesonadaily
basis. Teachingalsorequirestime managementandorganizational skills,however,there ismore to
teachingthanbeingorganized. Teachinginvolvesthe moldingof childrenintothe adultsthatwill later
leadour workforce andsocietyintoanew wave of thinking. A teacherneedstopossesshumility,
stability,empathy,consistentexpectationsfortheirstudents,anunbiasedandwell-roundedwayof
thinking,while beingdrivenandcheeringtheirstudentsontosuccessandachievement. Learningto
createdmeasurable goalsforchildrentocomprehendtheirprogresswill buildself-esteemanddirection
inthe student. Iwantto be a teacherso that I can helpmoldthe childrenof todayintothe professionals
of tomorrow.