Education Should be R.E.A.L.

By: Linda M. Serafini

             Our Future depends on the children of today and that is why I believe education should take place in a R.E.A.L. environment.

            I have broken the word real into four individual aspects of what I consider a productive educational learning environment.  I plan to use this R.E.A.L. environment as a basis for my teaching guidelines and procedures.  The word R.E.A.L. stands for Respect, Excitement, Achieving, and Listening.

            I start with the word Respect because I believe it is the foundation of all positive situations.  Without respect, there is nothing and, conversely with respect there is potential for everything.  I will respect all including staff and students whom I work with.  In offering this respect I will anticipate the same in return.  I will take extra effort in facilitating an awareness of my students’ differences and help them embrace and respect one another for those traits.  Nevertheless, it’s those differences that make us unique and that can be exciting!

            This brings me to the letter E, for Excitement!  I want my classroom to be exciting and invigorating.  Students like classes that embody diversity.  Through the use of technology, I hope to excite my students about education.  I anticipate this will make everyone more productive in his or her achievements.

            Achievement is the next part of a R.E.A.L. education.  The level of access my students have learned to obtain will gauge their level of achievement.   Teaching students to uncover information will prepare them to achieve in this vacillating world.  Proficiency in technology will prove to be more vital than specific content knowledge for future generations.  Today’s students need to listen for enlightenment.

            The last and final letter L stands for Listening.  Listening along with respect is highly important to a R.E.A.L. education and learning environment.  Anything can be accomplished in life if we listen to those around us as well as ourselves.  If we circumnavigate this earth not listening, we will not know our mistakes, and how to correct them.  I will listen to determine student opinions and needs in order to reach optimal learning.  Further, I will listen to the administration and be open to their suggestions.   I request that my concerns or recommendations be taken seriously by fellow staff members.  I await my student’s questions and encourage them for complete understanding of classroom expectations. 

            A Respectful, Exciting, Achieving, Listening environment in education is my goal.  I want to be the best teacher I can be and most of all be R.E.A.L.!!!