Amber Lawson
EDUCATOR - INNOVATOR - MENTOR - SPARTAN
When My Dreams Come True
During my first year of teaching, I decided that I wanted to further my education by seeking a Master of Arts in Education Degree from Michigan Stated University. I believed that it would further my understanding of educational pedagogy and in the end, benefit my students' education. My experiences as an undergraduate student at MSU provided me with multiple opportunities to work with students in and out of the classroom. I enjoyed my courses and working with my professors. All of those experiences have contributed to teacher I am today. Because I felt well prepared after graduating and completing the fifth year student teaching internship, I was very comfortable and confident to have a class of students of my own. I had experience with differentiating instruction and using various curriculums, but as a new teacher, I felt that there was more that I could learn to be able to provide my students with an education that catered even more to their individual needs and learning styles. I felt that even though I was a great teacher that I could be even better. When I first entered the program, my goals were to further my own education and to become a finer teacher to better educate my students. I wanted to be able to provide my students with more oppurtunities to be successful.
During my first two years of teaching, I taught kindergarten at an urban school in the Detroit Metropolitan Area. It is my belief that students’ early learning experiences build the foundation of their education and have an effect on their development. It is important for children to have positive experiences while in school, especially during the primary years. I also believe that students who attend urban schools are the students who need exceptional teachers the most to compensate for schools' lack of resources as well as other unfortunate circumstances that students may face. My experiences at this school were enjoyable, challenging, and sometimes, unimaginable. I was disappointed to see so many teachers come and go to the point that I could not even remember names. I saw teachers, beginners and veterans, who struggled with classroom management and providing students with a high quality education that they needed in order for them to be successful. I felt that I was being the best teacher that I could possibly be, but at the same time, I felt that my diligence was going to waste when my students advanced to the next grade with a teacher who did not share my same enthusiasm and passion. I realized that I was having a big impact on my students but in a small way while I wanted to have a big impact in a bigger way.
Now that I am almost done with the MAED Program, I believe that I have reached my original goals of wanting to better myself as a teacher and providing my students with a larger variety of learning opportunities for them to be successful learners. Because of my experiences, my current aspirations are to further my education by seeking a doctorate degree and to be a professor of teacher education courses that focuses on urban context. I believe that I have great ideas and the experiences that can help future teachers to be better prepared to teach in urban settings that will ultimately better educate students in urban areas. I believe that if more teachers have the necessary skills to teach in urban areas, that urban students will have more opportunities to be life long learners and productive members of society.