To whom it may concern:

My name is Centennial Day. My major is Secondary Education, Unified Science Biology. I am a graduating senior attending Harris Stowe State University. I love teaching and interacting with children. I believe that all students are teachable and that it is the teacher's job to find an avenue to connect with the child. Learning should be fun, but challenging, to create growth within the student, which will create hunger and curiosity for knowledge. I seek to empower, cultivate, and push my students to greater levels beyond their thoughts of themselves. Teachers can see greatness and I desire to show my students' how wonderful they truly are.

Student teaching has reinforced my thoughts that teachers not only grow their students' minds, but they cultivate the entire child. Students need to know how to maneuver wisely in life to become successful. Especially high school students because they have a short period of time before they become adults and every step they take can either make or break their success. For instance, I spoke with one of my students who said that they would not do the work because my cooperating teacher upset them. I informed this student that in life you will be upset at people, but you cannot give up because someone makes you mad. You have to be successful even if it is hard to do what is right. I felt great because the student listened and received 100% on the assignment. This student grasped the wisdom given and applied it.

My motto is we do not only study biology, but we touch it or investigate it. Thus, in my class the students will perform different experiments and there will be hands-on activities. For instance, my students will perform a DNA extraction experiment. I believe this experiment will bring the topic to life and grasp their interest. To integrate reading and writing with biology the students will read about the topic of study and write lab reports on the experiment performed. I believe that if students are able to write and read on higher levels, when they become college students it would be easier, give them confidence, and make them successful.

Thinking about some of my greatest learning experiences I reflect on learning from people who have challenged my answers or thoughts. Therefore, I know that students learn from each other. Learning about certain theorists I agree with Vygotsky's Social Learning Theory. This theory states: "we learn through our interactions and communications with others". In my class I will use different groupings (pairing, dyads, or small groups) to stimulate critical thinking and collaboration, which will challenge each student to investigate biology and build their confidence in knowing the content.

If you remember anything from this letter I hope you remember that my goal is to grow the entire child, my love for all students, and desire for this generation to succeed beyond expectation or limitations. It has been a pleasure introducing myself. Thanks for considering me for this position. Hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,
Centennial