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  Teaching can be a very daunting task until you realize that you are a guide helping to foster lifelong learners. I agree with Dewey's view of teachers as   facilitator.  I see my role as someone who creates and supplements the educational environment. English as a Second Language has a flexibility that may not be as allowed in other curriculum areas. I have the freedom to change topics or go with a teachable moment.  I'm fortunate to be able to explore other subject areas like, Language Arts but Science, Math, Health, Social Studies, and Current Events. I don't have a schedule per se but I make sure I cover the English as a Second Language curriculum and keep it interesting for my children and me.
                           

    Teachers need to create lessons that are meaningful and stimulating while varied in experiences because children learn differently. This is especially true for me. My first year students go through a silent period, where I talk a lot and they just nod and soak up the environment. It takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months to get over this silent period. I know my children are listening and watching everything happening in my room. In their silence, they are learning about a whole new culture and new school environment. They hear many stories, fables and fairy tales during that time. They listen to the tone and inflection in my voice and check out the pictures to follow along. They watch American customs, hear our greetings, observe body language, and see how you react to different circumstances. The joy in teaching beginners is that one day out of the blue they giggle at something you said or they come out with a few words or a whole sentence.
                           
      Children, who become lifelong learners, view learning as fun, challenging, and engaging. These children go on to become leaders in their communities, builders of the future, and inspire other to be the best that they can be and to follow their dreams. Lifelong learners become lifelong readers and are open-minded and often think outside the box. They view life and it's challenges using all the knowledge that they have gained from their own experiences and through the lives of other in books. They may not have experienced the best of everything growing up or been given a silver spoon but they can dream and live vicariously and visit far away lands by reading. They strive to make the best of what they have and overcome all odds to build a life and a future for themselves. They realize that education and reading are keys to their future, keys that can unlock many doors of opportunity.                                       
Children bring with them rich multicultural experiences. Teachers should encourage the appreciation of everyone's cultures and tap into this asset when planning lessons. This is so true in English as a Second Language. My children love to tell everyone in the group what is special about their culture. They enjoy sharing stories about their homeland and what life was like there. Everyone in the group including me loves to hear real life accounts of what life was like. I am constantly comparing our holidays and customs to what they had been doing in their homeland.                                                                                       

The Ideal School

Teaching and training a child has never been more challenging than it is today.  Today's "new" generation of children have a different set of needs, interests and values. Therefore, as educators, it is our responsibility to first understand the generation that we are teaching; and then put ourselves into a category alongside of the student that will foster and create opportunities educational, social and moral growth.

Gateways School is dedicated to teaching all students according to their learning styles and/or ability while challenging them to analyze, synthesize and evaluate the knowledge being gained in the academic environment.

Gateways School is designed to foster life long learners. We believe that life long learners are readers and become the leaders of tomorrow. We want our children to go beyond what is learned in a book. Therefore, classrooms need to be creative, stimulating, inviting learning environments that encourage children to learn to the best of their ability. We are also committed to developing self worth in all children and an appreciation for cultures. We encourage parental and staff involvement in all school activities.

A Typical School in 2003

http://edfolio.fdu.edu/KohutichM/2003School