When I was in elementary school, adults often came up to me and told me I was going to be a teacher just like my mom and dad. To which I responded, "I don't want to be a teacher!" This point of view, however, began to change after my mom retired from teaching and began daycare in our house. I soon became accustom to children from infant to twelve years in my home. I was then home-schooled for a couple of years which allowed me to spend a large amount of time helping with the kids. I soon realized that I loved being with them and I especially enjoyed any opportunity I got to teach them something new. Throughout the next couple of years I considered many different careers. I thought I could be a lawyer, or a writer, or perhaps a scientist. But something kept bringing me back to working with children. By my senior year of high school I was sure that teaching was what I wanted to do.
When I think of technology in classrooms I picture my fourth grade self playing the Oregon trail video game to learn about pioneers, but it has drastically changed since I was in elementary school. Technology in the classroom can be a great learning tool for teachers but I have some doubts about how much is needed. With too much technology, children only learn about instant gratification. They want to be entertained, they turn television or computers or their phone instead of going outside or reading a book. I believe that if children become too dependent on technology, it will cripple them instead of help them. I am a bit intimidated by technology because I am not extremely computer savvy. I feel comfortable with the internet and most websites but I am nervous when it comes to using smart boards.
