First and foremost, as an educator, my number one priority is to provide a safe and respectful space for all of my students to exist in. Comfort and confidence are two key aspects for students, if they don't have both or even one of these two things then they will not be able to reach their full potential. My classroom should be an environment that harbors both of these completely. Students should feel safe to share their thoughts and confidence that they can be the best version of themselves within my room. I must do my best to ensure that there is equity within my classroom, that I learn my students, that I take into account their humanity and unique circumstances. Every child is an individual with a special and unique story that should be fully considered in the way I treat them. No student should feel like the weight of my class will crush them, my classroom should be the place where they feel powerful, where the rest of the world fades and they can be themselves.

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My social studies classroom will be treated delicately and meticulously. There is a wide range of content to cover and a large array of perspectives to include. This is why one of the most important things for me in my classroom is to have students deal with primary sources as frequently as possible. I can only do so much to explain the content, but if students genuinely interact with primary sources, they can form educated opinions on their own. 

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I view testing assessments as important, but what is really important to me is ensuring that my students finish my class with the skills to be successful in life and active citizens. History and social studies are to give perspective and understanding of the world, not to memorize a few facts. My students will leave my class equipped with a deeper understanding of the world, which will influence the way they engage with society. 

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