“As a teacher, you have in your hands the power to influence and shape the mind of a student. You have within you the ability to instill in your child a taste for learning, to keep an open mind and to continue to question themselves. You have the capacity to foster confidence, provoke reflection and awaken dreams…” (unknown). Education has been a big part of my life, my mother started teaching when I was three years old, she always said: "Justan, when you grow up you should teach, you are super smart and very creative." Additionally, like many other students, I have been in school for most of my life. My philosophy of education is to change lives. I want to touch a student's life and leave a positive imprint on their outlook on education. Teachers are more than educators, they are mentors, classroom managers, role models and learners. Effective teachers are learners: they get to know their students, they learn to differentiate their classes based on what they know about the students, and they stay up to date with current educational technologies. According to Creating a Safe Classroom, “teachers are responsible for nurturing students and creating an emotionally and physically safe classroom environment where students can thrive. In a physically safe classroom, rules are established and enforced and students know emergency procedures. An emotionally safe classroom is one where students can express their opinions and share their goals without fear of being heckled” (Starr, 2010). I think one of the most important things to me in the classroom is student safety. I want students to feel safe and comfortable in my classroom, this is very important because providing students with a safe environment opens up several learning opportunities...... middle of document.... ..s CitedClassroom Rules. (nd). Retrieved November 11, 2011 from http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/misc/back/rules/elem/Singh, DR (2010, 4). Effects of technology on classrooms and students. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from A rchived I nformations: http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.htmlStarr, C. (2010, 11 28). Create a safe classroom. Retrieved from eHow: http://www.ehow.com/how_7813203_create-safe-classroom.htmlunknown. (nd). Retrieved from the Garden of Quotes! : http://www.quotegarden.com/teachers.html Uyeno, L. (nd). CLASSROOM COLLABORATION. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from COLLABORATION IN THE CLASSROOM: http://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/writing/collaboration.htm Willoughby, J. (2009). Differentiating teaching. Accessed 2011 from http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/subject/di_meeting.phtml