I hope I can connect more with my students if I am involved and know the unique characteristics of each of them. I hope my family culture will help me be the type of teacher who is not the “average” teacher. Being a southerner, I highly value good manners and respect for authority. I will expect my students to treat each other with kindness and to show due respect to those in authority above them. After growing up with a grandfather who “prepared” his farm for harvest, I learned that I would have to do the same with my classes. In order to develop successful and productive students, I will need to take extra steps to plan in advance the lessons my students will learn. I believe my culture will help me see how everyone's culture differs from family to family. I hope to be a teacher that my students can not only trust, but more importantly rely on. I want my students to feel this way because it is a value that my family and I place great importance on. My teaching philosophy will revolve around work ethic. As I've said before, work ethic is a major part of my culture and I believe it builds character. Helping my students with their work ethic and pushing them to succeed will also help teach my students to be reliable and honest. I think in our world today there are many people who no longer value these characteristics. I think secondary education is perfect for me because I can teach them good work ethic, loyalty and reliability. I hope my students feel like the classroom is a safe place where they can grow, learn, and become their own people. I don't want my students to think that my culture is the only accepted one, but I hope to show them what my culture is like so that they are all more open-minded and able to relate to