I think of my role as a classroom teacher as similar to that of a coach.  The coach must teach the necessary skills, always building upon, expanding, and stretching existing skills in an atmosphere of encouragement and enthusiasm, never humiliation or ridicule.  A teacher must identify and build on the strengths of each student while finding ways to help build up the weak areas.  The students must truly know that their teacher believes in them. In part, how well they will learn depends upon their knowing that I, as their teacher, believe in them and if they believe in themselves they can accomplish great things. 

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