My Strengths & How I use them in the classroom:

1) Empathy - This means that I am able to put myself in someone else's shoes.  I am sensitive to other people's emotions and I can see things from their perspective.  This is a highly valuable strength in a classroom because I know how exactly how to teach a lesson according to my students' needs.  I know what is bothering my students and so I can figure out how to fix it.  Unfortunately this also means that I tend to be a people pleaser and will have to give up trying to make my students happy all the time.

2) Communication - According to Strength Finder 2.0, people who are able to communicate are great conversationalists and presenters.  I am able to put my thoughts into words and explain things to the kids so that they are able to understand it.  I enjoy telling them stories and I can easily work a joke into a lesson to keep them focused.  I enjoy talking with the kids and getting to know them better.

3) Developer - Being a good developer means that I can see the potential in another person and encourage it.  This will help me to be a great coach and teacher.  The creator of Strength Finder writes, "By nature you usually enjoy activities involving children."  It also will help me to form units and big picture lesson plans.

4) Discipline - People who possess this strength are naturally organized, sometimes to a fault.  We enjoy order and routine.  This will be helpful in a classroom for children who need routine to function and learn.  I will utilize this strength by keeping the room organized, by keeping my lessons focused, and by keeping to a schedule that the students will come to appreciate.

5) Connectedness - This strength relates to my belief that relationships are the most important thing and that everything happens for a reason.  People with this strength understand how family and community affect all aspects of life.  This will be important for me as a teacher because I will be able to see how a child can be helped or hurt by his or her homelife.  This strength will push me to form positive relationships with parents and families, benefiting the student.