This post is for one of my assignments and not something I learned in my scripture studies ;) just givin y'all a heads up! haha.

My Teaching Philosophy

Choosing to become a teacher was not an easy thing for me, it is something that I always grew up saying I would never become. But in High School and while working towards receiving my Associates Degree I discovered that I loved working with young children and had a knack for teaching. Seeing that I had no idea whatsoever as to what else to do career wise I followed in the footsteps of my parents and am well on my to becoming an elementary teacher. 

As for my philosophy I believe students should be taught in a way that they can gain experience and important knowledge through exploration and hands on activities that they can apply and use in their daily lives. I believe in a student-centered/oriented classroom. If I want my students to learn as much as they can I must teach to what interests them. I strongly believe in Inquiry based learning and teaching to the needs and interests of the students.

I plan to do my best to meet each of my students needs and create a comfortable, fun, and happy learning environment.

1 Nephi 17
Nephi is the man. He is so proactive! The Lord prompts him to go into the mountains (vs. 7), so he does. Now my thinking is 'ok thats kind of random.' But of course if the Lord tells you something despite its randomness you probably ought to do it. So I would go into the mountain and once I had gotten there I would probably sit there and twiddle my thumbs all the while continuing to think, 'why in the world am I here?' But Nephi...like I said, he is the man, so he goes into the mountain-no questions asked- and cries unto the Lord and asks the Lord what it is he needs to do. The difference here is simply wondering and waiting to be led/guided by the hand and being productive by ASKING and doing!
Sometimes I forget to ask. I know God is there but more often than not I try to rely on my own wisdom and smarts then when those fail me I am brought to my knees and remember 'oh yeah, maybe I could as Him for some help'. But other times I just wander aimlessly wondering 'what on earth am I supposed to be doing right now?'
So my advice: be like Nephi. Don't wait to be acted upon but act for yourself "^drelying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to ^esave" (2 Nephi 31:19).

"I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be ^asaved; for there can no man be saved except his ^bgarments are washed white; yea, his garments must be ^cpurified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins" (Alma 7:21).
As I was reading this verse the other day I got to thinking about it and the Atonement of our Savior is like the 'Ultimate' laundry detergent. It can dissolve any stain we could possibly get on our spirit. It may take time to break down the dirt but in the end our spirit is as clean as the day we were made. I love it! Our Heavenly Father is amazing and I am so grateful that He loves us sooo much that He sent His only Begotten Son to pay for our sins so that we ALL could return and live with Him again!
"Come now, and let us ^areason together, saith the Lord: though your ^bsins be as scarlet, they shall be as ^cwhite as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

"Appreciate what you have and invite others to come and see." 

-Elder Pieper

mormon.org

Once again I have taken my sweet ol' time to write a new post. During that span of time quite a bit has happened. Christ has come and gone to visit other of God's children. The title of 'Lamanite' and 'Nephite' were gone; everyone was equal and all were faithful followers of Christ. Now 300+ years have passed away and not only have the people begun to distinguish themselves once again but they have also become a very wicked and idolatrous people. They have many wars amongst themselves and the Lamanites overcome the Nephites because of their greatness in number and because of the Nephites wickedness. In Mormon 6 we learn of the utter destruction of the people of Nephi. I cannot even comprehend the amount of people killed in this single battle-23 captians all fallen each leading an army of 10,000! After this battle there are literally 24 Nephites left (not including the deserters). TWENTY FOUR!!! That is insane! Especially when previously they could not be numbered because their number was like unto the sands of the sea! Can you imagine being in Morom's place: witnessing the entire destruction of the people you love so much. Though they were wicked just as the Lamanites were at that time, they were still his brothers and sisters and he still loved them despite their hardened hearts.
He says "...I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the ^alove of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them;..." (Mormon 3:12). "And my soul was rent with ^aanguish, because of the slain of my people, and I cried: ^aO ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you! Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I ^amourn your loss. O ye ^afair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have ^bfallen! But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return" (Mormon 6:16-20).
I implore you, let us learn from these stories and deny ourselves of pride which is Satan's greatest tool. Let us repent NOW and come unto Christ Now, that we may recieve the many rich and wonderful blessings the Lord has in store for us while we are still here on the earth. Let us now live as we know we should so that those left after us don't look to our deaths and say "O that ye had repented before this great ^adestruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone, and the Father, yea, the Eternal Father of heaven, ^bknoweth your state; and he doeth with you according to his ^cjustice and ^dmercy" (Mormon 6:22). "O be ^awise; what can I say more" (Jacob 6:12)?

How do you think you would feel if you had Jesus Christ physically in your midst, praying for you, teaching you, and blessing you? It would be indescribable!  I love in 3 Nephi 17:17 how the people hear Christ praying for them "unto the Father".  In chapter 18 Christ teaches us that we must be an example for those around us ALWAYS just as he was. "Therefore, hold up your ^alight that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the ^blight which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed" (3 Nephi 18:24). The Savior loves us sooo much and he showed us and has continued to show us over and over again. I love what he says in verse 31; "But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I ^aknow ^bmy sheep, and they are numbered" (3 Nephi 18:31). I love the Book of Mormon!

Never go through the days saying, 'Oh tomorrow I'll change'. Never slacken your strength and zeal because you feel secure or think, 'Someone else will pick up the slack'. This is how your week, months, and years go by piling high with regret. Regret is not a happy thing; its so full of would have, should have, could have dones.
Change today. Put your mind forward instead of in the past. Luke 9:62. Repent of those times you've slackened your strength, faith, or desire. Repentance=Change. Change=Progress. Progress=Eternity. Move forward each day. Do all you can to reach your divine potential.
Live and learn. Learn from your mistakes and others around you. Act and do not wait to be acted upon.
Today I felt like sharing something a little different. These are just some thoughts that have been on my mind lately and something I needed to share today. Always remember God loves you. He knows your name, because, well, He named you. Your Savior is always by your side just waiting for you to trust in Him and allow Him to feel/take your burdens and pain. I know God loves us. I know He lives and I know His plan-the Plan of Salvation was made in favor of us. He wants so desperately to have us return to Him but he also loves us so much that He allows us to choose what path we follow. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I know the fullness of that Gospel is found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love this work and I leave these things with you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
I love you all and I hope you have an amazing day where ever you may be!