When most teacher candidates are asked, “Why do you want to become a teacher,” many will respond with the following: “I want to become a teacher because I enjoy working with children.” While I find it rewarding to educate developing minds, I find the learning experience that comes from teaching to be the motivation behind my career choice. I am a firm believer in the saying of the English philosopher Francis Bacon: “Knowledge is power”. At a young age I always strived for success; academically, athletically and personally. I find that the more I learn and understand, the better I become. This is something I want to instill and share with my students. I want to teach because I love learning. Professional development is essential for teachers when considering the common core curriculum. The common core of language arts is a thinking curriculum. It requires students to formulate clear and effective arguments, analyze complex texts, evaluate evidence, and work and collaborate with others. Each common core language arts requirement forces students to think more critically. Teachers cannot expect students to do so ...