Section One: Teacher Candidate Introduction to the Elementary Portfolio Project

Introduction, Overview and Rationale

What I know to be true about the role of a teacher is that we do more than just teach the

curriculum we are the change makers who have the ability to inspire our students to think

outside the box, to take risks, to ask why and to always be challenging their own beliefs. We help

our students get clear about what they love to do and how they want to contribute to the world.

Our role is performed inside the classroom, but our impact reaches much, much further than that.

When I think about what makes a good teacher, one word that comes to mind as an

important aspect of a teachers repertoire is passion. As Oprah Winfrey states, Passion is energy.

Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. And what excites me is the

opportunity I have to impact a students life by brining my passion for learning and teaching to

my classroom each and every day.

Furthermore, in my time at Medaille College, Ive come to realize that another important

quality of what makes a great teacher is their willingness to always be in a place of reflection and

in the process of asking how things could have been better planned or implemented. This

portfolio is the culmination of my reflection process of my time preparing to become a great

teacher. I also intend to make connections to important teacher competencies, planning,

instruction, assessment, CRT, technology, learning motivation, engagement and

accommodations. I have hand-picked some of my best assignments that will showcase the items

listed above, as well as highlight how I plan to incorporate my educational inspirations in my

teaching style.
Portfolio Development

Within my portfolio there are six distinct sections that will summarize and highlight key

competencies that will determine my preparedness to teach. Currently we are in section one,

where I have introduced you to who I am as a person and who I intend to be as a teacher. Ill also

be explaining what and who lead me to wanting to become a teacher as well as the experts in the

field of education that have shaped my teaching style in terms of classroom management, learner

accommodations, cultural responsive strategies and as well as professional development and the

use of technology in the classroom.

Section two will examine my background experiences in both education and the

workforce while making references to how this relates to my role as a teacher in the classroom,

citing best practices and connections to my views on behavior management, student assessment

and individual differences. Artifacts that will support this section include my philosophy of

education and my resume.

The next section will include a full presentation of all my artifacts created while being a

student at Medaille College. I will present material evidence that will support my claim that I am

ready to step into the classroom and lead our future generations. The artifacts I have selected will

demonstrate my ability to plan, instruct and assess using the curriculum standards, integrate

technology into the classroom, as well as create a culturally responsive classroom atmosphere

that celebrates individual differences and different learning styles.

Section four is where I will highlight the importance of and make reference to my ability

to align to the curriculum and professional standards as stated in the New York State Common

Core Standards and the Ontario Curriculum to my selected artifacts.

 Section five may be one of the most important sections as it displays my ability to reflect

on my overall experience at Medaille College, as well as my journey to identifying the type of

teacher I want to be for my students. It is through this reflection that youll witness my

vulnerability and transparency of my path to the education field.

The final section of this portfolio will be a video interview where I will answer specific

questions that I may be faced with in a formal interview and will make connections to my chosen

artifacts, the standards, as well as the skills I possess and strategies I intend to adopt in my

classroom.

Theories, Theorists and Experts in the Field of Education

In reflecting on my own educational experience throughout the years, and of the kind of

teacher I want to be for my students, there are a few theorists and experts in the field of

education of whom I plan to emulate in my classroom. Harry Wong, Howard Gardiner and

Jerome Bruner are who I feel I best relate to in my opinion of what not only makes a great

teacher, but an effective one.

Harry Wongs theory on classroom management is one that I am strongly attracted to as it

focuses on managing your class versus disciplining your class. He states that In an effective

classroom students should not only know what they are doing, they should also know why and

how (Wong and Wong, 1998). This strategy arms our students with information and gives them

power in making choices. Harry Wongs philosophy is centered around the importance of

structured routines and processes taught in the first week of school and the impact this has on

student achievement. His book, The First Days of School, outlines the key things to focus on in

your first week of school that will create the space for a discipline free class for the remainder of
the year. This will be a resource I refer to many times and am excited to implement in my

classroom.

Howard Gardiners theory on multiple intelligences has identified eight different ways

humans process information, they are: linguistic, logic-mathematical, musical, spatial,

bodily/kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic. This theory is one that I

reference with every lesson or activity I have created as it naturally focuses on individual

differences, learner accommodations and incorporating technology as well culturally responsive

teaching strategies, into the classroom. Upon my review of my artifacts it will be clear that I

have been influenced by Gardner and his Theory of Multiple Intelligences (1983).

The last theorist that I wanted to include was Jerome Bruner and his inquiry-based,

constructivist Discovery Learning Theory which emphasizes that students are more likely to

remember things if they come across the learning on their own through problem-solving, guided

discovery and simulation-based learning (www.learning-theories.com). When students feel a

sense of ownership in their learning they are more motivated to participate and engage in

activities. They develop creativity and problem solving abilities naturally and are able to bring

these skills to other areas of their lives. As a teacher, discovery learning will be a large part of my

classroom culture as I want to foster independence, self-leadership and personal responsibility.

Bruners theory is one that I can creatively implement with any unit or lesson plan by providing

my students with ample time to investigate and explore the material on their own accord, with

my guidance and support.

I know that my job is more than just teaching the curriculum and by implementing these

three theorists ideas into my classroom, I know I can effectively manage my classroom and
instruct standards-based lessons while giving my students room to explore their own learning

styles.

Conclusion

With this portfolio, it is my goal that youll feel my passion to be an educator as you read

through each section. I will share what inspired me to become a teacher, how my past

experiences relate to who Ill be in the classroom today, how my artifacts depict my teaching

style and which educational theorists have influenced me, and last but not least, when you read

my reflections youll know that I am more than ready to step into a classroom to guide and

inspire our future leaders.