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Introduction

My journey into the field of education was not as straight forward as others. Like every

student in school my mind jumped from career choice to career choice. It wasn’t until my co-op

placement in grade 11 that I realized the education field was where I am meant to be. My co-op

had me placed within a 2nd grade classroom and through this placement I was given the

opportunity to teach and help children who were struggling. Seeing their faces as they finally

understood a concept that was giving them trouble cemented the idea in my mind that teaching

was the career for me. Throughout my journey in the Masters of Science in Education program I

have been extremely fortunate to have been exposed to teachers with the same passion and desire

to teaching as mine own. Their teaching practices when combined with mine help take my

learning to new heights and my skills as an educator to new levels.

In Section One of this portfolio project I talked about my devotion towards teaching and my

ability to demonstrate my possession of the major teaching competencies which are planning,

instruction, evaluation, incorporating technology, making accommodations, motivating students,

following professional and curriculum standards, and professional development. Section Two

will provide detailed information relating to my educational and work experiences. It is because

of these experiences that I have been inspired to become an elementary school teacher and how

those experiences have played a significant part in shaping my best teaching practices. Section

Two will also outline my classroom observations and how they can be applied within the

classroom will be referenced. I will also talk about my philosophy of education and will provide

a current resume to help demonstrate my development as a teaching candidate.

Teacher Candidate Educational Background and Work Experiences

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School Observations

During my time at Medaille College I was lucky enough to observe various classrooms both

within the state of New York, and the Province of Ontario. These observations have been

extremely beneficial because they have provided me the opportunity to see various teaching

techniques and styles first hand. During my observations I was rarely just a simple observer.

Often, I became immersed within the daily routine and instruction of the classroom. My

observations took place in two suburban areas in Buffalo, NY and Hamilton, Ontario. During my

first observation I was able to observe students who attended extra class on the weekends in

Buffalo. These students were devoted to their school work and wanted to excel. The teacher that

I observed here did not have the best teaching practices. When she talked to the students she

didn’t engage them as much as I believed she should have or could have. During her lesson the

students were not actively engaging the material and were not given much support if they

required it.

During my second observation I was able to spend time within a grade 2 classroom in

Hamilton ON. The teacher I viewed employed some great teaching strategies. She made a

conscious effort to connect the various subject taught throughout the day together. As they were

learning about First Nations settlers, the teacher was making comparisons of the First Nations

students and the students present in class. The teacher provided them a Venn Diagram as a

graphic organizer to help the students visually understand the similarities and differences.

During my third observation I was within a grade 5/6 class in Hamilton ON. The teacher

utilized technology within most of her lessons. Every month the students were responsible for

conducting research on YouTube. They were required to look for a video clip that instilled a

notion they were learning in religion. Such examples are love, joy, determination and
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forgiveness. I didn’t think this would be an effective teaching strategy as giving the kids time on

YouTube would lead to them being distracted more easily. I was pleasantly shocked to find that

the students had taken the assignment very seriously and were on task while researching. Some

students even went above assignment guidelines and connected the theme to their own lives, or

other subjects. This observation has allowed me to see how impactful technology can be when

teaching concepts and how students feel more confident while using it.

Classroom Applications

Through this reflection of my classroom observations and experiences I have learned a few

important aspects of teaching that I plan to adopt into my own teaching techniques. Firstly, I

learned that classroom management plays a prominent role in teaching. You need to create an

environment where social interaction between students is allowed but at the same time students

listen to the instruction of the teacher. Also, when working with students who require extra

guidance you need to have certain activities and/or instructions in place that will keep the

students who finish their work quickly still engaged in learning without making it busy work. My

experiences in Hamilton provided me an opportunity to witness classroom management

materials relating to educational theorists. One teacher utilized Howard Gardner’s Multiple

Intelligences theory (1986). When students completed their work, they could pick a worksheet to

complete which dealt with one of the 8 intelligences that connect to the Multiple Intelligent

theory. This is important to remember because as Thomas Armstrong (2008) outlines “a

classroom is a microsociety complete with student citizens many of whom have competing needs

and interests.” (P.112). Students individual needs must be met in order to ensure they are

learning effectively. Another important aspect I plan to incorporate into my teaching practices is

hands on learning. Students learn better when they discover it on their own. George Hein argues
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that as teachers we need to focus the students on thinking about what they are learning and how

it can be used in their everyday lives. (Hein, 1991). Students don’t need to only learn the subject

or topic. They also need to understand how it applies to life and why it’s important.