D.

Domain: Impact on Student Learning

As a teacher, my main goal is reach all students, convey as much knowledge on students
as possible academically and socially, and ensure that student learning is taking place. It is the
best feeling when the students I teach understand the material, and a great disappointment in
myself when the students do not. As a math teacher, I take on the responsibility to teach and
guide students through learning the language of mathematics and connecting it to real life. Over
the past semester of student teaching I have strengthened my students abilities to solve problems,
think critically, improve mathematical reasoning skills, and instill confidence.
Prior to attending Hunter College, I had little experience inside a classroom. For my
undergraduate degree I had to make math posters and presentations of research, but never had
my own students to teach. When I would return home from college in early may each year, I
tutored students in my local high school and was often told I would make a great teacher. After
graduating from Coastal Carolina University, I took a semester off to figure out what I wanted to
do with my life. I knew I loved mathematics but was unsure what to do with my degree. I briefly
considered pursuing a career in actuary science, but decided it was not the route for me. I knew I
wanted to go back to school and I started looking in to Masters program for Education. After I
made my decision, I was constantly hearing comments like teachers make no money, those
who cant do, teach, good luck getting a job. I knew I made the right decision my first
semester at Hunter when a professor said There are two components of teaching: loving math
and loving the students. At the time I knew I loved math, but I was never around high school
students besides when I was actually in high school, which made me nervous. Throughout my

time at Hunter, my experiences in high school made me realize how much I love this profession
and how excited I am to take the next step in teaching.
My love for teaching was set in stone during my student teaching experience. John V.
Lindsay is a small charter school where class sizes range from 10-15 students and administration
work very closely with each other. My first day of student teaching was the students first day of
class. The students attend school in 2 to 3 semesters (fall, spring, summer). I developed a true
connection with my students and gained their trust quickly. As I took over the classroom from
my cooperating teacher, I became the person in which my students confided in. One of my
students was evidently having a really bad day and asked if she could sit with me during lunch. I
thought this student was indifferent to me and it was then I realized how much I am impacting
these students educational experience. It meant a lot that they not only respected me as a teacher,
but also trusted me enough to confide in. I was able to turn that student around from not doing
any work to becoming one of my best students in the class because she did not want to let me
down. Students would often come to my classroom during lunch and ask that I grab them a
school lunch because they were embarrassed to take one themselves. This trust that they
bestowed on me carried over into the classroom.
The positive rapport I created with my students had positively affected the learning
environment. I was told multiple times by my students that I taught concepts in way they never
experienced before. The students took a liking to my style of teaching and expressed how they
understood what was being taught and became more motivated then the beginning of the
semester. Working with over-aged and under-credited students, I have realized the stress of
having this last opportunity to receive a high school diploma. There were many factors that
impacted student learning this past semester. Due to the nature of the school, absences were

common. Lateness was not tolerated and chronic absences were an issue. Three students dropped
out of school completely, one for pregnancy, and two was gang related. After speaking with my
cooperating teacher and school psychologist, I have realized that it does not fall on the teacher as
to why students drop out. Relative to other high schools, these are definitely extenuating
circumstances. Because of these circumstances, I have not been able to reach all of my students.
The students I was able to impact, have also impacted my learning of becoming a teacher. I
attended the students graduation and it was a completely different experience then any other
high school graduation I have attended. Most of the students thought they would never graduate
and it was exciting to hear their plans for college or jobs they will be doing. I felt honored when
the students wanted to take pictures with me and introduced me to their parents.
I am excited to embark on this journey of becoming a teacher. As I have limitations, I
hope that my first teaching position that I recently accepted at the high school I attended will
help be grow as I continue to pursue my goal of addressing the needs of all students and impact
their learning. As mathematics teacher it becomes my responsibility to take on the challenges of
being a teacher and try to reach as many students as possible. I am greatly looking forward to
beginning this new chapter in my life.