Section Two: Teacher Candidate Background Experiences

Introduction

As Nelson Mandela once said, Education is the most powerful weapon which you can

use to change the world. I never really thought in depth about this quote until I entered into the

education world. I quickly discovered that Education can change anything. Education is

significant to enhancing ones livelihood, and it can deter inequality issues such as race, gender or

sexual orientation. Education can lift people out of poverty, prevent illness or deaths, and to

encourage a more unified world.

As teachers, it is our job to teach students the appropriate materials, but also skills they

can use for life. We are their role models, guidance and the biggest influences they will have in

life. Every child deserves the opportunity to a quality education, regardless of their economic

status, race, gender or religious differences. It is important to ensure your students are all

learning at the best of their abilities, as well as acquiring skills that will prepare them to be

successful adults.

This section will provide you with a better understanding of my passion for teaching. I

will provide many details about my work, school and observational experiences, and how they

molded my desire to become an educator. I have also developed a philosophy of education that

reflects all of my experiences and can give you a better idea of who I am, and what I believe in.

As a new parent, I have altered many of my thoughts and beliefs from when I first started this

journey, but I believe it has given me an extra advantage experiencing all aspects of a student,

parent and future educator. I can understand that many people have impact and influences on a

child, and a teacher is certainly one of the biggest. I hope you can learn more about what I have
done, experienced and accomplished in my journey of education, as well as view my working

resume for a brief overview of my activities.

Teacher Candidate Educational Background

Dance Teacher Assistant

My first experience in a leadership type role, was when I was a junior in high school. I

was a competitive dancer at a local dance studio, and our dance teachers asked for volunteer

Teacher Assistants. They needed some extra help with the little girls dance classes, in which

were hectic and difficult to manage, with just one adult. They didnt pay a wage, but offered

discounts on our tuition and costumes. My parents were thrilled! My parents gave me a little

nudge to sign up, so I did. I wasnt worried about helping out with the little girls, especially

since it was Dance Class, and the Lead Teacher was my Dance Instructor as well. I thought it

would be easy to teach a couple of five year olds a three-minute dance routine for a June recital. I

was so wrong. I had gotten myself into a challenge, to say the least! My Teacher and I would sit

together after class and think about ways to better manage this class, how to keep them engaged

and effectively teach them a routine they could remember for this final performance. It was very

similar to a classroom at school, except this was physical work and their parents were paying a

lot of money to see their kids perform on stage.

I didnt know much about classroom management at 16 years old, but I was able to figure

it out quickly, which I can attest to my natural abilities to be flexible and accommodating . I

remember we had to wipe the slate clean one week. We had to essentially start over, because

what we were doing before was not effective. We establish rules, discipline, consequences,

rewards and encouraged teamwork. We played a few dance games that engaged them , followed

through with our disciplinary ideas and consequences, and over a few weeks, slowly gained
control over the class again. These little girls were vibrant and very enthusiastic to dance, and it

put such a smile on my face to see their reactions at such a young age. I began dancing at age 2,

so I could relate to their joys and reactions to their new routines, costumes and performances. I

got into this role, not thinking I would give or take much out of it. I learned that I had given so

much more than a dance lesson to those girls. The little girls looked up to me in a way I had

never experienced before. They wanted to dress like me, talk like me, wear their hair like me,

hug me, and dance with me. I had parents come up to me and tell me how much their daughters

talked about me at home, and how cool Miss Brittney is. I was a role model, and a huge

influence to these girls and I absolutely loved hearing that.

This position as an assistant Dance Teacher, gave me a first time experience at a

leadership position. Although I was not the Lead Teacher, I guided, directed and facilitated

instruction, just like a teacher would. My Lead Teacher allowed me to blossom as a leader, and I

give her a lot of credit for the experience she gave me. I put a lot of my heart and soul into that

position, and it was just out of pure joy. There was no money given to me, I didnt have to sign

up to help, but I volunteered in many classes for two years. I realize now that I didnt have to

make up fun games, dance routines, or pick out cool songs for them. I genuinely wanted to teach

these girls how to dance, how to have fun and how to enjoy something new. I will never forget

my last dance recital as a Senior in High School. When the recital was over, I had a sea of little

girls swarm me as they saw me in the auditorium. They were crying, hugging me and hanging on

my leg saying dont leave us!. They were so sad I was going to college and wouldnt see me

anymore. It broke my heart, but I also believe my experience from this position sparked my

passion to want to educate students, be a role model and influence others. It makes me feel so

good to inspire other people, and I know that being a teacher is what I was made to do.
 Junior Achievement Volunteer

Another wonderful experience I encountered throughout my journey, was during my

volunteer efforts through Junior Achievement of Buffalo. My experience with Junior

Achievement was very interesting and unique to any other experience in classroom I have had. I

signed up to volunteer with Junior Achievement to gain a little more experience with kids and

different classroom settings throughout our community. Junior Achievement is a program

designed to teach kids from Kindergarten, all the way up to 12th grade, about Financial Literacy.

Prior to my first lesson, I was given about fifteen minutes of training and expected to teach 3

different Kindergarten classes per week. I was given a small brief case of materials, each labeled

for the 8 weeks of teaching, and told Have fun!. I had no one else with me in the classrooms,

except the associate teacher, and was expected to teach and assess students after each class. I was

placed in one urban school, one suburban school and one rural school. Traveling between the

three different schools on a weekly basis gave me the most exposure to diverse classroom

settings. I was able to see the differences and similarities, as well as be aware of the

accommodations needed for each class. It was amazing to see all three of the classes, and know

they were all the same age, learning the same material, yet so completely different from each

other.

This opportunity really let me gain the confidence in the classroom and understand the

different classroom management skills, accommodations and cultures of students. From this

experience, I learned that teachers really need to know their students in order to be successful. I

am sure that my first lesson I taught to each of the classes was much different from the last ones.

I did not facilitate each lesson the same way, because they wouldnt have been successful. I

modified each lesson to the classrooms, taking into account their locations, home lives, school
setting, experiences and interests. The comparing and contrasting between the three schools was

amazing to see. I really learned a lot about my confidence, patience and adapting to each setting,

and I think that is what made me successful during this experience. I chose to volunteer in the

classrooms to gain more interaction with students and learn more about school dynamics in

which I was studying. I wanted to give my knowledge to the kids, but in the end, I think they

taught me more than I had ever anticipated. It was very enjoyable to work with such a variety of

students on a weekly basis, experience the different school settings in our community, and to

teach them a life skill they could begin using to extend into their adult lives.

School Observations and Classroom Application

As an undergraduate student at Buffalo State, I was required to do an internship for

graduation purposes. I was placed as an intern at a Buffalo Public School for 16 weeks. I was a

Sociology major, and slightly confused about the school-setting, but I enjoyed my experiences

with children and thought it would be fun. My experience as an after-school educator and intern

completely changed my whole outlook on education. I never thought I wanted to be a teacher,

but being in the teacher role, and responsible for enriching young minds was where I felt most

comfortable. The school I was at had very little, to no funds to facilitate many enrichment

activities after-school, so I had to learn quickly. The school also had a limited teachers that

assisted with this program, so many times I had to be responsible for facilitating activates as well

as manage large groups of kids. I had so much fun learning about cultures, religions, celebrations

and interests of the children. It developed my ability to be culturally responsive to the needs of

my students, and at a very fast pace. I developed classroom management skills, as well as

leadership skills. I began to make connections with the students, and got to know their interests

so I could make their enrichment program more enjoyable. Building trust and relationships was a
challenge for the group of students I worked with. It was such an eye-opening experience for me,

and I began to really love teaching and being in the leadership role.

Another experience that encouraged my passion to teach, was from my observation at a

Bilingual elementary school in Buffalo. The school is made up of students who speak at least

two languages, and according to the New York State Report Card, about 77% of the attending

students are English as a New Language learners. The classroom I observed in had

approximately 25 students, and they were from all over the world. I distinctly remember asking

each student what language they spoke other than English, and counted 14 different languages in

just my observing classroom. Some students had just come to Buffalo from a different country,

and new very little English. It was so inspiring to see these students work so hard at something

that was not easy. Not only did they have to learn the material at an academically appropriate

level, but in a new language. Many students had parents that did not speak English at all, and

relied on their children to learn English to help them. I never saw any student give up on their

learning during my observation. They had become discouraged and frustrated due to their

language barriers, but they had coping mechanisms and their families to support. It was very

inspiring to see young children want to learn so bad. I really took my time with these students, in

order to keep them from getting frustrated. I noticed that they would get discouraged if the

lessons were going to quickly, and they would fall behind. It showed me how to be

accommodating to not only a specific student, but the entire class.

I also became friendly with the ENL teacher, who would occasionally come into the

classrooms. I was feeling like I couldnt help, and discouraged that I didnt speak another

language, so I asked her for suggestions to help me help the students during their class time. We

worked out different sign language skills, hand motions, physical movements, writing games and
many other engaging ways to help students retain information. I had never experienced a

classroom with so many diverse learners and languages, so this was something I had to work

very hard at to be successful. As a teacher, it is important to know your students, and know what

works for them. Every child deserves a quality education, so it is the teachers responsibility to

adapt to their needs of the classroom. If that means learning sign language, making posters, or

extra games, then I am fully committed to doing so.

The students motivated me to motivate myself, in order for me to help them. It taught me how to

reach out and ask for help, think outside the box, be very creative and able to accommodate a

wide variety of students in one setting.

Being in this position taught me a lot about accommodating and getting to know what

works for your students. Not all classrooms are created equal, and the teaching should not be

either. The classroom pace was much slower than others I had experienced, but it worked. The

students were faced with enough challenges by not fully understanding English, so it was not

going to be a successful class if the teacher was going at a pace of a fully speaking English

classroom. I also found that working with other teachers can really enhance your teaching,

especially if they have more experience and a different niche, such as ENL or special

education. Working with the ENL teacher greatly helped me out in ways that I may have not

developed myself during my time there. Had I not spoke with her and used her ideas, I may have

not been helping the students as much as I did, or built relationships with them. A position at that

school was for a special person, who is willing and able to go above and beyond a basic lecture

style classroom. Sometimes you come across experiences and think this is not for me, but I felt

the opposite. I learned so much in such a short time, and had fun doing it.
 It was certainly an experience I will never forget, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time

there. It was challenging at times, but I was very inspired by the students to not give up on my

dreams. From listening to their stories, I learned that they had so many other hardships and

struggles than I did, and at such a young age, but they never quit. It gave me a new perspective

on life and continued to motivate my dreams of being an inspirational educator.

Philosophy of Education

Throughout my many years of classroom experience, and higher education courses, I

have gained so much knowledge, values and beliefs that I think are the most beneficial to

students and education. It is essential for every teacher to have a philosophy of education, to

instill their practices and guide them through teaching in what they believe is the best way

possible.

The School

I first and foremost, strongly believe that every single child deserves the opportunity to a

quality education. I also firmly believe that each child should be pushed to excel by their

abilities, regardless of academic level. As a teacher, I will take pride in understanding my

students strengths, weaknesses and interests. I believe learning and knowing what interests your

students is what builds relationships and rapport, and in result a better learning experience. I feel

very strongly about having positive relationships with students, as well as parents and family

members. Having good communication sets a more comfortable atmosphere and is helpful to the

students confidence and attitude during academics. Once this foundation is established, I will

have already accomplished a major goal of open communication and trust . Demonstrating these

morally correct behaviors in the classroom encouraging students to model them, teaches them

respectful, healthy interactions and prepares them for future social interactions.
The Curriculum

From my experiences, students are more interested in the learning when they can relate to

the topic. According to Jean Piaget, cognitive development was a progressive reorganization of

mental processes as a result of biological maturation and environmental experience. Children

construct an understanding of the world around them, then experience discrepancies between

what they already know and what they discover in their environment. (McLeod, 2015) Children

of school age have had experiences in their short life span, but are able to distinctly remember.

Making those connections from life experiences, interests or something they can recognize, to

the academic level, is more engaging and motivating to learn. For example, if my class has an

upcoming field trip to a farm, I would choose books or read-aloud that were related to Farm

animals, or activities that have animals and farm life in them. Making the connection to their

existing schema, encourages their engagement to learn more, hence adding to their schema and

learning. Being more engaged and anticipating the learning encourages more knowledge added

to their schemas, a positive learning environments and relationships.

The Learner

To further encourage positive relationships and interactions, I enjoy facilitating lessons

that have a lot of peer to peer involvement. I believe group work encourages all types of learners

and students academic levels, to insure that all students are involved and engaged throughout

the learning. Student participation plays a big role in my teaching philosophy. According to

Vygotsky ;interaction is essential to the development of individual thought." (Vygotsky, 1962)

I enjoy listening to my students opinions, thoughts and group discussions to get a better idea of

their interests and what motivates them. I also believe it is encouraging to give all students the

opportunity to talk in front of the group, and reassure that no question is a silly question. I enjoy
teaching lessons and then breaking off into smaller groups to give those students who are more

hesitant to speak in front of the class, an opportunity to be more comfortable. As a teacher, the

small group settings helps me to be able to listen more closely to peer interactions and ability to

provide scaffolding to students who need more attention during the learning.

Assessment

Assessments are vital for a teachers use in the classroom. I believe it is an essential part

of a being a successful teacher, and have found many useful ways of assessing the learning other

than a standard test. First, the teacher should be direct about the classroom expectations and why.

I also believe that teachers should provide clear examples and statements of what they expect

during an assessment, such as rubrics or written guidelines. This gives students a direct statement

of what is needed to succeed in the learning, therefore giving them a goal to obtain, and ways to

obtain it. I find it helpful to do both formative and summative assessments in the classroom.

Many students get test anxiety, or are unable to perform as well on a written test versus a

conversation or project. It is another way to accommodate all of your learners in the ways they

succeed best in. Students also benefit from feedback, so they can understand why or how they

need to improve. It not only gives the teacher a better idea of their strengths and weaknesses, but

gives students a better understanding of their own learning styles.

Assessments are designed to track students progress, being able to see growth or

noticing an unresolved issue. I have found it useful for re-engagement lessons and was able to

pin point exactly what I needed to improve on when re-teaching a failed lesson plan. I am

prepared and knowledgeable about the many different ways to assess student learning and will be

using a variety of methods in my future classrooms. I have examples throughout my portfolio,

such as a Rubric and a Written Test that I personally designed for assessments in my educational

experiences.

Classroom Management

Classroom management is another crucial skill for all teachers to master in their

classrooms. Having a well-managed classroom has a huge effect on the environment and

learning atmosphere. Students want to feel safe and secure while learning. Developing clear and

precise rules and regulations for students is extremely important, and should be frequently

reinforced throughout each day. There should be respect, rapport and positive communication

between students and teachers, staff and parents. It makes such a huge difference in a childs

learning experience when they are able to come to a safe, calm and inviting learning

environment.

In addition to setting clear rules, guidelines and consequences, I find that

technology enhances the classroom management skills. Students in todays society are growing

up with technology at their fingertips, so it motivates, engages and stimulates interest in the

learning when technology is used. Having technological devices in the classroom is a great way

for students to learn and use at their own pace, style and time. I have found posting the detailed

daily schedule on a SmartBoard, or monitor , makes a difference in the anticipation students have

for times, days, subjects and free time periods. It eliminates the amount of questions asked, and it

is a relief for students to know what is coming next. Classroom management can be set up in a

variety of different ways that are most beneficial to your classroom. It is one of the most

important things to establish as a new teacher, and work hard to continue the reinforcement of it

throughout the school year.

The Teacher

The position of an educator is held in a high status throughout our society. We are

teaching the future generations, and peoples treasured children. We are people of many trades

and play a huge role in a childs individual life. Teachers are expected to be role models, leaders,

teachers and professionals. Students are looking up to their teachers and following their

examples, therefore it is of the upmost importance to be well spoken, professional, respectful and

confident. Not only are teachers teaching the academics, but life skills and how to behave in the

real world. Lead by example, and your students are sure to follow.

Teachers are expected to be highly educated and qualified to work in an educational

setting. We must obtain a bachelors degree, as well as a Masters Degree in Education.

Following our Masters Degree, we are expected to take many certifications and tests to ensure

our preparations for being a certified teacher. Through my coursework at Medaille, I have been

heavily exposed to the standards and guidelines for these specific qualifications, and feel very

prepared to succeed in all areas.

Being a teacher is my dream come true. I have gained an immense amount of

knowledge and hands on experiences throughout this journey. I am more than ready to take the

leadership role in the classroom and succeed as an elementary teacher.

Conclusion

My experiences and research throughout my educational journey have inspired and

created my philosophy of education. I have made the commitment to not only teach as a job, but

as a lifestyle. My future students will be taught by the best academic, personal, and ethical role

model I have chosen to be. My goals are to teach all students to the best of their abilities, no
matter what it takes to encourage, motivate and help them succeed. I also am prepared to

experience more in my teaching career, and to have an open mind to new ideas, beliefs and

opportunities that can differently shape my current teaching philosophy. I feel highly prepared to

face the challenges of teaching, use updated and modern technology, encourage positive

relationships between students, staff and parents. I also make myself a promise to strive to

provide the best learning experiences to every student in my future classrooms.