MSED Elementary Portfolio Project

Amy Ruth Anna Florence

August 3, 2017

An Elementary Portfolio Project submitted to the

Faculty of the GraduateSchool of Education of

MedailleCollege

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Science in Education

Amy Florence
______________________________
Amy Florence
Medaille College Graduate Student

_____________________________
Dr. Belete Mebratu
Table of Contents
Section One: Teacher Candidate Introduction to the Elementary Portfolio Project.. 3

Section Two: Teacher Candidate Background Experiences11

Section Three: Teacher Candidate Artifacts... 26

Artifact #1: Math Geometry Unit Plan28

Artifact #2: Winter and Summer Solstice Sun Art Power Point Presentation63

Artifact #3: S.T.E.A.M Catapult Science Lesson....69

Artifact #4: Assessing Student Literacy.79

Artifact #5: SMART Notebook Certificate .83

Artifact #6: Worker Health and Safety Awareness Certificate...86

Artifact #7: Ancient Egypt Comic Strip ..89

Artifact #8:Author Study Smart Board Presentation..99

Section Four: Alignment to Curriculum & Professional Standards 115

Section Five: Teacher Candidate Reflection 121

Section Six: Teacher Candidate Interview Video 126

References .130

Section One:
Introduction to the Elementary Portfolio Project, Overview and Rationale

The purpose and importance of writing this portfolio project is to display the knowledge

and skills that I have acquired through my educational studies at Medaille College as well as

through previous work experiences that have inevitably lead me down this exciting path in

becoming an elementary teacher. Together we will go through a journey showcasing various

skills and abilities that are a necessity for a career in teaching, the many adventures that in

hindsight have been stepping stones, ultimately bringing me to this milestone of finally achieving

my dream job, an elementary teacher. Six different sections will be explored to reveal the

readiness of this particular teacher candidate which will further explain in detail many skills I

have acquired such as planning, instruction, assessment, technology, learner accommodation,

culturally responsive teaching, inclusion, diversity, classroom management, professional

collaboration, curriculum standards, professional standards, best teaching practices and

professional development.

I will be establishing my passion about being an educator by demonstrating important

connections and competencies that are a necessity for this wonderful field of work. This

portfolio will be highlighting certain aspects such as daily planning in the classroom for primary

grades one and two but also highlighting a grade four steam lesson plan that consisted of

collaborating with another teacher and incorporating our lesson with another class which resulted

in an exciting eighty minute inquiry steam (science, technology, engineering, art and math)

session. Detailed instruction to ensure our professional collaboration was successful, creating

new lessons and allowing for each student to explore the manipulative materials creating their

own personal learning connections through discovery. Implementing this form of teaching
directly relates to many different educational theorists in the field but in particular to Benjamin

Bloom, Maria Montessori, Harry Wong and my personal favorite Howard Gardner.

Tailoring assessments that address the various learning styles and needs of each

individual, constantly improving upon and learning through trial and error as is depicted in my

artifacts and lesson plans. Incorporating culturally responsive teaching by bridging activities

from the studentshome life to their school world, while integrating technology in the classroom

to promote higher learning, learner motivation and electronic engagement. With technology in

the classroom many different accommodations are attainable for the success of each and every

student which will be further discussed and displayed throughout this detailed portfolio that

include but is not limited to artifacts of an art power point presentation, an author study through

smart board technologies, assessing student literacy that applies knowledge of assessment to

student work samples followed by describing instructional steps to utilize and implement into the

students lesson. A math unit plan which entails five exciting and engaging exercises to teach

Geometry, a science lesson on density and buoyancy, and instructions for social studies learning

block which includes the use of chrome books individual students utilized in a grade four lesson

pertaining to ancient civilizations specifically Egypt. This particular plan enabled the students an

opportunity to create a fun comic strip that was cross-curricular with the Ontario Social Studies,

Science, English Language Arts and Dramatic Arts expectations.

Exhibiting this evidence throughout my portfolio in particular the aforementioned

artifacts will promote this teacher candidate preparedness to teach in the field of education that

has been fostered from my time at Medaille College. It also showcases how my previous work

experiences for instance my teaching backgroundbeing a Montessori Directress for six years has

unquestioningly qualified my readiness to enter the educational field once again. The wonderful
opportunity to educate exceptional children who are on the autistic spectrum also serves as an

example of preceding background knowledge I obtain that aids in my aspiring aspirations and

solidifies my decision to be an elementary educator. It has been one continuous adventure after

another that I very much look forward to sharing with you that paints my portrait of teacher

candidate readiness.

Portfolio Section Development

There are six major sections that will be addressed while incorporating the importance of

best teaching practices, growth mindedness, pedagogy and teacher skills which all take place

along the journey of self.

The first section is a brief overview of the teacher candidate portfolio project introduction

that highlights various items of extreme importance including purposes of content and

competencies necessary for qualified teachers. Some examples of this are planning, student

engagement through diverse and inclusive instruction, formative, diagnostic and summative

assessment, respecting, discussing and amalgamating culturally responsive teaching, unifying

technology in the classroom that in conjunction aids in learner motivation and accommodations

for ESL, ELL, IEPs, 504s, as well as gifted and talented pupils.

This succinctly leads into the second section outlining my previous educational and work

related experiences, incorporating my personal philosophy of education highlighting crucial

elements of extreme importance such as communicating high expectations of every individual in

the classroom. Consistently sending messages based upon my sincere belief in every students

capability to succeed not only during that academic year but throughout their entire lives in

school and in society. A genuine respect is developed from day one that derives from the

specific expectations of student behavior that is clearly defined and outlined for what actions are
appropriate and acceptable on a daily basis. The necessary consequences that will unfold for any

individual who chooses to ignore the classroom rules which is one of the many golden nuggets of

wisdom I learned from reading Harry Wongs book titled The First Days of School: How to Be

an Effective Teacher This and many other imperative issues which form my personal

philosophy of education are articulated in the second section of this portfolio such as active

teaching methods, facilitating instruction, positive reinforcement, sensitivity to cultures

especially diversity represented in the classroom, affirmative rapport with faculty and families

and addressing multiple intelligences to name a few will be further discussed in detail in this

division.

Of great importance to my philosophy of education is being a caring educator, concerned

about the students entire wellbeing and nurturing these scholars into our great leaders of

tomorrow. Providing an opportunity to help foster growth and achieve these goals by teaching

empathy, kindness to one another, sharing our friendship, celebrating our uniqueness,

inclusiveness and diversity. Taking the opportunity to practice manners and common courtesy

on a daily basis in a safe warm environment where it is ok to make mistakes for that is how we

learn and grow.

Supplementing this second section of my portfolio includes acurrent resumethat

comprises of skills that have been acquired, talents that have been tailored, professional

development certifications obtained, professional affiliations, technology skills that are

continuously being practiced and credible credentials that are applicable in the field of education.

Accompanied with my resume is a letter of recommendation from my college supervisor who

was a Principal with the Peel Board of Education for over thirty years.
 Section three is the pedagogical evidence that displays some favorite teacher candidate

artifacts which showcases the skills and knowledge that has been acquired and is a necessity to

teach in the field of education. Various subject matter such as social sciences, mathematics,

English language arts SMART board interactive lesson plan that incorporates technology, an art

power point presentation, and a steam (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics)

lesson plan will be displayed that provides proof of professional dispositions, best teaching

practices and attitudes essential to being a successful elementary teacher. Connections to a

selected group of educational experts, theories and theorists will be presented connecting the

subject matter to pedagogical knowledge which results in daily best teaching practices,

specifically Benjamin Bloom, Harry Wong, Maria Montessori and Howard Gardner. The lesson

plans display the learning goals, professional standards and Ontario curriculum expectations as

well as New York State common core curriculum. These artifacts are evidence that I am a

competent, qualified teacher candidate who is prepared to enter the field of education having

developed the knowledge and skills necessary to be a successful and effective elementary

educator. These artifacts demonstrate and address compulsory components in the curriculum

and my ability to facilitate students learning guiding them through each active part.

Section four highlights the alignment to the curriculum and professional standards which

weaves polished competent expectations of an experienced and qualified elementary educator

concisely displayed in a graphic organizer. Providing evidence through artifacts of pedagogy,

subject matter knowledge, curriculum and professional standards including Ontario Ethical

Standards, Ethics for Educators, ISTE, INTASC, TEAC/CAEP, New York State P-12 Common

Core, New York State Learning Standards, NewYork State Code of Ethics for Educators,

Ontario Curriculum Expectations and CEC claims.

 This section serves as a justification supporting my teacher candidate readiness as it

aligns my lesson plans and artifacts to accredited and recognized state, national and provincial

professional standards. The purpose behind each rationale is justified and acceptable from

multiple educational standards with supporting evidence in my artifacts that draw parallels and

commonalities through cross-curricular activities that make connections to aforementioned

expectations. Exemplifying the importance of standards, educational expectations and my innate

ability to incorporate such specifications throughout my lesson plans is the purpose of this part of

the portfolio.

Section five is the teacher candidate reflection which reveals the overall positive

experiences that has produced this particular teacher candidate. By reflecting on the entire

process from beginning to conclusion including the collection of materials for different aspects

of this portfolio, educational experiences that I have encountered prior to and during my program

of study with the Division of Education at Medaille College will be divulged.

Knowledge, readiness and ability to become a professional school teacher is examined,

analyzing my areas of strength and demonstrating my understanding of classroom management,

technology integration, planning, assessing, researching, culturally responsive teaching, dignity

for all students, connections to teacher competencies and implementation of common core

standards will be discussed demonstrating my specific skills and abilities of this unique

opportunity to reflect. Many specific research materials that were incorporated including

artifacts and the overall organization of the content which has ultimately resulted in a polished

portfolio will be addressed in this section.

The last component is a teacher candidate mock interview that takes place on a screencast

video that explains detailed answers depicting knowledge of subject matter, connections to
artifacts, teacher skills and strategies as well as professional disposition. It is a simulated

interview enabling a potential employee to view and examine my pending employment as

specific questions will be asked that may possibly be brought up in consideration of hiring

individuals. This video radiates why I should be selected and retained being that I am the best

candidate for their board of education. This part of the portfolio also enables a unique

opportunity to present technical skills that have been acquired through my time of study at

Medaille College that were learned and practiced in my Technology for the Elementary

Classroom course using a software program called Screencast-o-Matic and illustrating what my

potential future classroom will be like by visiting my published weebly website.

Theories, Theorists, and Experts in the Field of Education

It is very difficult to narrow down just a few experts in the educational field as there are

so many wonderful ones to choose from but one of the many things that I enjoyed from my

studies here at Medaille is that you can see how certain theorists build upon their mentors initial

ideas. For instance the father of kindergarten Friedrich Froebel was so greatly influenced by

Pestalozzi who in turn was building upon knowledge it seemed that he may have been influenced

by Rosseau. Maria Montessori is an educational icon whose work importance will be connected

to throughout this portfolio, including Howard Gardner, Harry Wong and Benjamin Bloom.

How these experts are important in the field of education as well as my own personal educational

journey will be revealed throughout this portfolio.

Conclusion

In conclusion the importance of this project is to present to you my preparedness to teach

in the field of education by highlighting my knowledge and skills acquired, developed and

finessed by drawing parallels to theories, theorists and educational gurus in this exciting field
who have shaped my personal philosophy of education and fostered me into the teacher

candidate that I have matured into today. Ready, willing and wanting to dive into the exciting

world of being an elementary school teacher.

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