Section Two:

Teacher Candidate Background Experiences

Introduction:
Section two of the MSED Elementary Portfolio Project will allow me to describe in
detail my education background as well as my work experience in the field of education.
These experiences encouraged me to pursue my education and become a teacher. This
segment of the project will also allow me to showcase school observations, my
philosophy of education, as well as my resume. Good introduction

Educational Experience:
Since I was a child in elementary school I had always dreamed of being a teacher.
Looking back in my childhood memory at the aspirations section its written I want to
be a teacher like my mom when I grow up. I have always known that I want to be a
leader and mentor to students in the educational system.
Everybody has a role model, A person who serves as an example of the values,
attitudes, and behaviors associated with a role. Role models can also be persons who
distinguish themselves in such a way that others admire and want to emulate them.
(Dictionary.com) For me, my role model was a teacher that taught me in high school, it
was truly the greatest teacher I ever had. It was her that inspired me to chase my dreams
and become a teacher. I remember walking into Ms. B English class on my very first day
of high school feeling as nervous as can be. Obviously sensing my anxiety she looked at
me and said dont worry its my first day to. Ill never forget her sitting on a desk on the
first day and having such an open and honest conversation with the class, calming us

down and reassuring us that it was going to be a good year full of fun and learning.
Essentially she was telling us that she know high school was a scary place and it would
seem like a really long 4 years, but we would make it through and she would do whatever
she could to help us, her openness was comforting and encouraging. It was her first year
teaching as well so it wasnt like she had had years of practice, however the way she was
able to ease her students minds was very impactful. It showed me the importance of
taking the time to get to know your students. That first day, in fact those entire four years
of high school could have gone so much differently had it not been for Ms. B. Knowing
that a teacher cares about her students and will do what she needs to in order advocate for
her students makes all the difference. At the end of the day I dont remember all the
material that we learnt in that grade 9 English class, however I do remember feeling safe
and cared for. I hope I can offer that feeling to all my students in the future!
I have described an experience of being a student. However, the first time I was truly
exposed to being the teacher in a classroom was during my high school years. As a young
adult I took a co-op class, which allowed me to go out into the field and gain experience
and receive credits for classes. I chose to go into an elementary school where I would
spend all afternoon in a fourth grade class. The teacher I was paired up with was
incredible, when you walked into her class it felt like you were walking into a
community. The students were so receptive and ready to learn, it allowed me to create a
vision for my future classrooms. The end of the year was quickly approaching and I was
in twelfth grade. The pressure was on to make a decision on how I would pursue my
education during the upcoming year. I knew I wanted to continue to work with children

therefore, I decided to apply to Mohawk College in the field of Early Childhood

Education.
The Early Childhood Education or ECE program was a fantastic two-year program,
which allowed me to increase my knowledge and experience in working with children.
The program allowed me to build a foundation of understanding children by providing
classes such as Child Development and Health and Safety in the classroom. The hands on
experience of student placements allowed me to put my newly acquired knowledge into
practice by having us Design and implement an inclusive and play-based early learning
curriculum. We also learnt skills on selection and use of a variety of screening tools.
Strategies of observation and documentation were also reviewed. I learnt the importance
of supporting and promoting children's learning across the continuum of early childhood
development. My experiences in the ECE program were truly invaluable. But once again,
I had completed the two-year program and graduation time was approaching. It was time
to make another decision on how to pursue my education. Looking at the natural
progression of things I applied to university. Three years later I received a degree from
the University of Ottawa, in Social Sciences with a minor in sociology. I recall sitting in
my university classes and learning all the content necessary in order to pass the class,
memorizing details and writing exams. I remember feeling like something was missing,
and I believe it was interaction with the students like I had had during my placements in
college. I missed being an educator and teaching children. This assured me that I was on
the right path towards being a teacher. These education experiences have led me to
Medaille College, where I am currently pursing my Masters of Science in Education.
Great experiences

Work Experiences
My work experiences are broad and varied from a bank teller to a supply teacher.
Although my careers have not always been in the formal field of education I always
found myself being drawn towards teaching others and helping people understand new
material. I spent 6 years working in the financial industry in various positions, but with
each new position I found myself coaching new staff and implementing educational
courses to teach colleagues or customers in one way or another. I enjoy working with
others on projects and putting curriculums together in order to build the best resources
possible. Once I began attending Medaille College I wanted to put my feet back into the
field of education and gain some additional experience and insight as to which grade I
would like to teach. Fortunately because I speak French, I was given the opportunity to
become a supply teacher. Being employed as a supply teacher has opened my eyes to a
whole new inside world of the school system, I have been given many opportunities to
enhance my teaching skills and develop my best own best practices. Having more
classroom experience has made me more comfortable and prepared for student teaching.
Very good
School Observations & Classroom Applications
I had the chance to work at a charter school during my field experience class,
thankfully the teacher that I worked with allowed me to engage myself into many of the
lessons. Having the ability to take charge in the classroom and apply some of the skills I
was learning during my courses truly allowed me to gain some invaluable experience. I
was given the responsibility of running the literacy circle with the students. This allowed

me to plan literacy lessons and implement them for the students during the literacy circle.
During these lessons I was truly exposed to Gardners theory of multiple intelligences. I
would see how the students were learning based on their method of understanding, I
would see when I needed to reteach the students or some did not understand. I would
work my lessons to try and implement as many of the various learning styles as possible
to ensure that I can connect to as many students as possible.
Another experience that I had at this charter school was I noticed this strategy in one
of my peers classrooms, these strategies had to do classroom design and time
management. In regards to best practices I look to Robert Marzano. The strategy that the
teacher was using really stuck with me, it was called the cool-down chair. The chair is
used as a time-out chair, however the environment around the chair is much different
than the typical chair facing the blank walls. This chair is placed in a quiet corner in the
classroom with a sign that says the chill out chair around it is several items with polar
bears including teddy bears and books. It seemed to be a place where the child could go
and relax and chill-out. I liked the idea of this as it allows for the student to go and sit
back and calm down in a peaceful environment instead of sitting and staring at a blank
wall. I truly found this to be much more meaningful experience for the student. Helpful
observations and experiences
Philosophy of Education
The School
Being a teacher is something I have always dreamed of, having the ability to have an
impact on so many lives as well as the ability to shape their minds is my personal vision
of being a super hero. Teachers hold the ultimate superpower in their hands, knowledge.

Having the ability to share that power with their students to help shape their future is a
gift.
For the most part teachers educate their students in a school. A school may be defined
by many as a place where children would go to achieve an education, a place for those
students to learn about the world, history and society. However, the role of the school in
society changes with time, and schooling is based on the needs during the historical
period. The skills needed by students in the 21st century is not the same as what was
needed by students in the 18th century, which ultimately changes the purpose and goals of
the education system. It is said that a formal education system was not organized until the
1830s, reformers came in a created schools saying it would assist with the crime levels
and poverty. Yet most believe that the purpose and goals of the schools were to
Americanize immigrants and dilute other religions and cultures. (The History of
Education in America. (n.d.).) Schools changed in the 19th and 20th century, schooling
became more common and attendance for children became mandatory. According to the
History of Education in America, many minority groups were segregated from the
schools. However, in 1974, the Supreme Court found, in Lau v. Nichols, that school
must not discriminate against individuals who do not speak English. Non-speaking
immigrants in public schools have the rights of: Equal Education Opportunities,
Sufficient Special Instruction and Respect for teachers. (The History of Education in
America.(n.d.).) Once again the purpose and goals of the school system had changed. In
the 21st century the education system has become a very well respected institution, in
todays society the schools purpose is to broaden the students educational horizon, help
them develop their skills and prepare them for employment and socialization.

Year after year the schooling systems have changed, and will continue to do so with
time and advancements in technology. It is the duty of the school to ensure that the
students are being well prepared for their integration into society; the school needs to be
able to correspond to the needs of technology and integrate that into their classroom and
lessons. Because society has become so technologically advanced, schools are needed to
modernize their systems as well to keep up with societies interface. Many schools have
gone on-line meaning lessons are being taught online and assignments must be
submitted online, paper books are being phased out and e-books are being used. Those
are just a few examples of the modifications schools have had to make in order to keep
up with modern times.
All and all, society will continue to change and evolve. The roles and goals of the
school may be different in the years to come, however as long as the schools continue to
change with societies modernizations this will ensure the student is getting what they
need in order to properly integrate themselves into society.

The Curriculum
In todays society, most school systems are inclined to teach their students according
to a specific curriculum. A curriculum is described as a systematic and intended
packaging of competencies (i.e. knowledge, skills and attitudes that are underpinned by
values) that learners should acquire through organized learning experiences both in
formal and non-formal settings (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization. (n.d.)) The purpose of the curriculum in the classroom ensures that the

students are learning the necessary fundamentals and guidelines that have been
established by a board of people. This board sets the curriculum by determining what
they believe is essential for students knowledge and so the students can function in
society. However according to Ornstein, Levine, Gutek and Vocke they believed that
critical theorists see the curriculum as having two entities. The first section is the formal
curriculum, which was previously described above. The second component is the hidden
curriculum which is what students learn, other than academic content, from the school
milieu or environment (Ornstein,Levine,Gutek,Vocke, 2013, p. 209) To put this into
perspective, on a daily basis students are provide the essential knowledge they are
required to learn according to the curriculum, this incudes the basics of language,
mathematics, history etc. However the hidden curriculum also comes into play when
educating the students. In this hidden curriculum students are provided information in a
less formal manner. Teachers may be inclined to provide students with culturally
responsive teaching which is a pedagogy that affirms the culture of students, views the
cultures and experiences of students as strengths, and reflects the students cultures in the
teaching process. (Gollnick, D. M. & Chinn, P. C.2012) Both curriculums work together
and not against each other to ensure that the student has a solid foundation of formal
knowledge as well as informal knowledge that helps the student prepare for various
walks of life.

Learning
Learning is something that is done on a daily basis sometimes in a formal setting such
as a school and sometimes not. Occasionally with the learners realization, but often not.

Learning takes place in many forms, different contexts and can be delivered through
different methods. Learning is constantly being practiced, and taught. Its important to
acknowledge that each items a student sees or touches are opportunities for them to learn.
Learning is very complex and has been studies for centuries, there exists many various
theories on learning. Herbert Spencer a theorist from England believed in utilitarian
education. Which according to Ornstein, Levine, Gutek and Vocke is defined as the
teaching of skills and subjects applicable to dailylife, work, and society. Herber spencer
argued that the subject of most use, or utility, was science.(p. 523) Herbert felt that
science and technology would be of the most use for students later in life. Then there is
Jane Addams who developed her own philosophy on socialized education. In contrast to
Spencer, Addams did not only feel it was necessary to only study science and technology.
Addams advocated that schools emphasis should be teaching students multiple subjects
such as urbanization, industrialization, technology as well as cultural diversity. Spencer
and Addams are only two of the many theorists that have made an impact on the field of
Education. However, there is one theorist that must be mentioned, John Dewey my
personal favorite. Dewey developed the theory of learning through experience. He
believed in the scientific method to be the most effective. Dewey believed that the
scientific method allowed students to learn by making connections based on their own
personal experiences and what they were learning. Ultimately leading to personal and
social growth.
However learning isnt simply about the philosophers, there are many things that need
to be taken into account when analyzing the way in which children learn. This is very
important as every child learns in a different way and teachers need to ensure that they

are using methods of delivery that meet the needs of all students, whether they are
auditory, visual or kinesthetic.

The Learner
Theorists have been able to put together theories on various styles of learning,
however there have also been contributions made in regards to how children learn. Jean
Piaget established a Developmental Growth Chart and assessed intelligence as it
progresses though various stages. Those stages have been entitled, the sensorimotor
stage, the preoperational stage, the concrete-operational period and finally the formaloperational period. These stages have been used as a foundation for many when
researching learning. However it was Dr. Benjamin Bloom that created the Blooms
taxonomy, which changed the way in which learning was being viewed. Bloom assessed
learning into categories versus stages he determined that there are three domains to
learning and called them 1.Cognitive: mental skills (knowledge) 2.Affective: growth in
feelings or emotional areas (attitude or self) 3.Psychomotor: manual or physical skills
(skills). Later Bloom used those domains of learning and put them into categories and
called it Blooms Taxonomy this was used to categorize skills and abilities and to build a
direct correlation between having that knowledge first to attaining the skills. Working
from the bottom of the chart to the peak there is Remember (recognizing and recalling)
Understand (interpreting, exemplifying, classifying, summarizing, inferring, comparing,
explaining) Apply (executing, implementing) Analyze (differentiating, organizing,
attributing) Evaluate (checking, critiquing) Create (generating, planning) (Blooms
Taxonomy. (n.d.))

Instructors need to be aware of the various stages of learning and be mindful that not
all students may be at the same stage although they are at the same age. There will always
be students who are at various stages of learning and teachers may have to adjust their
lesson and possibly create accommodations for those students by providing them with
different tasks, or assessing them in alternative ways.

Assessment
In todays society emphasis has been placed on assessment. Assessment seems to be
the method that is chose to determine if the learner has grasped the content that was
taught. However, assessments are not only seen in schools. People complete assessments
daily such as to get their drivers permit.
It is important in the classroom for teachers to assess their students in various ways.
As previously mentioned in a classroom you will have students with various learning
abilities, however you will also have students who complete assessments differently.
Assessments are important in the classroom to ensure that the student is capable of
retelling the information that they learned. For the most part what a student learns is built
upon in later lessons. Therefore if they did not understand or they missed a part its likely
that they will not be able to build the knowledge further, or they will have missed the
foundation and will not be able to make any future connections. That is why is it
important for teachers to assess often and in different forms. Assessment for Learning
(Formative Assessment) is an ongoing assessment that allows teachers to monitor
students on a day-to-day basis and modify their teaching based on what the students need

to be successful. This assessment provides students with the timely, specific feedback that
they need to make adjustments to their learning. Assessment of Learning (Summative
Assessment) is the snapshot in time that lets the teacher, students and their parents know
how well each student has completed the learning tasks and activities. It provides
information about student achievement. While it provides useful reporting information, it
often has little effect on learning. And Assessment as Learning develops and supports
students' metacognitive skills. This form of assessment is crucial in helping students
become lifelong learners. As students engage in peer and self-assessment, they learn to
make sense of information, relate it to prior knowledge and use it for new learning.
Students develop a sense of ownership when they use teacher, peer and self-assessment
feedback to make adjustments, improvements and changes to what they understand.
(Types of Classroom Assessment. (n.d.).)

Classroom Management
Classroom management is something that is extremely important in a classroom.
Having successful classroom management skills can make all the difference in the way
you are able to effectively educate your students. Classroom management is not only
about ensuring that your classroom is running smoothly with routines and schedules, it is
also about ensuring that you are able to educate your students to the best of your abilities
while building a positive and respectful classroom dynamic. There are many theories and
practices to classroom management, however my personal favorite is Robert Marzano. In
his book The key to effective classroom management Marzano indicates certain practices
that a teacher must put into place in order to successfully establish effective classroom

management. Appropriate Levels of Dominance, Establish Clear Expectations and

Consequences, Establish Clear Learning Goals, Exhibit Assertive Behavior, Appropriate
Levels of Cooperation, Provide Flexible Learning Goals, Take a Personal Interest in
Students, Use Equitable and Positive Classroom Behaviors, Awareness of High-Needs
Students. (The Key to Classroom Management. (2015))

Teacher
Being a teacher is not a job that should be taken lightly, and as society changes and
evolves, as does the role of the teacher. Teachers hold a childs education in their hands
and can have such a positive as well as negative impact on a students life. Teachers need
to be seen as more than highly paid childcare providers, as they are educated
professionals who make it their lifes mission to provide their students with a fun,
educational and most importantly safe place for the students to come and learn each day.
A teacher needs to have so much more than just a smiling face, a teacher needs to be able
to give children the respect they deserve and build a community within the classroom.
Teachers need to be advocators for their students, set their expectations high and help
them achieve results. However teachers also need to be warm, charismatic and a good
listener, kids will tell you a lot if you are listening. A teacher has to be always open to
learning, as the role of the teacher changes a teacher needs to be able to embrace that
change and adapt to it. Teachers need to wear many hats during the day; educator, conflict
resolver, first aid provider, tear wiper, cook, a clown, an improviser, a leader and a
professional. Being a teacher is not a 9-5 job, and you cannot go into work two days in a
row and perform the same tasks and expect the same results.

"The influence of a good teacher can never be erased."... Anonymous Insightful

perspectives on education.

Resume
Amanda Cabral
58 Stone Church Rd E, Hamilton, Ontario. L9B 1A9
(905) 730-3411
al953@medaille.edu
CERTIFICATION: Elementary Education Grade 1 to 6
EDUCATION:

Masters of Science in Elementary Education, December 2016.

Medaille College, Buffalo, New York
University of Ottawa, Bachelors of social science with minor in
Sociology. Graduated in December 2013.

Ottawa, Ontario.
Mohawk College, Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Graduated in April 2010.
Hamilton, Ontario.
RELATED EXPERIENCE:
French Supply Teacher for Conseil scolaire de district Catholique CentreSud.Educate students from kindergarten to grade 12 in the French language
September 2015 to present
TRAINING:

Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (February,2016)

School Violence Prevention and Intervention (February, 2016)
Dignity for all Students (November, 2015)

TECHNOLOGY:

Proficient with Microsoft office applications

Knowledgeable in the use of SmartBoard
Able to navigate through computers, iPads and tablets with ease

HONORS/AWARDS:

Graduated from Mohawk College with honors.

EMPLOYMENT:

Td Canada Trust Customer Service Representative

LANGUAGES:

English- Fluent in speaking, reading and writing

French Fluent in speaking, reading and writing