Section One: Teacher Candidate Introduction to the Elementary Portfolio Project

Introduction, Overview and Rationale

My time as a Medaille College student has been one of many adventures. During my time

here from day one I have experienced roadblocks and traumatic experiences that would have

discouraged the “average” person. All these hiccups made me self-reflect on what is important to

me. I was taught at an early age, that hard work and discipline can go a mighty long way.

Besides my parent’s teachings, I have had quite a few influential teachers who’s words still

impact my life and the future teacher I want to become.

As a student in Medaille’s Graduate School of Education, I have had the privilege to add

more influential educators to my inspiration list. I have learned that a true compassionate teacher

will turn that student’s weakness to a strength and encourage them to build from them. A true

compassionate teacher knows that all students learn differently as identified in Gardner’s theory

of “Multiple Intelligences.” In this portfolio, I will highlight a collection of my work that

demonstrates my ability and preparedness in becoming a well-rounded educator. This portfolio is

a collection of my best work. These artifacts will demonstrate lesson planning for ELA, Math,

and Science. I will also include artifacts that demonstrate my ability to incorporate technology

into the classroom. Technology has become a major factor in our everyday lives, so it’s very

important to show my students more effective ways to use technology rather than the ways they

are used too. Over the years of me being a student, I have found that I learn best by using the

“Hands on Approach.” I want to use artifacts that are fun and engaging to make you want to

experience them for yourself. Each lesson is modified to suit different learners and their
individual learning styles. I have developed new strategies over my studies here at Medaille to

help me become an effective future teacher.

Portfolio Development

This portfolio will reflect man aspects of my development over time. The first section is

an introduction of myself, my portfolio and the theorists I believe have shaped and influenced me

in the developing of my lesson plans and activities. Section two shows my background

experiences, my beliefs and philosophy of education. The third section presents eight artifacts

that I have chosen. They consist of lesson plans, activities and other artifacts that will tie into my

experiences, my philosophy and my theoretical influences. Some of these artifacts incorporate

the use of technology as well. Technology is very common today and with children. I feel that it

is important for educators to stay current when pertaining to technology, as well as introducing

new fun eager ways to teach technology lessons. Section four connects the artifacts I have

chosen to their curriculum and professional standards. Section five reflects the process I have

gone through in my journey of becoming a future educator.

I will reflect on what I’ve learned throughout my journey in Medaille’s Master of

Education Program. One of the most important aspects of this program that I have learned is

culturally responsive teaching. When I first began my undergrad journey and did my student

teaching. I would just make up fun lessons and activities and teach the class. I wasn’t really

“aware” or even paid attention to the diversity within the classroom. In the position I currently

held, I am around more cultures than I can count from Arabic, Japanese, Spanish, African, etc. I

make it my point to speak with the parents and learn where they come from and words that I can
easily learn to make their child feel more comfortable in the classroom as well placing words in

their language around the classroom. From time to time, I even invite the parents to come in and

teach us a little something about their culture. Every culture and belief should be treated fairly

and with respect. The final section of this portfolio is a video simulation of a teacher interview.

During this video, I will be connecting my experiences, knowledge of course material and

theories to effectively answer questions that ay be asked during an interview. The objective of

this interview is to show that I can respond to situations in teaching that are ever changing and

challenging.

Theories, Theorists and Experts in the Field of Education

Throughout my courses, I have learned about many theorist and educational experts.

Working in Head Start, B.F. Skinner’s theory of using positive reinforcement (Skinner, 1938). Is

what I apply in my classroom when dealing with classroom management. Always praise/ reward

positive behavior, this way will eventually encourage those that are having a hard time and not

displaying the right choices a visual of what to do in a classroom and in some cases the students

are able to correct their behavior themselves.

The Montessori Method of Education is an approach that values the development of the

whole child, physical, social, emotional and cognitive. Which is four of the five domains we

focus on in my program. Maria Montessori also believed that children learn best when the

environment supports their natural desire to acquire skills and knowledge (Montessori, 1912).

This theory played well in helping me plan lesson plans and activities in the classroom. I would

always have an open circle discussion with my students, just to see what intrigued them and

caught their attention, then I would build from there. I feel that children learn best when they are
learning about something they are interested in. Now I understand that this way can’t be done all

the time, but when writing up a lesson plan there are so many different components that make a

lesson plan, you can still add I something that is relevant to the students that will grasp their

attention while still staying on task and teaching.

Gardner found that people have more than one way of processing information. He created

the theory of “Multiple Intelligences” (Gardner, 1983). In the classroom we learn that students

can engage in multiple intelligences, Musical-Rhythmic, Visual-Spatial, Verbal-Linguistic,

Logical-Mathematical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal and Naturalistic. In a

classroom these applications are very crucial because we know as educators and being learners

as well. We know that all children learn differently including adults. Overall there is many more

theorist that I could name that are very beneficial and influential to us educators in the

classroom. Although I have listed the three I feel have impacted myself as being a teacher in the

classroom. I feel that Montessori and Gardner’s theories are the main ones that I practice into the

classrooms I teach at right now.

Conclusion

I believe that effective teachers strive to motivate and engage all their students in learning

rather than simply accepting that some students cannot be engaged and are destined to do poorly.

They believe every student can achieve success at school and they do all they can to find ways of

making each student successful. Effective teachers know that communication between the

student and parent is the key to their student’s success. Great teachers form strong relationships

with their students and show them that they care about them as people. Great teachers are warm,
accessible, enthusiastic and caring. Teachers with these qualities are known to stay after school

and make themselves available to students and parents who need them. Best practice is a

technique or methodology that, through experience and research, has proven to reliably lead to a

desired result. A commitment to using best practices in any field is a commitment to using all the

knowledge and technology at one's disposal to ensure student’s success.