Section Two: Teacher Candidate Background Experiences

Introduction

To say that I have always dreamt of becoming a teacher and followed the path of education up

until this very point would be furthest from the truth. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences

as a teacher candidate, this was not the career I thought I would be end up striving for. So, how did I get

here? I was always confident in my desire to help people. Originally, during my time as an eleventh

grader I woke up one day finally showing great faith in my ability to help people from a mental

perspective. That is when I then decided that psychology was the path I was destined to follow. Three

years and an undergraduate degree later, I am enrolled in the M.S. Ed. Program at Medaille College. With

a positive disposition, a desire to help, and willingness to continuously learn, I believe I will succeed in

the role of an educator.

In this section of the portfolio project I have included information about my background

experiences in hopes that the reader has a sense of why I decided to follow the path of education.

Included in this section are educational and work experiences, philosophy of education, school

observations, classroom applications and my working resume. As I mentioned in section one, reflection is

an important part of the learning process and throughout this section I will reflect on how my experiences

have shaped me into a motivated, driven, and inspired educator.

Educational Background

As I have mentioned above, I did not always believe that I would become a teacher when

I grew up. However, reflecting of my past experiences there are a few interactions with a teacher

and a parent that particularly resonate with me. Not only did these two individuals inspire me,

they also motivated and encouraged me to be the best version of myself.

The first interaction is with my grade ten math teacher, Mr. Jabbs. When I think about the

type of teacher I strive to be, I tend to notice that I am striving to be the type of teacher Mr. Jabbs
was - enthusiastic, inspiring, motivating, caring, and encouraging. For a student who has always

struggled with math and never enjoyed solving problems, I thoroughly enjoyed going to grade

ten math class. I can truly say I do not believe I have ever been more interested or focused in a

math class than I was in Mr. Jabbs’. One thing we are learning in our EDU 502 class through

Medaille, is the impact we have on students when we express our opinion or preference. Imagine

if Mr. Jabbs did not enjoy math or teaching it. Imagine if he lacked enthusiasm and did not make

the math lessons fun, what would that mean for me? Most likely I would not have been inspired

to be like him in terms of an effective teacher, I would have struggled even more with math, and

perhaps I would not have applied to teacher’s college as well. It is the small efforts like being

enthusiastic, even when you may not actually enjoy what you are doing, that have such a great

impact on our students. Looking back on this experience with Mr. Jabbs, I hope that in the future

I am able to impact my students in way that I was impacted.

Now this next interaction is with someone who never taught me in a school setting,

however, is currently an educator. This person is a part of my family and she has always

encouraged me even when she may not know it. I remember it was the beginning of my third

year at Brock University and I was deciding which direction I wanted to go in terms of graduate

school. I always seek out this person’s opinion because she is wise and honest. This person knew

my desire to help people and my love for working with children and she asked me if I have ever

thought about becoming a teacher. I sat back and thought, “No, I have never thought that I could

be a teacher”. The more I thought about myself being a teacher, the more it felt right, the more

motivated I got. It was a simple question and her subtle belief in my abilities that made me

recognize what I was meant to do and helped me pursue it. From that day forward, I did

everything I needed in order to enroll into teacher’s college and now here I am, writing my
portfolio with six months left until graduation. I look up to this woman and hope to be half the

teacher she is.

Another experience I believe that has helped me in my future role as an educator is my

educational background in psychology. I believe this is such a positive building block and has

helped me alter the way I speak and help people. I am always able to put myself in someone

else’s shoes before making assumptions, offering assistance, and responding. My education has

provided me with a consistent positive mindset, I always consider both sides to every story, and

am able to utilize my knowledge help people solve a problem. I believe that these characteristics

will be extremely helpful with classroom management, when students reach a roadblock, or

make me approachable for assistance outside the classroom.

Now to an outsider, these experiences and interactions may not seem that impactful,

however, I truly believe that if I did not have these two individuals enter my life, I may not have

entered teacher’s college. They inspire me without even knowing it, they pushed me to be so

uncomfortable with the unknown that it instilled confidence within, they truly helped me and I

am forever grateful.

Work Experiences

I do not have many work experiences that have impacted my decision to become an

educator because it was not until last year that I was confident in my abilities to become an

educator.

I began babysitting at the youngest age possible for a family with, at the time, two small

children. I planned activities with them every weekend, we would ride our bikes to the nearby

park, and we would do their homework together when needed. I watched these children grow

into lovely young adults and it has been a privilege to still be able to see and interact with them. I
enjoyed interacting and watching these children grow. The babysitting career helped me

recognize my desire to work with children.

My next work-related experience would be with STEM Camp. Over a three-month

children’s camp, I held the position of camp counsellor where I helped plan, organize and run

daily activities for groups of children. These activities included aspects of Science, Technology,

Engineering and Mathematics. So, what better experience to solidify my decision of becoming

an educator than an experience that includes my love for working with children and challenging

my skills of incorporating education into fun activities. This experience taught me a lot about

becoming an educator, challenged me, taught me how to maintain engagement and how to be a

good role model and leader.

School Observations

The beginning of my observation experience started at Maple West Elementary School in

Buffalo, NY. Here I was fortunate enough to work with two lovely teachers and many amazing

students. I had the pleasure of attending two separate classrooms one in grade six and the other in

grade one. Both teachers had different teaching styles, organization, and classroom management

skills that will help me organize and prepare my future classroom.

My first formal observational experience began in a grade six classroom where when I

walked through the door, the students pounced me with questions – “What’s your name?”, “Are

you our new teacher?”, and then continued with their morning routine. The morning routine was

one of the activities that I took notes of as I like to see what technique works with most kids.

These students had time from when they entered the class until the announcements to pick their

daily book, sharpen their pencils for the day, and hand in any homework in the respective box.

Now, to a average functioning adult this is plenty of time to complete these tasks, however, to a
young mind that continuously gets distracted, this activity with a time limit helps the students

stay focused. The students understand that if they are unsuccessful at this task in the time limit

that they will lose a point for the week. I think this is a great morning routine to keep students on

focused and prepare them for the rest of the day. During the first period of the day, about half of

the students were taken to another teacher where they had one-on-one help and guidance with

speech, writing, or reading. The lessons were instructed while the students were sitting at their

tables, usually in pairs. Student engagement was never usually an issue in this classroom which

was either the luck of the draw or expert classroom management. B. F. Skinner (1954) believed

that the best way to modify behaviour was to modify the environment. I believe this teacher had

modified the environment of the classroom with the weekly point system and clear expectations

which lead to behaved students.

According to Vygotsky (1962), we learn through our interactions and communications

with others. Another technique I took note of during this observation was which techniques

worked best with most students (i.e. group work, carpet instruction, independent work,

presentations). This teacher is aware that group work is an effective strategy in learning and

always had the students work together when possible. This teacher also organized the student’s

desk in a way that students were able to work independently but also work in groups without

having to move desks. The organization or layout of the desks in the classroom are important to

utilize the group work technique. According to Fernandes, Huang & Rinaldo (2011), it would be

beneficial for students if the learning activity dictated the seating.

My second formal observation was in a grade one class. I thoroughly enjoyed this

experience because I enjoy working with younger children. This experience was similar to the

grade six class; however, these students had a different morning routine, delivered instruction,
and different classroom management. Each morning the students were required to complete a

worksheet which was typically math questions. This is a good way for students to begin focusing

and prepares them for the rest of the day, however, I personally will not use this technique in my

future classroom. I believe it would be beneficial for students, especially younger ones, if a

morning routine consisted of an activity that will help them build upon a general life skill (i.e.

time management, spelling, writing, or reading). Since this in a group of younger students, this

teacher utilizes the carpet for instruction time. The students are not assigned a spot of the carpet

however, which causes issues during lessons because the students sit with their closest friend and

continuously get distracted. I believe utilizing the carpet during instruction is essential, however,

I would ensure that the students have a particular spot on the carpet to limit distractions and

maintain engagement.

I learned a lot from both of these educational experiences. I observed techniques that I

want to use in my future classroom and techniques that I would like to steer clear of. As a

beginning teacher, not a day goes by where I do not think about what techniques will work for

my class and I. I am aware that as a beginning teacher there will be a lot of trial and error when

finding the techniques that work best. I am aware that the road to success is like a conveyer belt

of learning – its continuously moving forward. From this day forward, I will never stop learning.

Classroom Application

As I mentioned above, teaching is a career full of trial and error. Teachers are constantly

growing and developing themselves to become effective teachers. I have learned through my

coursework at Medaille College the importance of maintaining student engagement, utilizing

varied instruction and assessments, and classroom management techniques and have illustrated

this importance throughout this portfolio. Just as students do, teachers learn from mistakes and
reflection. Professional development workshops are important for teachers to be in attendance

for the purpose of learning new techniques.

I have learned ways in which I would like to run my classroom through my observations.

I will maintain classroom behaviour by ensuring each student knows exactly what is expected of

them from the first day of school. I will include a point system for the younger grades and will

always use a seating arrangement unless my students are able to show me otherwise. I will

ensure that my classroom is set up to incorporate space for independent and group work. I will

create a unique morning routine for my classroom that will not require direction each morning

and will include a skill builder (i.e. reading, writing, spelling). I will ensure that I have a

classroom environment where students feel comfortable with making mistakes. I will promote

independence and critical thinking. I believe learning should always be student centered and

students should feel empowered when they are learning in my classroom. I hope that I am able to

develop a classroom that prioritizes student empowerment.

Philosophy of Education

It is my hopes that as I share my philosophy of education with you that you find my

personal beliefs and perspectives to be a work in process. I am striving for greatness and my

philosophy in regard to the school, curriculum, learner, learning, assessments, classroom

management and the teacher have helped keep me on track.

The School

A school is the headquarters of learning. This is a place where unique minds come

together to establish their building blocks or prior knowledge they will need to succeed in their

future. A school is a place for students to come to challenge and be challenged to become the

best version of themselves. This should be a place full of mistakes and reflection, the two most
important aspects of learning and growing. A school should provide a variety of growth

opportunities for all types of learners. A school is like a greenhouse full of different plants that

require different resources to grow into a lush, vibrant plant.

The Curriculum

I believe a curriculum should be focused on the students. It is crucial that all parts of the

curriculum are meaningful for students. The standards should be established through observation

of the students and with their personal interests in mind. Collaboration should be prioritized over

competition in the classroom as learning happens best when you are able to utilize others prior

knowledge and experiences.

Learning

Learning should be student-focused as well. As an educator, it is crucial for us to

facilitate instruction to their curiosities. It is important for teachers to reflect on the observations

of students to direct lesson plans and next steps. We must understand that learning does not

happen in a straight line and that each student takes on their own approach at a different time.

We must understand that learning happens in a spiral movement where the students are

continuously using their prior knowledge and use it to build on their experiences.

The Learner

Students are jam-packed with curiosity, creativity, potential, and knowledge that their

learning should be centered on what they bring to the table in order for learning to be most

effective. Emilia Reggio believes that there are a hundred languages of children meaning that

each child is unique in way of learning and expressing themselves. Educators was be aware of

uniqueness that comes with learning in order to provide effective learning opportunities for

thinking, creating, developing and expressing.

Assessment

Assessment is an important part of education. Assessment is the time where teachers

reflect on their instructional techniques. This is a time where teachers understand what is

working and what needs improvement. Every time I think about assessment, I think about this

photo and it’s description of our educational system: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a

fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid”

Just like learning, assessment should also be varied for each individual student. How can you

determine the intelligence of a fish by having the fish climb a tree when you know a fish cannot

simply climb a tree?

Classroom Management

Classroom management is an important part of learning, too. The environment in which

your students learn plays a large role in their ability to stay engaged, understand, and behave.

From the placement of student desks to colour coordination of the classroom, students benefit

from a well-organized and appealing classroom setup. It is important for the teacher to model

proper behaviour from day one, ensure each student understands the classroom expectations and

ensure that each student understand the consequences of not following the rules.
The Teacher

I believe that the person who fills in the role of a teacher is more than just a teacher. A

teacher is a role model, a mentor, a provider, a helper, and a facilitator. A teacher should be able

to take advantage of all learning opportunities, initiate learning and participation, mentor,

encourage, and prepare each and every day. A teacher’s dedication and motivation are crucial for

student engagement and success. The teacher is required to problem solve when needed,

understand how students may reacts, provide time for reflection and redirect when needed. Not

only does an effective teacher need proper training and knowledge, a teacher also needs a big

heart, patience and personality. A teacher is so much more than just a teacher.

Resume

The following is a layout of my current working resume that illustrates my relevant

educational and professional work experiences that provide me with a proper foundation to

become an educator.
 Rachel Dietsch
7 Evelyne Circle
St. Catharines, ON L2M 7H4
(905) 931-8715
rachdietsch@gmail.com

EDUCATION
Master’s Degree: Elementary Education September 2019 – Present
Medaille College, Buffalo, NY

Bachelor of Arts: Psychology September 2016 – June 2019

Brock University, St. Catharines, ON
WORK EXPERIENCE
Restaurant Server April 2018 – Present
Jack Astor’s, St. Catharines, ON
 Required to work in fast-paced environment while staying organized.
 Ensuring the satisfaction of guests needs by working as part of a team.
 Responsible for running food to various tables other than my own.
 Required to effectively multitask in order to be more proactive.

Camp Counsellor June 2019 – August 2019

STEM Camp, St. Catharines, ON
 Helped teach and lead classes – Robotics, Coding and Minecraft.
 Meet with parents during pick up/drop off and share updates with children’s progress and
participation.
 Help develop new and innovative ideas to keep children engaged and learning.
 Maintain discipline while ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all children.
 Help manage accurate program records, including daily attendance and incident reports.

Restaurant Server/Hostess August 2017 - November 2017

Syndicate Restaurant & Brewery, Niagara Falls, ON
 Able to work as part of a team in order to ensure guest satisfaction.
 Required to work under fast-paced environment while staying organized.
 Ability to successfully handle any guest complaints and get manager if I am unable to satisfy the
guest’s requests.
 Effective multitasking skills in order to be more proactive.

Customer Service Representative April 2014 - October

2017
McDonalds, St. Catharines, ON
 Able work as a team in order to ensure guest satisfaction in a timely manner.
 Responsible for greeting/interacting with guests at their table to ensure their experience is positive.
 Ability to multitask; taking orders in drive through while making coffee or cleaning as you go.
 Keeping work area organized/clean to ensure positive work environment.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Classroom Volunteer September 2018 – Present
District School Board of Niagara, ON
 Occasionally helped teachers in classroom with lessons, grading.
 Helped teacher with classroom management, catching students up on work.
 Observed different teaching styles and classroom settings.

Senior Prom Organizer September 2016 - June

2016
Laura Secord Secondary School, St. Catharines, ON
 Responsible for the planning of senior prom for 120 students.
 Able to budget and organize ticket sales.

Rankin Run Organization April 2016

St. Catharines, ON
 Responsible for set up, tear down and clean-up of water station.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
DASA Training February
2020

Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (New York) February 2020

School Violence and Prevention and Intervention (New York) February 2020

Crisis Intervention Certificate September

2018

Smart Serve Certificate September 2016

AWARDS
Employee of the Month July 2016
McDonalds, St. Catharines, ON
 Received award for going above and beyond expectations and enthusiasm.

REFERENCES

To be supplied upon request.

Conclusion

As I mentioned at the beginning of section two, it is my hopes that this section provided

evidence that I am a motivated, dedicated and inspired educator. We began this section my

exploring my education and work background, my educational related experiences through field

work and my philosophy of education. This section is the beginning of my personal growth, I

learn each day through various interactions and experiences. My educational beliefs are not set in

stone, they have altered since day one of teacher’s college and will continue to change as I grow

within. This section of the portfolio has provided me the opportunity to reflect on how I have

grown since I decided to enter this field and how I will continue to grow. I hope by now you

have a better understanding of why I am pursuing a career in education.

[Back to Table of Contents]