Section Five: Teacher Candidate Reflection Guidelines

Introduction

What does it mean to be an effective teacher? To me, an effective teacher is someone

who brings passion, determination and flexibility to the classroom. An effective teacher sparks

energy and enthusiasm in the students and maintains student engagement. An effective teacher is

someone who values teamwork and independence. This is someone who understands that each

student brings something unique of their own to the classroom. As I have mentioned once before,

teaching was never something I imagined myself doing, however, over the years of searching for

that one thing to spark my soul I found my desire in teaching. To me teaching is such an

exhilarating and rewarding profession that is continuously changing. Each day brings a new

adventure, obstacle or experience that one could simply never get bored of. I hope that I am able

to positively impact my future students in more ways than just learning. I was to make a mark on

each students’ soul that will benefit and help guide their future. Throughout this section of the

portfolio I will be reflecting on experiences I have encountered through Medaille which will

provide evidence that I have the required skill and desire to become an effective teacher.

Portfolio Project/Teacher Education Learning Experiences

I have thoroughly enjoyed piecing together my past experiences for the purpose of this

portfolio as it has helped me reflect and appreciate my personal growth since day one. Although

this portfolio held its challenges, I truly believe it has helped me better prepare myself to become

an effective teacher. Reflecting on educational and work-related experiences, fieldwork

observations, and my philosophy of education have solidified my desire to become an effective

teacher (TEAC Claim 2: Pedagogy, Best Teaching Practices for Diverse Learners).
 There has been a lot of content throughout my time at Medaille College that will help me

to become an effective teacher. I want to begin with the course on classroom management

because I feel as though this course is an essential building block for the rest of my knowledge.

This course taught me multiple ways to manage a classroom from first day of school plans to

brain gym exercises to help refocus students (TEAC Claim 2: Pedagogy, Best Teaching Practices

for Diverse Learners). To become an effective teacher, we must start by creating and knowing

how to maintain a positive learning environment and without this course I believe I would not be

able to do that.

The second most important building block would be the content I learned during our

multicultural course. I believe this course has contributed to my preparedness to become an

effective teacher because it has provided me with the understanding and awareness of the

importance of including different culture within my classroom (TEAC Claim 2: Pedagogy, Best

Teaching Practices for Diverse Learners). Understanding different cultures and what they bring

to the classroom will help me create more meaningful and inspiring lessons for my students

(TEAC Claim 3: Caring Educator).

The third most important building block for my preparedness would be the lesson plans

we were required to create through each semester. Teaching would be extremely difficult in my

opinion if there was no planning or guidance, hence why we are required to create lesson plans.

This requirement was extremely overwhelming at first, however, with the assistance of our

professor creating lesson plans got easier and easier (TEAC Claim 1: Subject Matter).

Our world is becoming more digital each day and it is important as a future educator that

I am able to keep up with the continuous digital changes (TEAC Claim 1: Subject Matter, TEAC

Claim 2: Pedagogy, Best Teaching Practices for Diverse Learners, TEAC Claim 3: Caring
Educator). The required technology course through Medaille provided me with the resources and

skills which ensure my ability to keep up with the digital changes. This course provided us

teacher candidates with resources that will help create lesson extensions and maintain student

engagement during lessons.

As teacher candidates, we were required to take a special needs course. This course was

beneficial because these students are placed in regular classrooms with IEP’s and today’s

teachers are required to be well versed on the handling and teaching of children with special

needs (TEAC Claim 2: Pedagogy, Best Teaching Practices for Diverse Learners). In order to

effectively handle and teach students with special needs, it is important for teacher candidates to

be exposed to the different needs that they will encounter. This course has prepared me to excel

in this area.

The professional development certificates throughout this educational journey have

helped me grow into an understanding, aware, and caring future educator (TEAC Claim 3:

Caring Educator). Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) as well as the Child Abuse and Violence

Certificate courses are important because these are a piece of the New York State legislation that

ensures equal treatment throughout the educational system (TEAC Claim 2: Pedagogy, Best

Teaching Practices for Diverse Learners, TEAC Claim 3: Caring Educator).

Overall, the required courses through the Elementary Education Program at Medaille

College have left me well prepared to conquer my first teaching position. Each course has

prepared me for all aspects of teaching from classroom management to becoming a well-

rounded, knowledgeable, and caring educator (TEAC Claim 1: Subject Matter, TEAC Claim 2:

Pedagogy, Best Teaching Practices for Diverse Learners, TEAC Claim 3: Caring Educator).

Readiness to Become a Teacher

 As mentioned earlier, this program has provided me with a variety of essential skills and

knowledge to help me become an effective teacher. This portfolio has helped me appreciate my

growth and the journey through Medaille. This program and portfolio have helped me realize one

of my greatest strengths – my desire to help students grow and my desire to make an impact on

each of my students’ lives. This desire will drive my motivation and determination to be the best

teacher I can be. As a teacher, I want to create a classroom environment where my students are

comfortable with making mistakes, where they can learn freely, where learning is fun and

enjoyable, where each of my students feel important and capable of anything. Creating this type

of classroom could come with its challenges, however, the knowledge and skills I have gained

from this program will help me overcome any challenge.

Over the last few years, I have found personal ways to maintain a positive mindset even

when encountering a stressful situation. I look for ways during my day-to-day life to push this

mindset onto others who need it, I provide insight when requested, and I share my own beliefs

and ways of thinking in hopes that the audience will benefit. I believe this way of thinking came

from my psychology degree. During my degree program I learned a lot about how the brain

works, how it reacts to stress, how desire motivates action, how emotion can interfere with

action, how we develop, and why we like or dislike certain things. I believe this background

knowledge will help me become an effective teacher is so many different ways. I hope I am able

to instill this mindset onto my future students so that they are able to practice a healthy mindset

throughout their lives.

Conclusion

This section briefly summarizes my abilities to become an effective teacher. Through my

experiences with Medaille, previous education and work experiences I have obtained the
knowledge and skill set that ensures that I will be an effective teacher. I am well-developed in

writing lesson plans that incorporate accommodation or modification, technology, and student’s

interests. I naturally have an organized mind which will help me provide my ideal classroom

environment. I have a positive demeanor which tends to rub off on people around me. I am also

driven by my passion for helping and impacting young children in various positive ways. I

understand the importance of student engagement, independence, varied instruction and

assessment, the importance of incorporating culture in the classroom, the importance of making

mistakes, and most importantly – reflection. The program at Medaille has provided me with a

variety of resources that will help my students and I succeed in the future for that of which I am

appreciative of. Hopefully this portfolio has helped outline my experiences and knowledge in the

simplest way possible and has shined a light on me.

In the next section of this portfolio you will have the opportunity to view my teacher

candidate interview video where I demonstrate and outline my pedagogy and best teaching

practices through typical interview questions (TEAC Claim 1: Subject Matter, TEAC Claim 2:

Pedagogy, Best Teaching Practices for Diverse Learners, TEAC Claim 3: Caring Educator). My

portfolio work has provided you, the reader, evidence of my varied knowledge, skills, best

teaching practices, content knowledge, ability to work with a diverse population, apply

classroom management skills and strategies, and most importantly, a caring, effective educator

who strives to help students reach their fullest potential.

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