Alexis Smith

TEACHER CANDIDATE INTERVIEW

 Education

• Daemen College- Amherst, NY

 B.S. in Natural Science with a concentration in biology
 Graduated May 2019
 Originally wanted to go for my doctorate in physical therapy but realized I have
always had a passion for teaching children

 Medaille College-Buffalo, NY
 Masters of Elementary Education expected December 2020
 Background

• W-Kids
• Babysitting
• Boys & Girls Club of America
• Doodlebugs!
• Coaching
• Medaille College
 What have I Learned?
• Lesson planning
• Technology skills and tools
• Differentiating instruction
• Accommodations and modifications
• Listen to your students
• Not everyone learns the same way
• Professional development
• Professional collaboration- through peers/colleagues
• Certifications- DASA, SAVE, Child abuse
• Effective classroom management
 Example of a lesson
• Math lesson on equivalent fractions
• Central focus: The central focus of this learning
segment is to determine equivalent fractions using
visuals.
• Modeling- hands on approach
• PPT to use as a visual
• Video on equivalent fractions
• ELA- using think/pair/share. Explaining equivalent
fractions exit ticket
Current trends in education
• Research the district/school
• Harry Wong
• Jean Piaget
• Howard Gardner
• John Dewy
• Jean Rousseau
• Pestalozzi
• Technology
• DASA- equality
Why should you hire me?
• This has always been a goal for me
• Passionate about children
• Honest, reliable, hardworking
• Ability to adapt to change
• I have always had high standards set for myself
• Ability to engage in professional collaboration- team work
• Importance of professional development
• Whole child approach to teaching & learning. School is not just a place for academics
• Plan, instruct, assess
• Integrate technology
• Certifications- DASA, SAVE, Child abuse prevention and intervention