MSED Elementary Portfolio Project - Section Five

Teacher Candidate Reflection

Introduction:

The portion of section five includes a reflection on the overall experiences I have

acquired in developing this portfolio project while including my related experiences. To become

an effective teacher one needs to be able to reflect on their work and make changes and learn

from mistakes that may have been committed to ensure that they are better prepared for future

tasks and teaching. Medaille College’s Masters of Science in Elementary Education program has

equipped me into becoming a wonderful teacher for the future with great tools, knowledge,

understanding, resources, and much more which I will share with you below. Building the

portfolio was a great journey because I was able to look at all my work I had done during

teachers college. It was an opportunity to reflect on the items and pick which showcased my best

work. It was also a great learning experience putting everything together to see the grand picture.

I believe it will be essential to update my portfolio as my career proceeds as it will give

me a chance to see my professional growth in the teaching field, and always remind me of the

traits and education behind teaching. Medaille has a great set of professors that differ from each

other providing us with various perspectives for teaching, they are highly skilled in their courses

and were able to guide me through the course work, and provide me with very handy tips and

education that will come alive in classrooms. Furthermore, the professors have truly inspired me

to achieve high goals. In this portion I will reflect on my experiences, observations and lessons

along with a final culminating section showcasing my readiness to become a teacher drawing on

my areas of strength.

Portfolio Project / Teacher Education Learning Experiences:

Coming into the Masters of Science Elementary Education program I had mix feelings of

excitement, content, and was a bit hesitant as to what I will be learning, and what teachers

college was truly like. I am grateful for my journey through teachers college as it taught me a

whole lot about the art of pedagogy. During the first semester we had field experience where I

was able to volunteer at three different schools where I gained much over 100 hours in-

classroom with Grade 1s, 3s, and 4s. My observations and experience working with teachers,

principals, and children was immaculate. I learned a whole lot, especially learnt that our lesson

plans need not to be lengthy, and that we cannot put a whole lot in it for children to learn, but is

always good to over plan as what is not used can be taken forward the next day.

Working with the children I felt how rewarding the teaching profession is when children

come up to you and thank you for helping them, or idolize you and give you little cards that say

you’re the best, and try to get your attention when you’re out for recess or in-class, and when

they listen attentively when you teach a lesson. I was able to teach lessons in the grade four class.

Other lessons I have learnt while in teachers college is the importance of being a culturally

responsible teacher that is inclusive of all students which does not only mean to be aware of

students population in terms of race, ethnicity and cultural background or religion but to just

simply know your students likes, dislikes and about their parents. The information I learnt for

technology use in classrooms, and the tools we were provided and how I got to learn how to use

a Smart Board and how to develop the slides for it was amazing as our future learners will be

using technology in various ways I found it extremely helpful for Medaille to devote a full class

on technology for us to learn and be well equipped. We were constantly making lesson plans,

and unit plans, and presenting our plans and doing mini presentations in order to get back good

criticism from the professors and class which helped us greatly improve on our presenting skills

and to improve our plans that we would create.

Medaille made learning fun, and smooth and made the transition from being a student to

becoming a teacher very seamless. I was able to meet the TEAC/CAEP Claims throughout the

last three semesters by the following. Claim 1: Medaille College graduates know the subject

matter in their certification areas, as an elementary future teacher Medaille equipped us in social

sciences, mathematics, science, technology, language arts giving us a well-rounded knowledge in

all subjects for a elementary classroom. My experience in classrooms due to Medaille gave me

knowledge in health and physical education alongside drama and art. Claim 2: Medaille College

graduates meet the needs of diverse learners through effective pedagogy and best teaching

practices were implemented into our program throughout. I am well equipped to implement

claim 2 in my teaching through culturally responsible teaching, dignity for all students, and

knowledge of catering towards my students. The last Claim 3: Medaille College graduates are

caring educators made me aware of to, and how I express caring as an educator. Thus caring is

extended to students, school and parents for the betterment of society.

Students are the future of tomorrow, and caring really shows through when you teach,

and see results. The two best lessons I learnt which will stick with me forever is number one

“Adapt and Overcome” when things do not go as planned, or for some reason something happens

never panic just adapt to the scenario or situation and overcome it with another brilliant idea in

order to solve the problem. Second lesson I learnt is how to know what your big picture for unit

plans, or lessons plans are, what will the students really learn from your lesson or unit plan and

what will stick with them. This helped me go beyond teaching but to become an inspiring teacher

for students to want to learn. The experience of accumulating and developing this portfolio has

been an unforgettable journey, it’s not easy to put together a 100+ page portfolio but it was a

reflective learning experience. I was able to look at my observations made in class analyzing

students, and look back into my coursework and keep essential items aside for myself, and

organize my coursework in case I need it in the near future, I was able to see my progress

through the 3 semesters where I had started and where I am now. Learning what makes a

spectacular teacher to exercising what I had written in section one has been speechless.

Readiness to Become a Teacher:

It is said reach for the stars and you will end up on the moon, I am proud to say that I

have reached my star. My star, my dream of becoming a teacher is a reality now. I am equipped

to teach and have my own classroom thanks to Medaille College and my efforts and support

from family and the students I was side by side learning with. I am able to teach content in all

subjects, and develop interactive fun lesson plans and unit plans for students that follow the

curriculum. I am able to professionally communicate with the community and parents through

the use of posters, email, remind me application.

I can develop plans for all students and be able to see what reading level they are in and

cater to their needs in language arts through my knowledge from Medaille College literacy

courses. I am better at time managing, alongside developing creative ways to bring technology in

a classroom through the use of Smart Boards, Plickers, Padlet, Power Point, Q.R Codes, and the

vast internet. I have mastered ways of grabbing student attention and handling a classroom and

getting their attention and exciting students to want to learn through the understanding of

classroom management. I am able to know when to use alternative instruction methods in a

classroom and to also diversify my teaching instruction with various methods. I possess a caring

and passion for helping and teaching students so that they learn and not just memorize

information for the time being. I love going out of my way, and going the extra mile in creating a

lesson where students are engaged even if it requires me to lose 30-45 minutes of sleep for a

night while creating a more engaging lesson or unit. Reason being I care, and the satisfaction of

knowing my students have mastered a skill, or piece of information is priceless and ensures me

that I am doing my job. With all this said I have the ability to become a professional caring,

knowledgeable, professional teacher whom uses her best pedagogy skills to use in inclusively

teaching all students.

Conclusion:

My portfolio from section one to four has provided vast information informing you on

how well equipped I am for teaching, also showcased my developed through teachers college at

Medaille College. From knowledge in curriculum, to creating a website, developing lesson and

unit plans, to showcasing research skills, demonstrating my creative, caring, knowledgeable self,

referencing my favorite theorist being Bruner for their play-based learning theory as well as

other theorist, to describing my related experiences working with students, lastly showing my

artifacts and how they are linked to professional standards and the curriculum. In conclusion I

would like to appeal that I am ready to become a professional teacher, and would like to take all

my experiences and education and apply to a real classroom.