Section Two:

Teacher Candidate Background Experiences

Introduction

Why is education so important for our students today, and why is it crucial for educators

to understand the basics of teaching diverse learners? Educators should have a passion for

helping our young people be the best that they can be and should be rich in experiences that

shape their thoughts, feelings, and opinions on the teaching profession. These experiences, either

volunteer, work, or just small moments within the world of education can shape the beliefs and

values of teachers for a lifetime. Teachers should be helping their students to be the best that they

are capable of and should enrich their classroom with learning experiences that will give them

the tools to succeed as they move up grades into the adult world. In this section of my portfolio,

I will be going over some of my past work experiences with children such as being a student

mentor in an AmeriCorps Program, and a Teacher Assistant at a school for students with

behavioral challenges. I will also be detailing some of my childhood experiences that inspired

me to want to become an educator. I have gained a large amount of knowledge and respect for

the education field through these experiences, which led me to being here working on the

Childhood Education Master’s Degree here at Medaille.

Educational Background

Throughout most of my life, I have always wanted to work in the education field for

several different reasons. I strayed from this in my undergraduate years of college as a

Psychology major due to unforeseen circumstances, yet came back to what I love most here at

Medaille. Many of the educators I had as a child shaped my view of teaching and showed me

what it means to be a supportive, knowledgeable person for unique classrooms of students year
after year. These educators’ range across my Elementary school career. Two of these educators

were my 1st grade and 5th grade teacher. Both teachers had qualities that I admired in them, such

as patience and compassion for helping each student do the best that they could. They worked

with me as I had struggles, and triumphs in their classrooms. I feel that these are two qualities

that I admire very much in an educator. I also have been shaped by the work and volunteer

experiences I have been very fortunate to have had within the past few years. I thoroughly enjoy

working with children, and what I have seen, heard, and experienced within the walls of

Elementary Schools have led me to having a goal of completing this master’s program, and

earning my teaching certification.

1st Grade Teacher

I am choosing to write about this wonderful teacher, as she taught me a large portion of

what it means to be an educator, even at such as young age. She was the type of teacher that

showed every student the same type of respect and tough love, regardless of their status and

background. I specifically remember her classroom as a place where I felt safe, and where I felt

motivated to learn. I remember her as being someone who always engaged students in her

classroom with excited read-alouds and activities paired along with them. One specific memory

I have of this teacher was when she had our class read the Junie B. Jones books as a series. I can

remember this being my first time getting excited about reading. Our class would put on “Junie

B. plays” to help develop our literacy and teamwork skills. I feel that as an effective teacher, it is

important to motivate students in this way to love learning. Planning and designing effective

learning experiences is one of the major teacher competencies, which she did very well.

Effective learning experiences help children learn new information in a fun and creative way that

they will remember.

5th Grade Teacher

My 5th Grade teacher was a perfect example of what it means to be a compassionate and

empathetic educator. From the very first day I walked into her class as a nervous 5th Grader, she

made me feel that I could succeed in everything that I put my mind to. Specifically, I struggled

with Math more than any other subject during my time in Elementary School. I worked very hard

on the concepts that she taught, yet somehow had trouble understanding the basic components of

Math. She worked with me every single day to ensure I grasped the concept of multiplying two-

digit numbers, even as I was frustrated and wanted to give up every time. She even gave me a

“special spot” to sit in the classroom when I would get worked up and needed a break. I feel that

this is a great tool for classroom management, and I plan on using it in my own classroom

someday. I feel that this is a great alternative to other types of discipline, such as sending kids to

the principal’s office.

College Experience

As I grew up and went to college, I ended up in an Early Education program through a

local community college. During my time in this program, I had the chance to do a field

experience in a 1st grade classroom at a nearby Elementary school. This was the first experience

that I had gotten the chance to step foot into an actual Elementary classroom. I learned during my

time here that a teacher is more than just an Educator, they are a counselor, nurse, and as also can

be looked at as a second parent by students as well. Teachers juggle many hats during the day,

and still stay organized and focused on helping their students become the best that they can be.

While participating in this field experience, I learned two specific ideals about teaching that I had

not known before going into it. I learned the importance of providing engaging activities for

students and keeping students on task in their learning. The teacher I worked with; Ms. Z. always
had a special educational activity planned for her students each day. From alphabet puppets to

math robots, her students were always happy to be in her classroom.

Work Experiences

YMCA After School Assistant

One early work experience that led me to this field was around the Spring of 2016, when

I became an after-school assistant for a local after school program through the YMCA. This

experience happened to be one of my first jobs working with school age children. Although after

school programs tend to be very different than that of working in a traditional Elementary

Classroom, I still feel that this experience helped me to see the true magic of working with

children. During my time at this program, my daily job duties were to oversee students as they

completed any homework assignments, ate snack, and participated in recreational activities

outdoors/indoors. During this work experience, I learned specific basics about classroom

management that I would not have learned otherwise. One day, I had noticed that a child did not

want to go outside and refused although the rest of the children had already gone out. I

repeatedly told him that he had to go, as I could not leave him by himself.

Student Mentor -AmeriCorps Program

In the Fall of 2018, I started an AmeriCorps Program in Buffalo known as Project

S.O.A.R. I was placed at an Urban school district to start my journey as a student mentor for a

caseload of 15 students, all in 5th/6th grade. Most of these students lived were from low income

families and had very little resources to work with. While working in this school, I learned many

different skills such as behavioral management and how to effectively engage students in their

schoolwork. One of the major components of my job as a student mentor was to learn how to

deescalate students in times of crisis, while doing so calmly and safely. Knowing this skill can
change the atmosphere of a classroom drastically, as students need to be happy and motivated in

order to be able to learn properly. I also learned from this experience the power of collaboration

in an educational setting, and how bouncing ideas off co-workers can help increase success in the

classroom/with students one on one. “The power of collective capacity is that it enables ordinary

people to accomplish extraordinary things—for two reasons. One is that knowledge about

effective practice becomes more widely available and accessible daily. The second reason is

more powerful still—working together generates commitment.” (Anrig, p. 72) Each weekday

morning, me and my co-workers got together to discuss strategies we could use to further help

the students on our caseload. I felt that using these ideas in my own work helped me immensely,

as I was able to use them when a student was getting frustrated on a homework assignment or

dealing with their home issues while at school.

Teacher Assistant-Alternative School

I started working at another urban school in Buffalo, NY in the Fall of 2019. I was hired

to be a teacher assistant for a 6:1:1 5th grade classroom. At the time I did not realize how much of

a challenge this was going to be, and how much I would learn and take away from this

experience at the same time. This specific school included a specialized curriculum for the

students but emphasized a major focus on teaching them improved social/emotional skills. This

experience While being a teacher’s assistant for this classroom, I learned many different aspects

of being a teacher that are crucial to having a safe and engaging classroom. One major

competency I learned from working at this specific school was the power of planning, and

always having a back-up activity when a lesson does not go as expected. Planning is a very

important tool to have as an educator, as there will be times when technology may act up, a
student has a meltdown, or an event such as a fire drill throws off the timing of a lesson. At this

specific school, I learned to expect the unexpected each day. Specifically, one day when only

two children showed up out of the 6 who were in my classroom. At this point, there was no way

we could start a new unit with only two children so what did we do? Improvise. We had the two

who showed up do an academic activity of their choice, along other ideas for the day.

School Observations and Classroom Application

School observations are very important for any experience in a classroom setting, as

observing can help teachers understand individual students, groups, and the classroom in a more

effective way. Throughout my work/volunteer experiences, I have had the opportunity to use

what I have observed in classrooms and other settings to strengthen my knowledge of the

Educational Field. These observations have allowed me to grow as a future professional within

the Education field, and to take what I have learned to apply it into my future classroom. These

are just some of what I taken away from my experiences. -

School Observations

Classroom observations are very important to educators as they start out in their career.

“Major goals of classroom observations are preparing beginning teachers with enough skills and

knowledge to improve their teaching continuously through analysis and reflection, seeing the

various interpersonal interactions between the teacher and those interactions occurring among

students in the classroom, and improving teacher’s classroom instruction based on feedback from

individual, classroom, or school (Good, 1988). I have had the chance to observe students of all

different learning styles, personalities, and cultural backgrounds through my work/field

experiences. While working in different schools, I took many mental notes of what I observed

from teachers, students, and other school personnel. Being an observer of a classroom helped me
realize how I want to teach my future classroom, what my classroom management style will be,

and what qualities I feel are not effective in a classroom setting. One specific observation I can

remember was when I was employed in one of the urban schools. I had the chance to work with

great teachers and great students. One specific day, I remember helping the students in one of the

teacher’s classrooms and noticed that the teacher was walking around checking in with each

student and seeing if they needed help with anything. Ms. Z was very skilled at knowing how to

check in with her students, and to not leave them behind if they needed extra help.

Communication such as this goes a long way with building student rapport and building their

confidence. Giving students positive feedback on their work, instead of focusing on the negative

will make students want to stay engaged in their learning and will make them want to do better.

A study was done in 2002 to measure the relationship between teacher praise/feedback, and how

students perceived their classroom environment. “The results indicated that negative teacher

feedback and effort feedback were both related to students' relationships with their teachers,

while ability feedback was associated with perceptions of the classroom environment.”(Burnett,

2002) I also noticed during my other work experiences that various types of technology were

incorporated into many different lessons that I had the chance to listen in on. During my time at

the alternative school, the classroom teacher I worked with used Google Classroom, and

interactive Social Studies applications such as Google Earth to engage students. I had noticed

that the class were more engaged in these lessons than traditional pen/paper. For example, the

teacher did a virtual classroom tour of the Louvre in France, and the students were fascinated.

Classroom Application
 After reflecting on my classroom observations, I plan on implementing specific practices

that I noted, and specific characteristics of some of the teachers I had the pleasure of meeting. I

plan on taking what I have observed so far and using it to cultivate my future classroom.

According to Robert Marzano, there are specific ways to ensure success in a classroom. One of

these ways happens to be providing feedback to students on their work and have high

expectations for them in their learning. (resilienteducator.com, 2020) I feel that during my

observations, I noticed that many teachers who I had the chance to work with were consistently

pulling students aside and giving them constructive advice on how to improve their work. I feel

that this would be effective in my own classroom because students will benefit from knowing

what their strengths/weaknesses are, while also building a positive professional relationship with

the teacher. Student feedback is crucial to successful learning. Another important teacher

competency I plan on applying to my own classroom is that of incorporating appropriate

assessments for my students, both formal and summative. Within my observations, I had the

chance to speak with several teachers about how they assess students, and measure learning

goals/objectives. One specific teacher, Ms. S. stated that she regularly has her students do a

learning exit ticket at the end of the week in the form of an online learning log, to see how they

are doing and what they learned the most about. This can help educators see what is working,

and not working with their specific teaching methods, and how they can help specific students

differently. One of the major teacher competencies is being able to use on-going assessment to

monitor student learning.

Philosophy of Education

Teachers are expected to teach students about life inside and outside the classroom, while

balancing lesson plans, behavioral challenges, and acting professional inside/outside of school.
My Philosophy of Education has changed based on my different experiences in the education

field, and the observations that I have done throughout this time as well. Here is my Philosophy

of Education, and how I view learners, classroom assessments, schools, and various aspects of

the Educational field. I have shaped my views through professional development experiences,

various readings, and through work/volunteer experiences in the world of Education. As I share

my opinions and beliefs with you the reader, I hope it is known that I am not meaning to critique

the world of Education and am not disrespecting the true meaning of Education for all students.

In order to be an effective and motivating Educator, teachers must be student centered and

understand that they are a large influence in their student’s lives once they step into their

classroom.

The School

I feel that a school should be a place that is safe, and a place that students should be able

to learn in without distractions from peers or adults. The purpose of a school is to give a child a

place to grow, develop, and learn about how to function within the adult world when they leave

to venture into adult life. Students are expected to learn social, academic, and management skills

during their time in a place of education. Schools are a journey for students to become

productive members of society as adults, through nonacademic and academic activities that

stimulate and nurture their growing minds.

The Curriculum

In New York, the Department of Education issues the curriculum standards, and what

children are expected to learn in each public school. I feel that these standards are necessary, as

they promote equal learning for each grade level. The curriculum in New York State that is now

being used are known as the New Generation Learning Standards. These standards are less
dense, and are easier for teachers to implement into their classrooms. I feel that all subjects

should be included in the curriculum, as they are all equal importance for students to gain the

well-rounded education they deserve. Social Studies and Science have just as much importance

as Math/Literacy, as they teach children different skills they will need in further grades.

Learning

In today’s schools, learning is becoming more diverse than ever. Students are coming

into schools with diverse backgrounds, attitudes, and learning styles that are changing the way

we are having to think of lesson plans, activities, and student groups. However, these new

diverse classrooms are also having a very positive impact on learning. According to the 2010–11

Diverse Learning Environments survey, and the 2010–11 HERI Faculty Survey, specific findings

were stated. “DLE findings from 2010–11 show that both course content that addresses diversity

and specific pedagogies that encourage engagement with diversity tend to enhance levels of

student academic validation.” (Hurtado and Alvarado, 2013) I also feel that technology has

become more and more of a necessity in schools and is helping in engaging students to learn.

Technology is becoming more and more prominent in classrooms, and students are being

introduced to laptops/iPads in grades as young as Kindergarten. According to a report by

Common Sense Learning in 2019, educators are having their students learn in a very different

way than just 10 years ago. “Nearly all teachers — 95 percent — are using technology in the

classroom nowadays. Elementary and middle school grades dominate when it comes to tech

usage.” (Nagel, 2019) Technology is only going to increase for today’s modern day student

learner, and educators should adapt to this new type of educational model.

The Learner
 Students today are eager to learn, curious, and full of potential. It is important that we

give them an education that centers around their interests to support this unique development. A

well-known theorist named Jean Piaget, is known for his Cognitive Development theory. The

goal of this theory is to explain the process by which children and infants can develop into

individuals who can reason and think using various assumptions. His focus from this theory was

the importance of what children think and how they learn through for distinct stages. His theory

stated that children go through four stages of development as follows: sensorimotor,

preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational. (Enerling, 2014) As detailed in my

introduction section, the stage a child is in can help tailor lessons towards their specific learning

needs in the classroom. A student learner should be receiving work at their level, so they can

move on to the next.

Classroom Management

I feel that classroom management is one of the most important aspects of teaching a

classroom. Without proper routines and procedures in a classroom, students are unable to learn

effectively. Classroom management routines and procedures should be established from the first

day of school. It is very important to develop a “relationship balance” with students. Harry

Wong, an educational theorist, stated several ways to create this environment effectively. It is

very important to set clear expectations from the very first day, as students are more likely to

focus on their learning instead of their entertainment. This helps cultivate relationships with

students and helps them take the classroom environment seriously. It is also important to give

students a specific seating chart on the first day, as this helps create structure in a classroom.
(Wong, 1998) I feel that educators should set a classroom management style that is firm, yet is

balanced with a caring demeanor filled with positive reinforcements for students.

The Teacher

Teachers have a unique and special place within this world. They are expected to juggle

many hats each day as soon as they enter the school building, and into their classroom. The

teacher’s role in a classroom should be one of guidance, and support for students at all moments

of the school day. Teachers should also have a good hold on classroom management and can be

compassionate with students in times of crisis or facing the unexpected. I feel that a teacher

should have specific characteristics that are needed for working with children in a high-quality

learning environment. These characteristics range from being organized in their lesson planning,

to know how to manage a child who is acting out in class without disrupting the learning of the

rest of the students.

Assessment

I feel that assessment is one of the most important components of being an educator.

Without proper documentation and data taken from student’s learning, there would be no way to

see how students are progressing or not progressing. Proper assessment can be done in the

classroom in different ways. Educators should take notes on their students and organize them in a

folder for each child. Documenting information should also be done in different ways, from

videos, conversations with students, etc. I feel that assessing student learning is needed for both

teacher reflection, and for helping students who are struggling with a part of the curriculum/need

special education services.

Resume
 Conclusion

This specific section of my paper went into detail on just some of my background

experiences within Education and detailed my Philosophy of Education. This section helped me
reflect on why I am decided to become an educator, and specific competencies that I plan on

implementing into my own classroom. Writing about individuals who helped me as a child, and

an adult want to go into the Education field also made me realize just how lucky I was to have

known them. The specific impact we have on children as an educator can influence them

throughout their lives, even though we as teachers may not realize it right away. I hope that by

reading this section of my portfolio, you understand more of the reasons as to why I am choosing

to go into this wonderful field.