Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction
In this section, I will reflect on my journey of creating this portfolio. As mentioned, the
educator. This portfolio encompasses my artifacts and the standards to which they align, as you
reflection of this process. Creating a portfolio of one’s work is emotional experience. As I went
through my artifacts to insert into this portfolio, I reflected on when I taught the lessons and the
sense of accomplishment I felt. Knowing that I taught new material to students which will build
on what they already know, and will learn, is a wonderfully rewarding experience. Putting
together this portfolio has also been a wonderfully rewarding experience. I have a newfound
appreciation for the hard work I put into this portfolio to reflect my pedagogy and my readiness
As I reflect on the journey of creating this portfolio, I will reference the TEAC/CAEP
Claims throughout this section. The TEAC/CAEP Claims outline a teacher candidate’s readiness
for the teaching profession. For example, does the teacher candidate possess the knowledge to
work in the profession? Does the teacher candidate possess the requisite teaching skills for the
teaching profession? By addressing these claims, I will illustrate that indeed I a prepared for the
teaching profession and have acquired the requisite skills necessary to be a successful classroom
teacher. I don’t feel that simply stating that I have the skills is sufficient to be a successful
classroom teacher. I firmly believe that my pedagogy and work experience will make me an asset
to the teaching community and profession. I also strongly believe, that it is because of the
profession, throughout this section. I will also refer to the Department of Education of Medaille
TEAC/CAEP Claims are used guides for teacher candidates and the educational
programs that graduate us, prior to becoming certified teaching professionals. These Claims
addition to ensuring that a teacher candidate is prepared, CAEP also states claims that the
graduating school has prepared the teacher candidate for a career in the teaching profession.
However, the teacher candidates education does not end upon graduation. The teacher candidate
commits to a career of learning to hone existing skills and gain new skills and content
knowledge.
critical concepts and principles of their disciplines and, by completion are able to use discipline-
specific practices flexibly to advance the learning of all students toward attainment of college -
and career - readiness standards.” (CAEP) Through my education at Medaille College I have
attained the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively and confidently put my pedagogical
skills into practice in the classroom. I have learned the foundations of education through various
theorists, like Benjamin Bloom and Piaget, and I put their theories into practice when creating
lesson and units plans. In addition, through Medaille and practical field experience, I have
learned effective classroom management. I came into the education program at Medaille not
knowing anything about classroom management, but now I feel confident in my ability to
manage a classroom.
Medaille exposed me to, and taught me the importance of research for educational
purposes. I successfully completed research on a school board in Ontario and a school district in
New York State. For both of those research assignments, I needed to understand the
demographics of the schools within the board, the academic breakdown of the students’
attainment, what percentage of students went on to College and University, as well as the
demographics of the surrounding areas of the school. This research enlightened me to an issue
that schools and educators face today: hunger. Many of the schools I researched have free and
heavily discounted lunch programs for students. With everything a teacher must deal with, if a
student comes to school hungry, it is very difficult to teach students who’s family’s can barely
afford to eat.
information about teaching and teaching diverse learners. Through Medaille’ s education
program, I learned how to teach a variety of learners, including ELL students, students with
special needs and struggling learners. This aligns with the Department of Education at Medaille’s
Claim that, “Medaille college graduates meet the needs of diverse learners through effective
pedagogy and diverse learning practices.” (DOE Claim 2) These new skills were put into
practice during my field experience when I was able to effectively teach and work with ELL
students and students with IEPs. Through Medaille and the wonderful professors and teachers
who taught me, I acquired the necessary skills to work with different types of learners. For
example, ELL students benefit greatly from sitting close to the teacher during instruction and the
use of visual aids including graphic organizers. These are invaluable tools that will allow me to
literacy. By working with children in a literacy assessment, creating math and science lesson
plans, I feel prepared to enter a classroom and expound this content knowledge to students.
Many of the lessons I created at Medaille College I used in my field experience during my
practicum. Elephant Toothpaste is a science experiment that illustrates what happens when you
use a catalyst to increase the break down of hydrogen peroxide into water. Since it’s a very
visual and entertaining experiment, kids love it and engages them to learn. I conducted this
experiment in both of my field experiences and students loved it. They get to see the effects of a
chemical reaction and they also learn about exothermic energy, which makes the foam hot as it
releases energy. It’s a wonderful experiment and lesson plan that allowed me to reach a variety
Having children of my own, family and friends I care about, I was hardly a-emotional.
However, the Medaille College Education program has made me a more caring person. This is
because the professors, teachers and colleagues at Medaille are all very caring and passionate
people who care deeply about education. This caring and passion is infectious and in turn, I have
become a more caring person who is also passionate about education. I care about my students
and I want them to learn, succeed and be happy. The DOE at Medaille’ s Claim that Medaille
As important as classroom study is, the greatest aspect of my teaching education has been
the practical experience. Nervous what to expect, I spent sixteen weeks in two different
classrooms. My first field experience was at an all-boys school in a Grade 5 class, and my
second placement was a Grade 1-2 split at a public school. These experiences completely shaped
who I am as a teacher. Everything I had learned up to that point I put into practice in front of
real, live students. This is very different then presenting in class and having your colleagues
pretend they are school children. Through my field experience I honed my classroom
management skills as well as my instructional delivery. I was also able to discern what worked
well in my instruction and activities and what would require tweaking. I used time at the end of
the diary to reflect on each day of my field experience and I diarized the experience for future
reference.
the major technology companies in Canada and the world. I am very comfortable with
technology and I strongly believe in the use of technology for educational purposes, where it
makes sense. I can’t wait to use technology in my classroom because I know it will be important
for today’s students to be technologically literate. As important as technology is, online safety is
also extremely important. As an advocate for technology use in the classroom, I will also ensure
my students are aware of the perils of not being safe online. My knowledge and comfort of
technology in the classroom, including tablets and SMARTboards, along with other pedagogical
A comfort for technology alone does prepare a teacher for a career in teaching.
Classroom management also plays a role in a teacher candidate’s preparedness for the
profession. In the sixteen weeks I spent in my field experience, I spent a lot of time working on
my classroom management skills. At first I would observe the Associate Teachers and saw what
worked for them. I would then borrow their classroom strategies and change them to make them
my own. This worked wonderfully for both practicums and I can’t wait to continue to hone these
skills in the classroom again. Having acquired classroom management skills, I am prepared for
Classroom management alone does not mean a teacher is prepared for the teaching
profession, however. I created many lesson and unit plans over the past year, many of which
were created for my field experience. Creating a lesson plan not only allows a teacher to
organize the lesson, but it forces the teacher to think about the objective, activities to accompany,
how to teach the lesson, syntax, Bloom’s verb and assessing students for understanding. Creating
lesson plans given me a new perspective on the preparation that goes into teaching. There is a
tremendous amount of preparation in lesson planning and the Medaille faculty has done an
excellent in teaching me the importance and the how-to of creating strong lesson plans. For my
ability to create strong pedagogical lesson plans that considers a variety of learners, I am
Conclusion
This section serves to inform you on my journey in creating this portfolio. It also informs
you of the TEAC/CAEP standards that I align to which highlights my preparedness for the
teaching profession. In addition to these standards, I also illustrated that I align to the
Department of Education of Medaille College’s Claims that I am indeed prepared to teach. I have
the content knowledge, excellent classroom management skills and four months of practical
experience in classrooms. I have the foundational knowledge of theory and philosophy, as well
as exemplary lesson planning and writing skills. Lastly, I am very comfortable with technology,
advocate for technology in the classroom, but am very aware of the important of safe and
appropriate use of technology for students in elementary and middle school. For these reasons, I
know I am ready for the rigors and rewards of the teaching profession.