Danielle's Education Portfolio
Resume
My Personal Education Philosophy
I believe all children can be taught. Education is an individual, unparalleled experience for all children. In order for children to benefit from
what education has to offer it is important for teachers to grasp the importance of their job and influence they have in the lives of the student emotionally and
intellectually.
For as far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a teacher. When I was a child I distinctively remember gathering up all my
friends from the neighborhood and cousins to play school. I was always the teacher. I loved the feeling of being able to help my imaginary students learn.
This feeling of being able to help my imaginary students learn filled me with so much excitement and such a feeling of pride. This
interest I have and overwhelming desire to see them succeed motivates me now to be a teacher.
I believe my students will benefit with “authentic” learning experiences that directly relate their subject matter to their own real life
experiences. I believe I need to teach objective content to my students.
Teaching is more than a forty-hour a week job. A teacher’s goals for the student should include much more than sharing out –of –context facts to
indifferent students. Teachers are professionals trusted with the education of young minds. They must promote learning and growth not only academically but personally and ethically by providing quality educational opportunities for each individual. Learning to teach is a life-long process. I see myself as “in
process”, constantly seeking opportunities where I can improve myself as a teacher, as well as an overall member of society. I constantly reflect and
evaluate my professional performance seeking for ways to improve my knowledge and skills.
All children possess unique qualities and need a safe and cultivating environment to learn and grow. I feel the learning process can b much more effective if students have the desire and willingness to learn. I feel it is important for educators to find a way to capture a learner’s attention and constantly seek to find ways to increase their student’s motivation. The teacher’s attitude and disposition plays a huge role in the learning process. I feel strongly that students will have more of a desire to
attend and participate in their education process if the teacher displays patience and enthusiasm.
I feel it is necessary to hold my students to high expectations because that is my obligation as an educator. I want them to always feel they
can achieve anything they aspire to. Success will always be within their grasp. I also want my students to learn through their interactions with their peers and
members of the community. They need to be able to use their minds and construct their own ideas about the information they are exposed to.
I believe the best education is one filled with a sense of freedom to explore with plenty of time to pursue personal interests and develop talents.
Philosophy of Student Learning
All professionals have their own philosophy of student learning. This not only defines education but also serves as a guideline for interaction
with students, parents and other colleagues. I believe the first goal for a teacher is to help learn to think critically. Because technology is quickly
changing students must learn the skills needed to be successful. That is why the second goal of a teacher is to help students learn how to learn. To do this a
teacher must make students aware of all the different learning theories and styles. This allows the student to discover what works best for them and they
are able to be prepared to continually adapt their skills to be able to learn in the changing world. All students process information differently and all
students are influenced by the culture in which they live. Knowing this helps teachers to understand a child’s motivation which they can then use to promote and influence success in and out of the classroom. A teacher should strive to teach students something new every day. This helps them to have a greater
understanding of the world around them and how it can be applied to what they do. I think it is also of the utmost importance to remember not all students
have the same high-order cognitive skills. No single curriculum will fit the developmental needs of all children. The challenge of teaching is to develop a
system that will help students have new learning experiences in ways that are meaningful to them. Learner-Oriented teaching promotes learning that has a
purpose and lasts. As a teacher it will be my responsibility to know who my learners are, what kind of knowledge and experience they bring to the classroom
as a whole and what they want to achieve so I can create a learning experience that fits their needs and have room to accommodate topics that promote group
discovery. Teachers that demonstrate curiosity and passion about a particular subject positively motivate students to learn in an effort to share in that
enthusiasm. Students learn by example and when that example is positive so is the outcome.
I do not know which I prefer better the role of student or the role of instructor. I believe that I too have a lot to learn from the students
in which I will be teaching. I don’t ever believe I am above learning from a student. There is a give and take that when equally balanced allows for
\ individual learning and growth.
Fair and Effective Assessment Plans
I believe assessment starts before you begin teaching. Assessment is essential to determine if students understand and retain what they are
learning. For each learning goal in my lesson plan I will need to provide either a formative or summative assessment. Check-ups that chart student’s progress
throughout the instruction period and tests or term projects that provide students the opportunity to show what they have learned are a great way to
measure a student’s progress. One of the biggest complaints that I have as a student is that instructors are slow to grade or respond with feedback to my submitted work or they are unfair in their grading. I feel that timing is very important so that students can gain
insight from the teacher’s feedback in time for the next assignment. I feel it is important to always use a fair and objective grading tool. It is also
important to express student’s strength and weaknesses using constructive comments. Ask questions to help students explore new ideas. The goal is to
foster a conversation about learning between the teacher and the students that continues throughout the learning process.
Summative assessments are quizzes, tests and other graded material that are used to measure student performance. They give the teacher a
good idea of what a student learned at the end of the lesson. Formative assessments are used to measure student learning on a daily basis. They reveal
a lot about what students are learning during the course and give the teacher ideas about what steps to take in teaching and learning. I don’t like questions
such as “do you understand?” or “does anyone have any questions?” I prefer a more systematic and intentional approach such as asking the students to write
the most important points made in the lesson or what was most confusing to them at the end of the lesson. Reviewing these responses provided a lot of insight
into how the lecture was perceived and what the next teaching steps should be. Each student learns differently and each student retains different aspects of
what they are taught. It is important to assess early and to assess often especially when students are learning something new and untaught before.
Lesson plans need to be insightful and hold the student’s attention. I find I learn better when I can personally relate to what is being
taught. Having students share their opinions and insights can often help other students in the class receive information from different points of view. It is
also important to combine lecture with hands on learning.
I believe assessment starts before you begin teaching. Assessment is essential to determine if students understand and retain what they are
learning. For each learning goal in my lesson plan I will need to provide either a formative or summative assessment. Check-ups that chart student’s progress
throughout the instruction period and tests or term projects that provide students the opportunity to show what they have learned are a great way to
measure a student’s progress. One of the biggest complaints that I have as a student is that instructors are slow to grade or respond with feedback to my submitted work or they are unfair in their grading. I feel that timing is very important so that students can gain
insight from the teacher’s feedback in time for the next assignment. I feel it is important to always use a fair and objective grading tool. It is also
important to express student’s strength and weaknesses using constructive comments. Ask questions to help students explore new ideas. The goal is to
foster a conversation about learning between the teacher and the students that continues throughout the learning process.
Summative assessments are quizzes, tests and other graded material that are used to measure student performance. They give the teacher a
good idea of what a student learned at the end of the lesson. Formative assessments are used to measure student learning on a daily basis. They reveal
a lot about what students are learning during the course and give the teacher ideas about what steps to take in teaching and learning. I don’t like questions
such as “do you understand?” or “does anyone have any questions?” I prefer a more systematic and intentional approach such as asking the students to write
the most important points made in the lesson or what was most confusing to them at the end of the lesson. Reviewing these responses provided a lot of insight
into how the lecture was perceived and what the next teaching steps should be. Each student learns differently and each student retains different aspects of
what they are taught. It is important to assess early and to assess often especially when students are learning something new and untaught before.
Lesson plans need to be insightful and hold the student’s attention. I find I learn better when I can personally relate to what is being
taught. Having students share their opinions and insights can often help other students in the class receive information from different points of view. It is
also important to combine lecture with hands on learning.
Philosophy of Classroom Management
How a teacher deals with a student’s behavior choice depends on their personal educational philosophy and classroom management approach. Effective
classroom management creates an orderly, safe environment where each student feels valued and comfortable expressing their feelings without fear of
retaliation. A teacher needs to set the stage for learning by arranging the classroom in a way that supports teaching and learning in a variety of
independent and group ideas. Classroom management needs to encourage student’s motivation to attend class, participate in classroom discussions and activities
and manage their own behavior.
The teacher has a responsibility to establish and enforce a set of specific rules and guidelines to control student behavior in the classroom. Some
behavioral issues are caused by conditions that may not be readily obvious. A teacher needs to be able to separate the behaviors that can be controlled from
the behaviors that may possibly be root caused by something else. Once a child’s psychological needs have been met students should be motivated by physical and
emotional safety, love and acceptance, admiration and respect. Unlike teachers students have a difficult time leaving their confusion and concerns about family
problems outside the classroom. Teachers need to bear in mind not all parents teach their children to respect themselves or others, to respond correctly to
authorative figures or to follow the rules of society. A parent’s attitude towards education often is reflected in their children. Some children are
disruptive because they are tired from not getting enough sleep at home or hungry because they are not fed nutritional meals. These types of situations
need to be taken into consideration when punishment is involved.
Effective classroom management looks to provide a structured, caring environment that meets the student’s psychological and emotional needs. I
believe it is a teacher’s responsibility to respect a student’s individual’s rights, values, and feelings. They choose their words carefully and aim to
protect a student’s dignity and personal feelings. Teachers need to actively engage students in meaningful conversation and experiences that challenge their
intellect. A teacher needs to provide positive feedback and reinforcement while setting the child up to succeed. A good teacher who cares can literally change a
student’s life for the better. I distinctively remember every good teacher I had and how they helped contribute to my academic and personal success.
A successful classroom management plan allows the teacher to build trusting relationships with students, prevent student misbehavior, be able to re-direct
minor behavior problems, stop major behavioral problems, and teach self- control. Teachers create safe, orderly environments by establishing limits that
maintain order of the classroom and make it easy for students to determine right from wrong behavior so more teaching and learning can take place. I feel that
there can be too many rules; however that are unenforceable and unnecessary. It is better to have a few rules that address a wide range of desirable behaviors
rather than a complete list of the specifics. The rules need to contain positive wording and be presented in student-friendly verbiage. Clearly communicate your
expectations and what the rewards will be for positive behavior and the consequences for negative behavior. I also feel it is extremely important to
protect a student’s dignity and avoid confrontation in front of other students or the entire class. This will also help prevent a power struggle. Use positive
active listening with the goal being to build a closer relationship with the misbehaving student. If these private interactions fail then more severe
consequences may be warranted such as the loss of privileges, a visit to an administrator or detention. On occasion misbehavior can become so serious or
continue past the point that it is harmful to other students or prevents them from having a positive educational experience. This is when it is necessary to
seek outside help from parents or a school counselor. Punishment of the whole class for one student’s poor behavior also can have disastrous consequences.
While it may solve the problem right then it allows other students to build up resentment and other students may express it as unfair.
A teacher’s job is to maintain the control of her classroom. These are just a few ideas of how I would maintain control while fostering a positive environment
for the children of my classroom to learn and grow.
Sample Lesson Plan
How a teacher deals with a student’s behavior choice depends on their personal educational philosophy and classroom management approach. Effective
classroom management creates an orderly, safe environment where each student feels valued and comfortable expressing their feelings without fear of
retaliation. A teacher needs to set the stage for learning by arranging the classroom in a way that supports teaching and learning in a variety of
independent and group ideas. Classroom management needs to encourage student’s motivation to attend class, participate in classroom discussions and activities
and manage their own behavior.
The teacher has a responsibility to establish and enforce a set of specific rules and guidelines to control student behavior in the classroom. Some
behavioral issues are caused by conditions that may not be readily obvious. A teacher needs to be able to separate the behaviors that can be controlled from
the behaviors that may possibly be root caused by something else. Once a child’s psychological needs have been met students should be motivated by physical and
emotional safety, love and acceptance, admiration and respect. Unlike teachers students have a difficult time leaving their confusion and concerns about family
problems outside the classroom. Teachers need to bear in mind not all parents teach their children to respect themselves or others, to respond correctly to
authorative figures or to follow the rules of society. A parent’s attitude towards education often is reflected in their children. Some children are
disruptive because they are tired from not getting enough sleep at home or hungry because they are not fed nutritional meals. These types of situations
need to be taken into consideration when punishment is involved.
Effective classroom management looks to provide a structured, caring environment that meets the student’s psychological and emotional needs. I
believe it is a teacher’s responsibility to respect a student’s individual’s rights, values, and feelings. They choose their words carefully and aim to
protect a student’s dignity and personal feelings. Teachers need to actively engage students in meaningful conversation and experiences that challenge their
intellect. A teacher needs to provide positive feedback and reinforcement while setting the child up to succeed. A good teacher who cares can literally change a
student’s life for the better. I distinctively remember every good teacher I had and how they helped contribute to my academic and personal success.
A successful classroom management plan allows the teacher to build trusting relationships with students, prevent student misbehavior, be able to re-direct
minor behavior problems, stop major behavioral problems, and teach self- control. Teachers create safe, orderly environments by establishing limits that
maintain order of the classroom and make it easy for students to determine right from wrong behavior so more teaching and learning can take place. I feel that
there can be too many rules; however that are unenforceable and unnecessary. It is better to have a few rules that address a wide range of desirable behaviors
rather than a complete list of the specifics. The rules need to contain positive wording and be presented in student-friendly verbiage. Clearly communicate your
expectations and what the rewards will be for positive behavior and the consequences for negative behavior. I also feel it is extremely important to
protect a student’s dignity and avoid confrontation in front of other students or the entire class. This will also help prevent a power struggle. Use positive
active listening with the goal being to build a closer relationship with the misbehaving student. If these private interactions fail then more severe
consequences may be warranted such as the loss of privileges, a visit to an administrator or detention. On occasion misbehavior can become so serious or
continue past the point that it is harmful to other students or prevents them from having a positive educational experience. This is when it is necessary to
seek outside help from parents or a school counselor. Punishment of the whole class for one student’s poor behavior also can have disastrous consequences.
While it may solve the problem right then it allows other students to build up resentment and other students may express it as unfair.
A teacher’s job is to maintain the control of her classroom. These are just a few ideas of how I would maintain control while fostering a positive environment
for the children of my classroom to learn and grow.
Sample Lesson Plan