Experience Summary
As an Elementary Education senior, I have taken education courses on how to teach science, technology, math, and reading. I have taken numerous educational psychology and behavior management courses that have helped me understand how students learn, how to motivate students, and how to create an environment that is conducive to learning.
I have interned in a fifth grade, emotionally handicapped classroom where I taught lessons, lead literature circles, and assisted the teacher with paper work. I have also worked at a summer camp with 10 to 11 year old girls where I was responsible for planning activities and managing their behavior. I am currently interning in a Kindergarten class where I am observing and will eventually be expected to teach and lead the class. Additionally, I have volunteered in second grade and third grade classes. Besides volunteering and internships, I have experience tutoring students for the FCAT and other important standardized tests.
Teaching Style
My philosophy on learning is that all students have different needs. Therefore, teaching has to be directed to the individual child rather than the needs of the entire class. I firmly believe in looking at a child as a whole person with social and intellectual needs. If as a teacher you understand your child’s life, interests, struggles, and cultural background and integrate them into their learning they will relate to you and want to learn.
I believe in being patient and understanding that students have multiple intelligences. I like the idea of reinforcing areas that the student is strong at, while working on the area that the student is struggling in. By recognizing strengths, students feel the motivation to improve their weaknesses.
I believe that students learn best by putting things together, testing theories, and finding answerers for themselves, rather than looking it up in a textbook. I love fun projects, field trips, cultural days, and events that give students the opportunity to learn in a hands-on way.