Experience Summary
I graduated from the University of Iowa on May 15, 2010 with a BA in Elementary Education and a reading endorsement. Apart from my area of specialization, reading, I also took seven science courses at the University of Iowa, mainly in chemistry. My volunteer experiences have shaped the person who I am today, as I have completed over one hundred hours of volunteer work in schools and hospitals. Approximately thirty of those hours were spent one-on-one with first graders, helping them on math and reading skills and strategies. Furthermore, I completed my student teaching experience in a 5th grade classroom, in which I taught math, reading, spelling, vocabulary, writing, and science.
Teaching Style
My teaching philosophy is to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for my students, in which they feel equal and confident as learners. Creating a positive learning environment begins with building a strong rapport with students and coworkers. Another aspect of building a strong classroom community is motivation. As a teacher, my goal is to help student build strong self-efficacy so that they feel inclined to work hard and develop an inner sense of motivation. I use scaffolding in my instruction, so the students are able to watch me demonstrate the skill or strategy, and slowly I turn over more and more responsibilities to the student regarding that skill until he or she is able to do the skill without my assistance.