Section One:

Teacher Candidate Introduction to the Elementary Portfolio Project

Introduction, Overview and Rationale

It was the summer of 2008 when I was about to begin my first year of high school, that I

was approached by a summer camp counselling position at a local community center. Reluctant

as I wanted to spend my holidays relaxing, I was eventually persuaded into joining the camp. For

the duration of the summer holidays, I spent my time five days a week at the camp in a local

community center where I facilitated and organized workshops, activities, and trips for children

between the age of 5 and 12. What began as a forced task resulted in finding some of my best

friends and discovering my new found passion- teaching. Since that summer, nearly 10 years

ago, I have been confident that teaching is something I want to pursue for the rest of my life. It

was during the weeks spent at the camp that I realized that the classroom would become a place

of comfort for me. Fast forwarding into my undergraduate studies, and facing the sudden and

unexpected loss of both of my grandfathers within a few years of each other, it was the same

classroom environment which gave me peace and confidence in myself and my future. My work

and volunteer experiences within the classroom and teaching environment have taught me the

importance, value, and responsibility of a good teacher, which I hope will reflect throughout this

portfolio.

This passion for teaching led me to enroll at Medaille College, following my

Undergraduate studies in English Literature to pursue a Master of Science in Education. Over the

past year of my studies at Medaille, I have learned and perfected my teaching skills through

learning about the history of the education system, how to lesson and unit plan, giving effective

presentations, discussions about contemporary educational changes and events, and ultimately
the theoretical and practical knowledge I need to become an effective and all rounded educator. I

also intend to make connections with important teacher competencies I have learned throughout

this program, such as planning, instruction, assessment, CRT, technology, learner motivation,

engagement and accommodation. My portfolio is an opportunity to showcase artifacts from my

studies and teaching experiences, and then reflect upon how they incorporate and reflect these

foundational teacher competencies. I hope to reflect these experiences and pedagogies which I

have learned and implemented in my past year of studies, throughout this portfolio.

Portfolio Development

The purpose of this portfolio is to reflect my teaching practices, experiences, and

ideologies which I have learned throughout my work and volunteer experiences, and my studies

at Medaille College. The portfolio is made up of six sections, the introduction, background

experiences, artifacts, alignment to curriculum and professional standards, reflection, and

interview video. Overall, these six components represent my passion for education and teaching,

and the concepts and practices which shape my teaching pedagogies and experiences. These six

sections allow me to showcase my abilities to plan, implement, and reflect on my teaching

practices. This is first presented within my philosophy of education and the theorists who have

influenced my perspective towards teaching. The philosophy of education presents my views to

best teaching practices through the theories which have shaped and influenced these views. The

philosophy of education presents my concepts of the ideal classroom, teacher, and school;

something which I work towards and hope to achieve as a teacher and educator. My teaching

practices are further reflected within the unit and lesson plans, which I provide in this portfolio.

My unit plans and lesson plans outline my ability to organize and create effective lessons which

are creative and engaging. These lessons reflect my knowledge of technology through the use of
videos and interactive technological activities. My lessons furthermore reflect my awareness of

culturally responsive teaching and inclusivity of students with diversities and accommodations. I

have also included my resume which showcases my various, diverse work and volunteer

experiences which have ultimately provided me with a comfort and longing to be in a learning

environment, and shaped by own ideas towards teaching.

These are some of the many artifacts included in my portfolio which reflect my ability

and passion to be an effective teacher. Beyond simply the studies, a good teacher is one who is

compassionate, caring, passionate, and dedicated. I believe that I have all of these traits and I

hope that it is showcased throughout this portfolio. Throughout this portfolio, I am able to

showcase my work, but am also given the opportunity to reflect on the knowledge and

experiences and how they have shaped my ability to teach, which are then reflected in the

artifacts I have provided. Through the artifacts and personal experiences, I share, I hope to

provide my understanding of the art of teaching and the type of educator I work towards

becoming.

Theories, Theorists and Experts in the Field of Education

There are many theories and experts in the field of education who have shaped my own

worldviews and perspectives towards education. This is crucial as it is the foundation of my own

teaching practices and ideologies. There are numerous methodologies of learning, but I believe

the ideal approach to education is the theory of constructivism, a process through which

students construct their own unique systems of knowing, in consequence of which the teacher

should focus on this individual process of internal construction rather than one universal

method (Changing Minds, n.d.). This idea was developed by Jean Piaget, but further
emphasized and analyzed by many scholars. One example is the works of Jean-Jacques

Rousseau, a French theorist from the Enlightenment period who focused on the stages of human

development and appropriate learning environments based on these stages. This approach

emphasized the role of a teacher as a facilitator in which students take an active role in their

education. Learning should focus on the needs, nature, and interests of the students and through

their sensations and experiences based on the society and environment around them, and this

reflects in Rousseaus ideologies of child-centered education. Instead of a one size fits all

model, the diversities and cultures of the students are celebrated and appreciated, and this is

incorporated into the learning environment. Categorizing students as one type of learners limits

their creativity and individuality. This approach emphasizes the role and place of the child in the

process of instruction.

Modern day education focuses on the developmental stages of the child and how to

approach their learning process by catering to these stages of growth. Piaget was the first

psychologist to make a systematic study of cognitive development (McLeod, 2009, pg. 1).

According to his ideas, children are born with a very basic mental structure (genetically inherited

and evolved) on which all subsequent learning and knowledge is based (McLeod, 2009, pg. 1).

Piagets stages of development are divided into: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational

and formal operational (McLeod, 2009, pg. 1). Through this process of viewing and understanding

child development, a child is now perceived as an individual who has his/her own unique learning

styles and preferences, who grows through social and academic learning. The most beneficial

learning environment is therefore one which allows the student to apply their own experiences and

past knowledge, in order to comprehend concepts and ideas. The child should be the focus of the

process of instruction, and instruction should be based on the learners within the class. Each class
is diverse and unique and therefore the teacher should take time to observe the various learners

within the class to cater to their needs.

Socialization processes can be shaped by cultural and religious factors, and teachers should

be aware of this as the students bring their own unique norms and ideologies into the classroom

environment and into their learning. My ideologies are further supported by Blooms Taxonomy

which is a hierarchy of educational objectives and Gardners multiple intelligences which break

down the ways in which people learn and perceive information, which all contribute to my outlooks

on teaching and reflect in my own practices.

These theorists emphasize the importance of individualistic child development and growth

through learning, which incorporates each childs unique experiences and views. The teacher

should therefore accommodate these diversities within the class, and accommodate the variety of

learning styles and approaches. While some students may learn from listening, others learn better

by visual or auditory instruction. The teacher must be aware of these learning styles and

incorporate them into the lesson. This is crucial as the method of instruction should accommodate

all the students within the class otherwise this can harm their learning and understanding. As a

future teacher, these are important foundational concepts I hope to incorporate into my own

classroom. I hope to supply the resources and opportunities for students to take their own learning

strategies and experiences and apply it to their learning and development, in an inclusive and

welcoming environment.

Conclusion

Throughout this introductory section of my portfolio, I have provided my reasoning and purpose

for the portfolio, the breakdown of the portfolio, and the theorists and ideologies which have

shaped my own best teaching practices. This section leads into the next, which will outline my
personal, work, and volunteer experiences which have shaped my teaching practices. These two

sections provide a background history as to what has lead up to and supported my passion for

teaching. From the start of this portfolio I hope to make it clear that there are many puzzle pieces

which have fit together to shape the educator I am today. This began with a new found passion at

a young age, supported by numerous work and volunteer experiences, and has culminated in my

academic studies through this Master program. The portfolio is my showcase of these puzzle

pieces and how they fit together to make me who I am today; each piece equally important in

coming together to shape my goals and achievements. My portfolio will showcase through the

artifacts and reflection process, the importance of planning, instruction, assessment, CRT,

technology, learner motivation, engagement and accommodation. Each section of this portfolio is

some of those pieces and by completing this Master program at Medaille, I am confident that I

now have the appropriate knowledge of the theories, pedagogies, and practices which will assist

me in being an all rounded and well prepared teacher.