What makes you marketable as a teacher? Why should a district hire you over someone else?
As a fellow blogger pointed out, this is a difficult question to answer. We are taught not to brag, and by answering this question it definitely feels like bragging. However, I felt that it was an important question to think about. First of all, it forces me to think about what I bring to the table. Second of all, it is a question that I will be asked in an interview, and I need to know the answer if I hope to be the chosen applicant. With that being said, I think there are various aspects about myself that are marketable.
I have worked hard to gain experience in the educational setting as a college student. I have been a tutor on campus and off campus since my second semester of school. Here, I have easily dedicated 8-10 hours a week to tutoring students in mathematics and physics. On campus I have tutored students of various backgrounds with and without disabilities one and one. I have also lead group tutoring sessions for mathematics since I began tutoring. Off campus, what began as a practicum experience continued as a volunteer activity throughout the semester. Although this isn't teaching as a whole, I believe tutoring is a huge step in the right direction. Not only have I developed my patience and understanding for math students, but I have also developed numerous tricks and better descriptions when teaching different concepts. I believe I have grown greatly as a preservice teacher through tutoring.
As a preservice teacher, I have taken my education courses seriously. I have witnessed many of my classmates saying how they think that a lot of what we learn is just not applicable, especially in respect to mathematics. I disagree. When I was in high school, my math and physics classes were essentially drill and practice. I am so excited to make my classroom hands-on, hearts-on, and heads-on (to quote Dr. Perry Cook). I expect to incorporate new and exciting strategies in my classroom. I also expect to be a life-time learner. By doing so, I will continue to make my classroom a room my students want to be in as well as a room they will learn in.
As a person, I am a hard worker. I take my job very seriously; however, I like to have fun as well. I believe I am a natural leader. I am willing to listen to other's ideas and suggestions to make myself a better person as well as a better teacher. I believe these are incredibly important traits to possess in any career, but they are especially important as a teacher. You need to be flexible, but strong. I can't imagine a more difficult career, but I also can't imagine a more rewarding job. I am ready for the challenge.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
More Training
What is an important part of your professional training where you feel you need more training?
Honestly, I feel that every future teacher could use more training in every aspect. However, eventually we just need to take the plunge and learn from our mistakes and successes, not just from someone else's suggestions. If I had to pick a part of my professional training where I would most like to have more training however, it would be in the arena of special education and students with various disabilities or extra abilities. In my classroom, I hope to be able to include all students by varying my instruction to adapt to their own special needs. I worry that I don't necessarily know enough about all of the disabilities out there, especially the ones I will exposed to the most in my classroom such as ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, high functioning forms of autism, etc. I want to be able to help these students as much as I help my "regular education" students. I wish I had more training, resources, and ideas for these students. As I write my lesson plans, I worry that I don't have enough extensions for the wide spectrum of learners, and I would love to be able to fix this.
I also feel that we don't spend nearly enough time in our preparations discussing gifted and/or advanced students. I would like to know more about how to extend their learning appropriately without making them feel singled out/pushed to hard or making other students feel left out. Overall, I think I will be able to overcome this potential lack in training by doing my one research and creating my own resource collection and gaining information from my mother (who is an occupational therapist) of how to really reach these students and make their educational experience the best it can be.
Honestly, I feel that every future teacher could use more training in every aspect. However, eventually we just need to take the plunge and learn from our mistakes and successes, not just from someone else's suggestions. If I had to pick a part of my professional training where I would most like to have more training however, it would be in the arena of special education and students with various disabilities or extra abilities. In my classroom, I hope to be able to include all students by varying my instruction to adapt to their own special needs. I worry that I don't necessarily know enough about all of the disabilities out there, especially the ones I will exposed to the most in my classroom such as ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, high functioning forms of autism, etc. I want to be able to help these students as much as I help my "regular education" students. I wish I had more training, resources, and ideas for these students. As I write my lesson plans, I worry that I don't have enough extensions for the wide spectrum of learners, and I would love to be able to fix this.
I also feel that we don't spend nearly enough time in our preparations discussing gifted and/or advanced students. I would like to know more about how to extend their learning appropriately without making them feel singled out/pushed to hard or making other students feel left out. Overall, I think I will be able to overcome this potential lack in training by doing my one research and creating my own resource collection and gaining information from my mother (who is an occupational therapist) of how to really reach these students and make their educational experience the best it can be.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Why Teaching?
Why do I want to be a teacher?
After answering some deeper and thought-provoking questions, I thought it would be refreshing to answer a question that I know the answer to easily: Why I want to be a teacher. I honestly don't remember ever considering becoming anything else (well, beyond becoming an artist when I was in Kindergarten). Teaching runs in my family. My mother and father both work in a school district. Both of my grandmothers were teachers. I also have various aunts and uncles who are either teachers or who work in school districts. By having such amazing role models, I saw how rewarding and exciting teaching can be. I also have seen how challenging it can be as well. I am up for the challenge, and it excites me.
Beyond my family, I have had many other influences. I have had numerous teachers, some good, some bad. The bad ones have unintentionally inspired me do what they did better. I always enjoyed learning, but I had many friends who didn't. I want to inspire students to learn with excitement. I also want to inspire females. All too often, we hear about girls who don't stick with the sciences and mathematics. I believe that being a teacher who is interested in both subjects, I will be able to succeed in encouraging them to stay with mathematics and science. As a side note, I hope to engage males as well. The overall public is afraid of mathematics and some sciences, and I hope to change this.
Finally, as cliche as this is, I hope to change the world in a positive manner. I can't think of a better way to do so than to teach our nation's future. This is what really excites me about becoming a teacher. I will be able to help our nation's future leaders discover themselves.
After answering some deeper and thought-provoking questions, I thought it would be refreshing to answer a question that I know the answer to easily: Why I want to be a teacher. I honestly don't remember ever considering becoming anything else (well, beyond becoming an artist when I was in Kindergarten). Teaching runs in my family. My mother and father both work in a school district. Both of my grandmothers were teachers. I also have various aunts and uncles who are either teachers or who work in school districts. By having such amazing role models, I saw how rewarding and exciting teaching can be. I also have seen how challenging it can be as well. I am up for the challenge, and it excites me.
Beyond my family, I have had many other influences. I have had numerous teachers, some good, some bad. The bad ones have unintentionally inspired me do what they did better. I always enjoyed learning, but I had many friends who didn't. I want to inspire students to learn with excitement. I also want to inspire females. All too often, we hear about girls who don't stick with the sciences and mathematics. I believe that being a teacher who is interested in both subjects, I will be able to succeed in encouraging them to stay with mathematics and science. As a side note, I hope to engage males as well. The overall public is afraid of mathematics and some sciences, and I hope to change this.
Finally, as cliche as this is, I hope to change the world in a positive manner. I can't think of a better way to do so than to teach our nation's future. This is what really excites me about becoming a teacher. I will be able to help our nation's future leaders discover themselves.
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