Personal Statement PowerPoint

BY: Jessica Stringer Ivy Tech Community College EDUC 101

Standard #4 Content Knowledge: The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.

In this presentation I will be discussing with you my motivations to become a teacher, as well as some hopes and reservations I have about teaching.

I feel that this standard best describes my goals for being a secondary teacher. My hopes are that the students will walk away with great self-confidence and enough knowledge to go out and teach that subject to someone else.

Reasons for wanting to Teach

Give kids Values Teach Life skills Empower Youth

Show Learning is Fun

Traits of Teachers and Students

Effective Teacher Traits

Student Characteristics

Patience Compassion Organized Sensitive Active Listener Authoritative Work Drive Fun Personality

Curious
Open-minded Respectful Self-motivated Responsible Honest

The prevailing question before us is not about what children need to succeed. The research is clear. They need supportive environments that nurture their social, emotional, physical, moral, civic, and cognitive development. Instead, the question becomes, who bears the responsibility for creating this environment.

- Gene Carter (2006)

My Thoughts

Each year is a new challenge and we must be aware of the differences among our students and how to create a community within our classroom that best meets the needs of each student.

Educational Philosophy

Existentialism: belief that the only authoritative truth lies within the individual. Applied to education, proposed students make all decisions about their choice of subject matter as they seek meaning of their place in the world. Progressivism: stresses active learning through problem solving, projects, and hands-on experiences. Belief that students should be active participants in their own learning (learn by doing, interested must be driving force in curriculum and classroom experiences). More responsibility to students.

Community Characteristics
o Suburban

town o Interdependent o Middle-class

o Small

Contributions to Profession
Safe environment for learning

Teach Values to Students

Teach Life skills that go beyond classroom

Help to develop a sense of purpose and direction

Concluding thoughts
why do some things take root and grow while others barely break the surface? How long does something have to be around before we can declare that its here to stay? What has to happen in order to transform an oasis of change into an entire landscape? -Ronald Thorpe (2003)

References

Teach Student Edition, Ch. 8 Pg. 160, Paragraph 3 [Ronald Thorpe (2003) Quote].

Teach Student Edition, Ch. 5 Pg. 104, Paragraph 3 [Gene Carter (2006) Quote].