Lenzo 1 Elizabeth Lenzo EDU 175 Dr.

Pratt January 28, 2014 Teaching Autobiography I decided at a very young age that I wanted to become a teacher. I know that that sounds clich, but that is the entire truth. I have grown up surrounded by educators and the teaching field more than the average future teacher. My mom teaches fourth grade at a public elementary school in my home town. My father started out as a high school math teacher but was promoted to principal and now has reached the vice superintendent position of Twinsburg City Schools. But, that is not all. I had my grandpa as my middle school principal during middle school and my grandma was a speech tutor in that same school building. In addition to that, my aunt is in currently in school to get her Doctorate in music education and my uncle is the Tallmadge band/music director. I have been surrounded by teachers (and in my opinion great teachers) who have been excellent role models for me to look up to and learn how to become an exceptional, effective teacher. I honestly mean it when I say for as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher, and feel as though educating the youth of America is truly what I am meant to do. However, deciding the grade level I wanted to teach has been a struggle for me. When I first enrolled at the University of Mount Union I was confident that I wanted to teach middle school English and History. It wasnt until last year after doing my observation hours in a sixth grade English class that I was second guessing myself thinking I had made the wrong decision. My experience in the sixth grade classroom was a good one, but it made me realize that sixth graders and even students older than that

Lenzo 2 were in a stage of rebellion. While observing that class it was obvious that a lot of the students were purposefully trying to push the teachers buttons to see how far they could tool with her without getting in trouble. If thats how students in sixth grade were acting, I could only imagine how older students in seventh and eighth grade would. So I sought guidance from my mom who had taught seventh and eighth grade before getting the fourth grade position she has now. She expressed to me the parts she loved about teaching middle school English but she also shared with me the things that she really struggled with. My mom explained how she would teach the same exact English lesson four times a day to four different groups of students, unlike she does now with her fourth graders where she teaches every subject to her homeroom students. She also reminded me of the drastic changes that happen during middle school. She asked if I remembered what it was like to be a preteen or even a young teenager. Looking back, I recognized how awkward that time in my life was. It wasnt bad experience because of my middle school teachers but because of the drama, and the unfamiliarity I had with myself at that age. So I needed to decide if wanted to be surrounded by that age group for the rest of my life, and experience those hard times again and again with each year with a new group of students knowing that they too could look back someday with bad memories as I do at times. I then had to ask if I would be a better middle school teacher or possibly a better elementary school teacher. That was when it really came to me that maybe middle school was better suited for someone with thicker skin than me. While I do believe I could handle being in a class full of kids with changing emotions and bouncing hormones, I realized that with my personality I would have bigger, better impact on elementary students. In high school I had spent a lot of time with my mom in her fourth grade classroom. Watching her interact with her students and seeing the way her students respected and adored her made me realize that I wanted to follow in her footsteps and become a part of the same rewarding profession. Seeing firsthand the possibilities that the process of learning can have has made me want to bring joy

Lenzo 3 and magic into a classroom someday the way my mom does. The kind of teacher I want to be is much like the teacher my mom is. She has a perfect balance of respect from and friendship with her students, but most importantly the kids love learning and experiencing new things. After thinking about the type of teacher I want to become, I know two very important things I will incorporate into my teaching philosophy; compassion and understanding. Those are two qualities that everyone, no matter the race, culture, or background, can understand. I genuinely care about children and their growth and success and to many young kids; a teacher will be more than just a teacher. I have seen my mom be more than just a teacher to her students. She has become a role model, a friend, and even a mother figure to many. I know that teaching is a huge responsibility and that each student is different and has a unique circumstance, but I also know that experiences and differences are what enrich the educational experience. Figuring out and becoming the type of teacher I want to become has/is a challenge, but it is a challenge I choose to embrace. Becoming the effective teacher I hope to be someday are the types of educators who find this profession so rewarding and help students become extraordinary.