Section Two:

Teacher Candidate Background Experiences

Introduction
This section of the portfolio will contain my educational and work background in the
form of a professional resume. I will go into detail in each section to thoroughly highlight the
important experiences that have shaped me into the person I am and the educator that I want to
become. As teachers, one of the biggest tools that we bring into or classrooms is not the
textbooks, but our lived life experiences, with the ups and downs of life, the fond memories of
playing during lunch breaks. Our life experiences not only help us relate to our students, but also
help us understand them better, so that we can become better teachers. In this section I will also
go into detail about my philosophy of education. I will discuss the current state of the
curriculum, theories and various methods of teaching. I will describe my best teaching practices
and classroom management techniques that I have developed while teaching thus far. After
going through this section, the reader should be able to clearly understand who I am as an
educator, where Ive gained my experience, and how I plan on engaging students.

Educational Background

I am lucky to have received the education that I did. I was always a part of a diverse
group of students, with knowledgeable, caring teachers in very safe and nurturing environments.

In this part I will highlight my education. I will start all the way from kindergarten and finish off
with my time at Medaille College. I feel that each school throughout my life molded me into the
person I am today and feel it is important to include information about them in the portfolio.

I grew up in a suburb of Toronto, Ontario called Mississauga. When one thinks of this
suburb, or tries to look it up on google images, they will find one of Canadas largest cities, with
condominiums, and the largest shopping mall in Ontario. This, however, is not the Mississauga I
grew up in. I grew up in a subsection of this suburb call Malton. The area is not glamourous. In
fact it is considered middle to low income. Most of the houses now are between 75 40 years
old. The population is diverse, with a huge contingent being immigrants from south Asia. I
moved there when I was 4 years old and only moved out at the age of 24. My education from K12 was all accomplished in this area known as Malton. Being a lower middle classed suburb,
one might think that the education would also not be up to par, when compared to a richer
suburb. I would have to disagree. Although there were challenges, everything thing that I
learned and, am as a person, is because of this area and the education I received. It all started
with elementary school

My elementary school used to be from grades K-6. Now it is goes to grade 5. I have
extremely fond memories of this school. It is where I met my first friends, which I am still
friends with today. When it came to academics, I was not a star student be any means. I was
chatty, energetic and had problems with English. My parents were immigrants and the way I
spoke was a mixture of English and Punjabi. I wouldnt say I was an ELL student, but I wasnt
fluent in English either. I can still remember working one on one with teachers in the third grade
on spelling and sounds. It wasnt until I started the path towards teaching that I realized what

they were doing. I was getting extra attention to ensure I would not fall behind. Another
memory thats prominent to me when it comes to my education is playing math games in the
fourth grade. I, like most classmates was having a difficult time with the multiplication table.
My fourth grade teacher got out math cards and made us play around the world. Two people
would compete against each other and the person who answered the question first would move
on. This game was really enjoyable. I recall that this game and the way it was implemented is
the reason I memorized the multiplication table. I was learning math without even realizing it.
As a teacher now, my goal is to engage students on this level. My fourth grade teacher had a
huge impact on me and I credit her for keeping me on pace with the education requirements and
giving me the confidence to do well at school.

My time at middle school was also great. It was everyone from my elementary school
moving up with me and joining other students from other elementary schools. I really came out
of me shell as a student during these middle-school years. My writing and oral skills became my
strengths and that was reflected in my grades. I felt confident going into high school that I
would be fine. High school I feel is the most critical point in a persons life. Students are
transitioning from teens to adult and all the complexities that go along with that. My education
was once again great. I had great teachers and a diverse curriculum. I made some truly lasting
memories at this school. High school is also when I first considered becoming a teacher. I was
lucky enough to have a male teacher that spoke to us as friends, but also demanded that we work
hard and make something of ourselves. It was the first time I had a male role model outside my
father that actually cared about what we were going through. We showed him respect and also
worked hard not to disappoint him when it came to finishing projects for his class. It is this type

of rapport that I always remember and try to incorporate with students that I will be working
with for any extended period of time.

University was a blur. Once out of high school you are thrust into the real world and life
moves at a quicker pace. I did not particularly enjoy university, as I had expectations of real
world job training and it was more theory based. What was the most enjoyable for me were the
tutorials where we would discuss, debate and share our thoughts on various subjects with our
classmates. I really enjoyed the interaction and hearing different points of view. It was at this
point that I started to really consider becoming a teacher. Interaction and different and sharing
different points of views, is why Ive loved my time at Medaille College. Before ever stepping
foot in a classroom, I thought teachers college was going to be exactly like a Canadian
university; Lectures, readings and assignments. I am grateful that is not the case. At Medaille I
got a solid foundation and relevant training to become and effective teacher. The instructors
have all been great. Vygotsky theory is about taking new information and merging it with
meaningful experience to construct new knowledge. I feel the teacher and the institutions Ive
attended have all pushed me towards become a teacher. My experiences are part of my
education and a part of me. I want to make a positive impact on students and help those how feel
they cant make through school.
Work Experiences

Becoming a teacher was always on my mind and deep down inside, knew it was
something that I should pursue. For some, life isnt always a straight line though. Ive worked
in a variety of professions in my life and they have all led me to become a teacher. Ive worked

in manufacturing companies alongside my father and flipped burgers at fast food restaurants. I
truly believe that my diverse work experience will benefit my teaching and has made me a more
skilled and effective educator.

At the age of 15 I went to work for the very first time with my father. He worked in a
metal products manufacturing company. I would watch him set up the machines, talk with the
workers to ensure everyone knew which station they were working on and then put on his ear
plugs as the giant punch press machines started pounding. I learned a lot from this job. Most
importantly I learned how hard my father works to provide me with my lifestyle and why he
wanted me to be educated. This experience till this day is vital because in Peel region a lot of
immigrants are working similar tough labor jobs. It helps me as a teaching because I can relate
to students parents better and build a stronger rapport. I understand how they want the best for
their children and why they cant always attend meetings or help with homework.

When I finished university, I was extremely happy and was ready to take the next step in
my life. Teachers college was on the agenda, but just couldnt afford it at that time. In an effort
to pay off student debt and save up for teachers college, I landed a job with an American bank. I
learned a lot of skills from this job that a crucial for success in teaching. Multitasking, strong
oral communication skills, time management are all the things I had to master in order to be
successful at my job. I would also participate in team meetings where we would all share and
discuss best practices for success and to provide any solutions to existing problems. Teaching
requires all these skills and the ability to work with your grade team.

The bank shut down in Canada and I was forced to once again make a decision on which
direction to go. I had just gotten married and was still not in a position to attend teachers college
due to my finances. I decide to take course and get my real estate license. Being for the past few
years has really honed my time management, technology and communication skills. Selling and
signing new clients takes a lot of effort and time. They demand your all your energy be put into
helping them with the biggest assets in their lives. Teacher is no different. Parents expect you to
be an effective communicator and put all your energy into ensuring the most precious things in
their lives; their children received the best of what you have to offer.

School Observations

I observed a lot of different procedures, techniques and practices during my time at

Medaille and teaching placements. One of the first things that come to mind is how teachers
refocused students when it got too loud. Some teachers rang a bell, others spoke in a loud but
firm voices and asked students to follow instruction like, Everyone, mouths closed and hands on
your heads. The most unique technique I witnessed was, when the fourth grade teacher wanted
students to pay attention to her, she would clap in a pattern that the students were expected to
follow and repeat. If particular students did not follow instructions she would then immediately
call out those students to get their attention. All these techniques are connected to classroom
management is critical for teaching. It is our job as teachers to be a constant and solid
foundation for the students so that when they get side tracked we can bring them back efficiently.
The teachers Ive worked with were really organized and reinforced routines and procedures
every day.

I also observed how the layout of classrooms depended on what was required for the
students. Kindergarten rooms in my first placement had the carpet area as a focal point and the
tables were at the back because students at this age are using a lot of play based learning games
to understand concepts. The third grade classroom had a very minimal carpet area with mostly
round tables and a small computer section. I believe this is done to move students towards more
independent learning and reading. Finally the fourth grade classroom was the most diverse. It
had students grouped at long desks all organized by colour, a large carpet area and a half circle
table for guided practice. This layout makes it helpful to teach in a variety of ways to
accommodate the students which is also something we talked a lot about in this course. Not all
students learn the same way therefor is really important that teachers setup and utilize their
classroom space to optimize it for different learning styles.

One classroom strategy that I observed and really liked was giving students jobs or
duties. In my first placement, the students were assigned various jobs ranging from, agenda
checker, to delivering attendance to the office, and even something simple as being a door holder
in the hallways. Every student felt like they were contributing to the class and I was really
amazed at how much they enjoyed their jobs. Another strategy that I really like was having
students set weekly attainable goals. Every student would get in a circle after announcement and
share something new they learned over the weekend and then in a goal journal, set a goal for the
week. The goals were very attained and included things such as; getting the agenda signed every
day to, walk silently in the hallways. Then on Fridays every students would share how many
days they achieved their goals and they would then add a marble to an empty jar. Once the jar
was filled the students had earned free activity time.

Classroom Application

When I look at what I observed and learned during my teaching experiences, my thoughts
immediately go to Harry Wong and his suggestion that what you do the first days of school
impact the rest of the year. I have to completely agree with this statement. I learned a lot of
useful and practical information from his book, The First Days of School. It is all about
procedures and routines and that is exactly what I witnessed in the classrooms. The teachers
enforced this in every classroom that I was in; procedures and routines. Lining up, when to quiet
down and how to treat fellow students; all comes down to rehearsing and reinforcement, which is
critical for classroom management. I guess the only weakness I see in Harry Wongs reasoning
is that he makes the classroom sound like a boring office environment. Classrooms should have
humor and colour to get the students to express themselves, which weve learned can really
improve the environment of a class. I will use humor in my class because I feel it suits my style
as a teacher but I will also clearly layout routines and procedures starting the very first day of
school.
In my second placement, I felt confident of what to expect and was ready to take on a
new challenge. I was completely surprised to see that my classroom was actually the school
forum. The forum is a wide open space in newer schools that is located between the library and
the gymnasium stage. It is essentially a space that is usually used for book fairs or other social
events at school. I couldnt believe how large the space was and that I would be teaching out in
the open and not in a typical classroom. I fully embraced this new environment and I was
successful at not only teaching but also managing the class in this non-typical classroom. The

forum was also where the main stairs were located to go upstairs and across. I would constantly
have students, teachers and custodians walk through my lessons and had to manage my class to
ignore what was going and keep their focus. I really feel proud of being able to teach in this
environment that could be very intimidating for new teachers.

Technology played a huge role in this placement because of the uniqueness of the
classroom. I taught all lessons on PowerPoint and even bought a presentation clicker with a laser
pointer, so that I could walk around the huge room and interact with the students, yet still be able
to change slides and emphasize important information. Just like my first placement students
would bring their own device and would often conduct research on them. Students would also
present with their IPads and mirror their information to the projection screen so that we could all
see their presentation through Apple TV. Writing on a white board or blackboard would not
have been as effective. Students needed more visual stimuli to be engage when in this type of
classroom. I learned a lot about educational apps and will surely use them in the future.

Another classroom management strategy that I learned was using DPA (Daily Physical
Activity). If the class is just too energized and not on task, it is a good idea to stop everything
and just do a little physical activity to drain the energy and refocus the class. My associate
teacher would stop the class and have them participate in a Jumping Jack contest. The winner
would get a prize and after that the class would then go back to work. It seems like a simple idea
but often not used by teachers. After the exercise the class would be calmer and focused. I was
surprise how well this strategy worked.

Philosophy of Education

This portion will focus on what comprises my Philosophy of Education. My philosophy

of education will cover many areas. I will give my perspective on Schools, the curriculum and
learning as it is today. I will also give my thoughts about the learner, assessments and classroom
management. I will conclude with what I perceive is the role of the teacher in all of this.

The School

Schools are warehouses of untapped potential. Students enter elementary schools with
basic skills and with brains that are super absorbent, just waiting to soak up information.
Schools are where these students will get the knowledge they crave and unleash their potential. I
believe schools are as essential a service as the fire department and police. All countries,
weather industrialized or up and coming, realize how important these institutions are for the
future of their countries. A place where when can grow, mentally, physically, socially and
become a future leader; is what comes to mind when I think about the importance of school in
our society.
In North America, we value schools tremendously and know when these institutions are
not being looked after. The worst schools usually correlate with the lower socioeconomic areas.
Public schools were created because the policy makers of that time saw that education was the
great equalizer and gave the opportunity for upward social mobility. When we start to cut
funding to schools in poorer areas, we are limiting those students potential. We are limiting their
social mobility. I think the highest priority to any government budget should always be to ensure

our schools are clean, safe and full of resources ready to be used by our students. People usually
dont give it another thought but, where else could you leave a 4 year old for free, where they
will be completely safe and secure for 7-8 hours a day, where they improve social and motor
skills? There is no equal to this institution. It must be preserved so that the students of today
could be leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

The Curriculum

I was told many times from experienced teachers, that I should think of the curriculum as
a sort of bible. This is what we follow and this is what we teach. Having the opportunity to
teach in the elementary classrooms for a stretch of four months, I can understand why I was
given this advice. The curriculum is designed and assembled by a group of professionals, who
determined what is important at each grade. No doubt they took Piagets developmental theory
into account when they decided on it. As a new teacher I found the curriculum, specifically the
Ontario Elementary Curriculum to be an extremely helpful and an important resource. I was
very impressed on how it was organized and had the overall expectations, which were then
broken down into specific expectations, with example activities. It takes the guess work out of
what to teach and lets the teachers focus on how to teach the material effectively so that every
student understands the content and absorbs the information.

When it comes to the content that is in the curriculum, I found it to be top notch and
developmentally appropriate for each grade level. There are some drawbacks in my opinion. I
believe that while the content is good, it could be better. In Asia students learn complicated

algebra at younger ages, and are widening the math and science literacy gap with North
American students. I believe that more abstract components of math should be introduced at
earlier ages to slowly build students knowledge. I am against having five years study for eight
hours a day. There should be a middle ground between what we have and what they have in
Asia, to keep our students competitive in the global economy.

Another issue I have with the curriculum is that it does not teach real life skills, or street
smarts. We may have health as part of the curriculum to teach the students about hygiene and
puberty, but what about simply going shopping in a grocery store. Weve seen videos in class
where special education students are taken to grocery stores so that they can learn real life skills
to be self-sufficient. These mini field trips to the stores should be mandatory. Many of the
students have been to stores, but how many of them check prices, or create grocery lists on a
budget? Real world skills need to be added in my opinion.

Learning

The way children, teens and adults learn, has been studied for decades. As new teachers
we are taught the theories that most professionals have come to an agreed upon consensus as
being reliable. Piaget, Vygotsky and Bruner are constructivist theorists who all in their own
theories suggest in its simplest terms that, learning is an active process in which learners
construct new ideas or concepts combined with their current and past knowledge. Now which
method of learning is best will depend on what type of learner a person or student is, which is
why we were taught Howard Gardeners types of intelligences. Some may be visual learners,

while others may be auditory. These theories are important to keep in mind, because as teachers
we should always try to see what the students already know when introducing a new topic/unit,
so that we could then bridge or scaffold their current knowledge with the new content.

I believe learning happens best when we as teachers are presenting the material in a way
that engages multiple types of learning styles. Active learning as it is referred to, is when
students interact, manipulate and experiment, instead of textbook readings and worksheets. For a
unit on measure, after teaching the basics of the metric system have the students measure and
record various object in the classroom. It gets the students up and out of their seats and
physically applying the content to the real world. There is no better way to learn how to measure
then just measuring something.

The Learner

I believe learning can only occur if the student is willing to learn. It does not get any
simpler than that. We as teachers can prepare the best lesson plans that are implemented
beautifully. They are all a waste if the student does not take any active role in understanding or
comprehending the material being taught. As mentioned earlier lessons should be designed to
reach the different types of learners to actively engage them and make them participants. If we
have students that have blank faces and are zoned out, we need to work with them one on one or
in a small group, even if they wont ask for help. Teachers need to ensure they have done
everything they can to reach a student. A students responsibility is to be a productive member of
the classroom environment, and to give an effort in their educational journey. I am not

discounting any personal problem that could come into play, but in general term the teacher
instructs the students try their best to learn. Its team effort.

Assessment

How do we know the students understood whats been taught to them? Have they
learned the material? These are some of the important questions when it comes to assessing
students knowledge. When the word assessment, is said, it would usually mean a test or quiz.
For a long time that was the primary method that students were assessed on their knowledge. If
a student got an A they knew their stuff. If they got a D they needed more help. The field of
education now is realized that tests should not be the only form of assessment. They are still
important, but dont truly represent the whole picture of the students understanding of the
content. What if the student knows the content but suffers from test anxiety? In order to more
accurately assess a students knowledge multiple and varied assessments are needed. Once again
going back to the measuring unit in math, a test could be the just the first assessment. Then you
could have a measuring scavenger hunt, requiring students to measure and record the
measurements of objects accurately on a worksheet. You could conference with each student one
on one. Having 3 different assessments for one unit will give a more valid indication of
knowledge then just one test.

Classroom Management

Harry Wong suggests that what you do the first days of school impacts the rest of the
year. His book, The First Days of School is all about procedures and routines that provide
structure for the students. Teaching cannot take place if the classroom environment is in chaos.
When the teacher meets the students on the first day, expectations need to be laid out clearly for
the students. What to do when lining up. Which prompts mean to quiet down and how to treat
fellow students; all comes down to rehearsing and reinforcement, which is critical for classroom
management.

The one weakness I see is that some it can go too far and makes the classroom sound like
a boring office environment. Classrooms should have sounds of positive student interactions and
creative discussion to get the students to express themselves, which weve learned can really
improve the environment of a class. Humor is a method that works well for me, is it helps me
build a strong rapport with students in my class because I feel it suits my style as a teacher, but I
will also clearly layout routines and procedures starting the very first day of school.

The Teacher

Teachers are the engines that make the education machine run efficiently and effectively.
Without knowledgeable, caring and hardworking teachers, schools would be big daycares. The
role of a teacher is to wear many hats when it comes to each individual student. Some students
require a coach, others a mentor while some need a parental figure. Teachers take on all these
roles to ensure students feel safe, secure and ready to learn. I want my students to be able speak
to me honestly about what they need in terms of extra help, problems at school or just a simple

joke. It is my job to build that rapport and lay a foundation of respect and trust. I need to nurture
a safe and judgment free environment that allows for creativity and self-expression. Teachers,
teach content, but also teach you to find yourself and your passions.

The way society has shifted from praising teachers to the huge backlash against the
profession is a bit alarming to me. All people hear on the news is that teachers should stop
complaining, they get the summers off and we dont! or theyre just glorified babysitter.
People dont see the amount of effort it takes to turn an ugly white and brown room in a colorful
inspiring classroom. They dont see that the amount of supplies purchased by teachers with their
own money. They also dont see the amount of time teacher invest in their own personal time
prepare to teach their children. The media has not been kind to teachers and hopefully it is a
phase that will soon pass.

Resume
AVNINDER GILL

Cell: (416) 303-6571

Email: avninder.gill@medaille.edu

PROGRESSIVE, STUDENT-FOCUSED ELEMENTARY EDUCATION TEACHER

Dedicated to creating a positive and engaging learning environment for all
students.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE:
I support colleagues and administration in facilitating each childs social and
intellectual growth by creating a community of mutual respect and open
communication.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Student Teacher Grade 4/5 Claireville

March 2015-May 2015

Public School

Planned, instructed and assessed curriculum for

various subjects
Strong integration of technology with the use of
IPads and PowerPoint
Small group instruction for IEPs and ELLs
Supervised field trips and school concerts
Student Teacher Grade 3, Thronedale Public

Jan 2015 March 2015

School

Planned, instructed and assessed curriculum for

various subjects
Supported different stages of ELL students and
modified instruction and assessments for IEPs
Implemented and reinforced classroom procedures
and routines
Planned and taught computers &. basic computer
vocabulary, with emphasis on research skills
Provided Small group instruction and support
Literacy centres

Sept 2014 Nov 2014

Teacher Volunteer Grades 2, 3, and 4 at Red
Willow Public School
Guided reading and small group instruction
Working with students that are on an IEPs and
English Language Learners.
Managing assessments for literacy and math

EDUCATION:
June 2014 Aug 2015

Masters of Science in Education (MSEd)

Medaille College, Buffalo, NY
Concentration:

Primary/Junior
Sept 2002 - June 2007

Bachelor of Arts

York University, Ontario

Concentration: Political Science

RELATED SKILLS:
Computer:
Proficient in MS Office programs and internet applications
IPad/Android operating systems including Apple TV and Chromecast
Smartboards
Languages:
Fluent in English (Written, reading and conversational)
Fluent in Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu (conversational)

ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS:

Sports, animals, technology, reading, listening to music, travelling

REFERENCES:
Available upon request

Conclusion
This section provided an opportunity to share who I am, where I came from and where
Im going and an educator. I come from humble beginnings and worked in a lot of jobs, with a
single goal of becoming a teacher. Along the way Ive observed and applied many best teaching
practices that have improved me as a teacher. Implementing duties for students and setting clear
expectations for classroom procedures and routines are some classroom management practices I
will use in the future. I will also keep in mind to let the students express themselves and not shut
the door on the free flow of ideas. Classrooms after all should be a place where students can
express themselves. My philosophy is to ensure every student is able to tap into their potential in
a stable and secure environment.