Introduction

Please find below my teacher candidate interview video. Throughout the interview, I will navigate
through my website to present my knowledge, and skills in the field of education. To start the interview I
will introduce myself, my educational background, hobbies and interests, and the various sections of my
website. I will showcase the ten artifacts I used in Section 03 of the Elementary Portfolio Project, and will
discuss specific artifacts in further detail. Lastly, I will answer five interview questions. They are as follows:
Interview Questions and Answers
1. Briefly share a little about your background experiences that have led you to choose a career in
education?
The very first experience that I had in an elementary classroom, Grade 3, was on Take Your Kid To
Work Day in Grade 9. I had the opportunity to go to the school an Aunt of mine was teaching at, and
spent the afternoon in her classroom. Being able to interact with the students, and assist them with their
work brought immense satisfaction for me. It was from here that I knew I wanted to continue to work
with students, particularly in the primary grades, and one day become a teacher, and have my own
classroom. In high school I continued to do some baby-sitting, but it was in post-secondary education
where my experiences as an educator evolved.
I started my journey at Mohawk College in 2007 where I took the Early Childhood Education
Program. I had three placements in childcare setting, and my fourth placement was in an elementary
school, in a Grade 1/2 classroom. After finishing college, I took a year off from school, and volunteered at
the same school, with the same associate teacher in Grade 2.
The following year, September 2010, I started at Wilfrid Laurier University. I finished the program in
three, and a half years, and hold a degree in Contemporary Studies. During my time at Wilfrid Laurier,
most of the electives I chose to take were in the field of education. One of the courses I took, Childrens
Education & Development Service Learning, gave me the opportunity to complete a teaching placement
in an elementary school in a Grade 2 classroom. In my last semester of university I continued to volunteer

at the same school in a Grade 5 classroom. This started in January 2013, and I remained in the classroom
until the end of the school year in June.
Prior to starting at Medaille College, and completing my degree in the Masters of Science in
Elementary Education, I have had work opportunities in childcare settings as well as in before and after
school programs. I also volunteered for a short time in the Spring of 2014 in a Grade 6 class. Since I
have been at Medaille College I completed Field Placement Seminar where I had the opportunity to
volunteer in a Grade 3 class as well as with Grade 6 and 7 students. With all of the experience I have had
over the last ten years, I am proud to be a Registered Early Childhood Educator, and am looking forward
to becoming a teacher. I could not imagine doing anything else.
2. What have you learned in your teacher training program that will make you an excellent
classroom teacher and colleague?
I have learned many important skills in the Masters of Science in Elementary Education at Medaille
College. It is first, and foremost important to know your students. I have learned how to design a unit
plan and lesson plan. The key components when developing a unit plan, and lesson plan is what is your
central focus of the lesson, the objectives, what you hope the students will be able to do at the end of the
lesson, and how the students are going to be assessed on the material that was delivered in the lesson.
When designing a unit plan, and lesson plan it is imperative that you address accommodations,
culturally responsive teaching, and overall inclusion within the learning environment. All students learn at
a different pace, and sometimes need that extra support from their teacher to be successful. It is our job as
their classroom teacher to allow them the extra support when ever possible. This could mean going back,
and re-teaching a lesson, but it is sometimes necessary.
Lastly, I have learned in the program a lot about technology! Coming into Technology in the
Elementary Classroom, course I was overwhelmed with the projects I had to complete, and the idea that I
was going to have to present them using technological devices. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about, and
being able to use the SMART Board Software. I was able to navigate through a lesson plan during my
studies, and I am confident that I can continue to use a SMART Board in my own classroom. In my

technology course I was also introduced to websites like Smore, Symbaloo and Voki. These tools
assisted me in creating my Weebly Website. I found them all to be user friendly and fun to explore!
Overall, I learned important skills for the classroom that I will be able to incorporate, and share with my
students throughout the school year.
3. Provide us with an example of a lesson you taught. How did you integrate it with other curriculum
areas, address the CCLS, technology, student engagement and motivation? What were the results
of the lesson?
One lesson that I taught that I am very proud of was in Education Methods Mathematics and
Science. It was a Science Lesson Plan on The Water Cycle. This particular lesson was done in a
group, and I had three other colleagues working with me. The lesson itself incorporated curriculum areas
in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Social Studies along with Science. The experiment consisted
of placing a small plastic bowl into a bigger plastic bowl. The students then had to measure, and pour hot
water, which incorporates Mathematics, into the small plastic bowl. Then they had to place plastic wrap
overtop of both bowls, and place ice cubes on the plastic wrap. Throughout the lesson my colleagues, and
I continuously asked questions of what they thought was happening, which incorporates English Language
Arts. Prior to the lesson we gave instructions on how to do the experiment, as well as asked the students
questions about the water cycle, which also incorporates English Language Arts. We also provided the
students with their own Science Journal. In this journal, to name a few sections, the students could
write a hypothesis of what they thought would happen in the experiment, the steps they took in the
experiment, and what they liked and did not like about the experiment.
For this lesson we used technology to conclude our lesson when asking the students questions about
what they learned through the use of a Kahoot Game. The students then completed a final worksheet on
the water cycle. Throughout the lesson, the students were very energetic and motivated. The enthusiasm
in the classroom was evident, and the lesson just flowed. Everyone was very involved in the experiment,
and there was full participation on the Kahoot Game. The lesson had a beginning, middle and end, which
assisted in the pacing of the lesson.

Overall, the result of the lesson, and feedback that I received was very positive. While preparing this
lesson plan with my colleagues I felt that we were all very eager to present, and were very well organized
with the sections we had to present. This lesson in particular felt very natural to teach, and I feel that is
important when teaching a lesson to walk through it with confidence. It is important to be motivating with
the students, and be engaged with them, and I do feel that myself, and colleagues did just that.
4. How will your knowledge of the current trends in education inform you as an educator in our
district/board/school?
One example of the knowledge I possess as a current trend in education is technology. Everyday,
technology is expanding, evolving, and becoming better for us. Knowing the importance of technology,
and how to use it to my advantage in lessons, and in the classroom, will assist me as an educator in your
board and school. With this in mind, I know that it needs to be used appropriately, and be able to make
connections with the material that is being taught. I understand that students today are very in tune with
technology, and it is at their fingertips, but I will be able to use it effectively, and with the students best
interest in mind to establish a comfortable, and unique learning environment.
Another example of the knowledge I possess as a current trend in education is around the topic of
bullying, discrimination and harassment. While at Medaille College I completed the Dignity for All
Students Act training. It was training on how to better understand situations surrounding bullying, and
how to appropriately address situations, and how to proceed going forward. All school boards and schools
witness bullying, harassment and discrimination. As an educator it is my job to do everything I can to
eliminate it, and assist those students in need. One way by doing this is through something as simple as
respect. I understand that I will have students, and families in my classroom that come from various
backgrounds and cultural differences. I want to welcome come, and invite this into my classroom because
not all students have the opportunity to be exposed to different customs and traditions. I want my students
to know that it is okay to stand up for yourself, and to tell someone if you are in trouble or in fear. I want
my students to know that they have a voice, and to use it when necessary, to be respectful, and accepting
of others, and to know that they matter!

Lastly, the knowledge and skills I possess from my Early Childhood Education Diploma will make me
an excellent candidate in your board or school. I understand that the critical years of a childs life are
from 0-6. This is when their brain is developing. All children develop in their own unique way, and it is
something that an educator should recognize in their students. It is important for students to have choices,
but to not overwhelm them with too many choices. Therefore, when planning a lesson, an educator must
meet all the needs of the students by presenting the information in various ways. I am grateful to have
completed the program, and I will continue to carry forward my knowledge and skills. I do believe that I
have been well informed about the above topics, and they have prepared me for a career in education.
5. Why should we hire you instead of the other applicants we have interviewed?
I feel that your board and school should hire me over the other applicants you have interviewed
because I am a dedicated, hard working, and caring individual. My passion to be a teacher has only grown
stronger the past ten years during my post-secondary experiences. I have a lot of experience in the
education field in almost all elementary school grades. In my experience, I have been approachable for
both the students, and colleagues I have worked with. I am a good listener, and do accept constructive
criticism from colleagues, and overall I am team player. The needs of the students are most important to
me, and making sure I meet those needs in a timely fashion. I will come to work organized, prepared, and
ready for the day! I am excited to have my own classroom, and to be a part of making a difference in the
lives of young students.
Conclusion
I hope you have enjoyed my teacher candidate interview video, have gotten to know my educational
background, along with my passion, and motivation to become a classroom teacher. I have worked very hard
to get to where I am today, and I want to continue to stay focused to reach my end goal. I could not imagine
not being around children, and I am thankful for the experiences I have had thus far. Thank you for taking the
time to watch my video!