Section Five:

Teacher Candidate Reflection Guidelines

Introduction

Having the opportunity to present my background, my qualifications, knowledge and

artifacts that express my abilities and my qualities as a teacher throughout this MSED portfolio

project has been a great experience. The professors at Medaille College not only taught us about

the content and the pedagogy of the teaching profession but also left us with many philosophies,

reflections and meaningful outlooks on becoming an educator for the future. One theory I will

take away from a professor who went out of his way to not only teach us concepts but to make us

realize how building a relationship with our students can go a long way in their learning and

educational experience. I feel fortunate that I had the opportunity in accomplishing my Master of

Education through Medaille College and that I am more than prepared to move forward as a

accomplished teacher.

This section will exhibit the relations between my portfolio and the professional

standards of the TEAC/CAEP Claims. Claim 1: Subject Matter, Claim 2: Pedagogy and Best

Teaching Practices and Claim 3: Caring Educator.

Portfolio Project/Teacher Education Learning Experiences

When I began this journey I remember being nervous, overwhelmed at times and unsure

what to expect. But as I met the professors at Medaille, began relationships with my amazing

cohort and started my first class I knew I was where I needed to be. Learning and growing as a

teacher, realizing and achieving my goals to become a teacher and simply appreciating what I
have been taught by everyone who has been part of this experience will define me as an educator

and my developing this portfolio project.

Starting with the professors at Medaille, I can truly say that each one of them has taught

me something different, a variety of philosophies and strategies to take with me in my future as

an educator. They have shown the utmost respect, compassion and desire for success for me and

everyone in this program. I feel they are the core of this program and I am lucky to have had

them as role models and mentors for the educational field.

They have so much to offer with their own personal experiences and knowledge of education but

also understanding where we are as student and future teachers. (Claim # 1, #2, #3)

During my first semester I was fortunate enough to learn so much about the theories,

philosophies and foundation of education. (Claim # 1) I know it has made me more

knowledgeable about how to relate my teachings, have classroom management and recognize the

multiple ways children learn. We have continued to use these theories, theorist and philosophies

in all of our courses and how to incorporate them into our lesson plans, essays and as

presentations to display our expertise in this area. (Claim #2)

Having courses that teach the diversity of our society and understanding the multiple

aspects that come into play when creating a welcoming and culturally accepting environment

was a new concept for many of us. Culturally Responsive Teaching has to be at the fore front of

your thinking and preparation of lesson planning and everyday teachings. Being aware and

including these teachings to educators as they begin their teaching career is a very important part

of today societys and respecting the uniqueness and exceptional children we will have in our

classroom. I also made connections with CRT when it came to students prior knowledge and

how they learn within their experiences and background. I have incorporated this awareness into
my lesson plans as well as into my mock lesson presentations in front of the classroom. The

professors have allowed me to understand the importance to include CRT into the classroom and

with the students that I will have the privilege to enrich. (Claim #1 & #2)

While developing my abilities to incorporate CRT into lesson plans at the time seemed to

be challenging at times but it wasnt till we had a variety of courses that taught us the ins and

outs of lesson planning, the details and how to relate them to all the necessary factors of a perfect

and seamless lesson. We have had a diverse group of professors who have had all a unique and

personal touch to teach lesson plans. (Claim#1) But having them continue to help us succeed and

perfect a lesson plan took a lot of patience and instruction. Looking back I remember how

confused and overwhelmed I felt but now I can confidently say I know I have the skills to create

a lesson plan that will help my students meet their goals and objectives set for them as well as

hitting the standards of the curriculum. The capability to produce unit plans, lesson plans and

assessments has become easier, quicker and something that is a natural part of my teaching

approach. (Claim #2)

Progressing through each semester and continuing my life-long learning has made me

realize my potential and made me appreciate a variety of teachings that might have made me a

little apprehensive to apply in the classroom or with the students. However having amazing and

approachable professors made it a lot easier to learn and know how integrate them into lessons

and benefit the students. For example, technology; I have never been tech savvy or comfortable

using technology personally or for teaching. I was nervous when I saw we had a tech course to

take. But having a professor that was not only knowledgeable but friendly, easy to talk to made

things fun to learn made the tech class so much easier to appreciate and be able to use in my

future of teaching. (Claim #1, #2, #3)

Readiness to Become a Teacher

As I prepare to become a teacher, educate the children of the future and create a

welcoming and positive classroom environment I strongly feel I am ready and confident to start

my career and lifelong dream. However I do believe that my readiness to become a teacher is not

only based on the above but also building relationships and trust with the students is imperative

to be a competent and accomplished teacher. The DASA training and School Violence

Prevention and Intervention / Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment

Certification has also been an important factor in the completion and preparedness of a teacher.

I have shown my many abilities to incorporate the important and relevant aspects of

creating lesson plans, unit plans and CRT with my artifacts. (Claim #1) CRT has been the

priority in many of my artifacts and understanding the importance of it in my annotated

bibliography and my Pecha Kucha Special Education presentation. (Claim #2) Within the

artifacts that I have used to prove my capabilities and the rest of my portfolio reflecting my

eagerness to educate I feel that there is nothing but positive and enthusiasm towards the next

steps to my exciting journey. I cannot wait to stand in front of children, guide them and watch

them grow and develop into amazing, accomplished and well-rounded students. (Claim #3)

Including the TEAC claims as we summarize and reflect our portfolio project was an

ideal way to ensure that the Medaille College expectations are being met and that we truly value

them as part of our teachings and education. Each claim; Claim 1: Subject Matter, Claim 2:

Pedagogy and Best Teaching Practices and Claim 3: Caring Educator is a reflection and

recognition of me as a competent, qualified and caring teacher.

Conclusion Commented [B1]: Include a summary of how you made
connections to the teacher competencies.

This collaboration and concept of this project have been both a learning and insightful

experience to support my knowledge in content and application, my abilities to educate, learn

and enrich, my want to develop minds and characters, my capacity to care and acquire

relationships for each student I have the pleasure to cross paths with not only in my classroom

but within the environment I get to be a part of.

The connections that were made throughout the portfolio to illustrate my knowledge and

capabilities as a competent teacher were explained within my introduction and artifacts.

Furthermore what I am reminded of when I think about the importance of these connections are

how I will accurately demonstrate to the students the contents of the curriculum and how to

utilize the various teaching methods to effectively teach the diversity of the students. I have the

resources and techniques to utilize what I have been taught to communicate back positive

feedback to the students to enhance their learning and understanding. I believe that my

experiences and in class education will promote a welcoming, safe and healthy classroom

environment for all students to grow, learn and become the best they can be!

My experiences, my education at Medaille as well as the person I am and the educator I

have become during this past year will exhibit a teacher that Medaille College would be proud to

associate with their MSED Graduate program.