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Section Five:
Teacher Candidate Reflection Guidelines

Introduction
The knowledge I have acquired in the education program at Medaille College is
invaluable and will make me an excellent teacher. Medaille has provided us with a wide
knowledge base to carry into our future classrooms. Professors at Medaille have taught us to be
avid planners and instructors who utilize a variety of assessment techniques and who cater to the
needs of diverse learners by adapting lessons so that they too can succeed. The most valuable
lesson I have learned from Medaille faculty is to treat each student with respect and that my job
as a teacher is to help students succeed. The faculty have taught this lesson indirectly by
modelling it and providing accommodations to learners to help them succeed when required.

Portfolio Project/Teacher Education Learning Experiences

Creating and assembling this portfolio has been a valuable learning experience. From the
introduction to the conclusion this process has been beneficial but at the same time challenging.
Summarizing years of educational and work experience, completing school observations and
composing my philosophy of education have all given me a clearer picture of the reasons I want
to be an educator.
I tried to choose artifacts that would enable you to acknowledge my strengths and
showcase my teaching effectiveness and ability to be a caring educator. Throughout this
portfolio I have demonstrated my knowledge of the curriculum and professional standards and
my ability to create lessons which incorporate the content in those standards.
The courses which comprise the education program at Medaille College have been
challenging but very informative. The Roots of Education course first semester gave me some

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background knowledge on theorists and explained how the educational system we have today
was formed. The research course provided me with valuable lessons on proper formatting for
papers and lessons on how to properly compose educational surveys to research educational or
personal interest topics. The cultural competencies course taught me how easy it is to
discriminate unknowingly. I especially liked the Dignity for all Students Act which is in force in
New York State because it is a piece of legislation that ensures equal treatment within the
educational system which is how it should be. The Early Field Experiences course enabled me
to see teaching done at a private school and the differences that that entails. Being in the
elementary classroom throughout first semester enabled me to gain valuable experience and to
experience the issues and rewards that occur daily with students in the classroom. Doing the
teaching hours motivated me and got me through all the late nights spent doing assignments
because I was able to remember why I wanted to be a teacher.
Second semester was also full of beneficial classes which furthered my knowledge and
lead me down the path to being a better educator. The technology course was the one I found
most informative and beneficial because I was somewhat of a digital immigrant. This course
was most important to me because it taught me to use programs which will make my lessons
more engaging and therefore more effective. When I was a young student we didnt have all
these neat digital devices and programs to make learning so interesting! I loved learning about
Voki, Weebly, Screen-cast-o-matic, and Smart Board because they will help me to make my
lessons more interesting and therefore make me a more effective teacher.
The special needs course that was taken second semester was beneficial as well because
todays teachers need to be well versed on the handling and teaching of children with special
needs since many of them are in the regular classrooms with IEPs today. It is important to be

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exposed to some of the disabilities prior to your entrance into the classroom as a teacher because
it will enable you to recognize children suffering from undiagnosed problems so that you can get
them the help they need.
As a former science major, the two literacy courses I took at Medialle enabled me to
become comfortable with the literacy curriculum and terminology. Literacy is a large part of the
elementary curriculum so it is important that students such as myself master the topic prior to
being placed in a classroom and forced to teach it. Phonics and phonemic awareness was
reviewed, topics I have not touched since I was an elementary student myself.
The core courses taught (math/science and social studies) allowed practice for preparing
lesson plans and enabled me to learn the intricacies of doing a math lesson plan versus a science
or social studies one.
Overall, the Medaille College program has prepared me to be an effective teacher and has
prepared me for the situations and difficulties I will encounter in my classroom and teaching
career. Medaille College has prepared us to be caring, competent school teachers who are firmly
versed in subject matter, and who know how to meet the needs of diverse learners through
effective pedagogy and best teaching practices.
Readiness to Become a Teacher
I am now ready to be catapulted out of law and into the teaching profession! I have dreamed of
the day when I can walk into my own classroom knowing that I have the knowledge and ability to be an
effective teacher and to make a positive difference in students lives. That day has finally arrived!
I now possess the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to develop effective lesson and unit
plans for teaching engaging lessons that encourage student learning. I now realize that students are all
individuals with different needs and desires and that it is my job to learn who each of my students are so
that I can prepare lessons that are relevant and interesting to them. I have now spent months learning to

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interpret both the Ontario and New York State curriculum standards in order to prepare effective lessons.
I have witnessed the use of many different motivational strategies throughout my time in the classroom
some of which I favor and some of which I will never use. Unlike Skinner, I dont think that rewarding
responses will be a successful motivational tool for every student as some will respond better to positive
verbal reinforcement
To me, classroom management is of utmost importance. As a teacher you must be able to
manage your class successfully in order for students to be in a positive learning environment. I have
spent years perfecting my management skills as an aquatics manager with the City of Toronto managing a
staff of 15-20 lifeguards and instructors. I have also been an instructor managing a class of 12-15
students. I have never had a problem creating a positive learning environment and I am certain that I can
carry the same techniques into the classroom to manage it effectively.
My favorite part of teaching will be when I am instructing and guiding the students. Anticipatory
sets will be used to engage and interest learners in the subject matter being taught and collaborative and
interactive learning will be utilized whenever possible. Respect both for the students and from the
students will foster a positive classroom rapport and make classroom management mostly unnecessary.
A variety of formative and summative assessment techniques will be used to assess student
achievement so that all types of learning styles are addressed. This will enable me to gauge the
effectiveness of my lessons and to reflect and make changes where required. As a teacher I will be
required to learn continuously and to adapt lessons to the needs of the learners. Assessment questions
will be created at varying degrees of difficulty with Blooms taxonomy used as a guide.
Now that I am knowledgeable in the use of modern technology thanks to the excellent courses
provided at Medaille College, I will use technology in my classroom on a continuous basis to engage
learners and make lessons interesting. Smart boards will encourage student participation and classroom
IPads can be used for math or literacy games so students can learn core content in a fun and interactive
manner.

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Lesson revisions and assessment alterations will accommodate learners where required. Students
with special needs will be treated the same as other students in the classroom but may be given simpler
assignments or guidance and assistance with assignments.
I am the type of person who cares for all individuals in the world. I realize that people all have
similar wants and desires but that no two people will ever be the same. Accommodations will be made to
assist struggling students where required and if there are any socioeconomic issues they will be discussed
and addressed. The appearance of my classroom will represent the diversity of my students and I will try
to incorporate students cultural backgrounds into my lessons to promote diversity and acceptance.

Conclusion
I am an individual with high moral standards and as an educator I will maintain a high level of
professionalism when collaborating with students, parents or co-workers. I intend to engage in ongoing
professional development so that I do not stagnate and am able to continuously improve myself
throughout the years. I intend to be a lifelong learner and I believe that I should instill these values and
beliefs in every student that passes through my classroom. My ultimate goal is to ensure that every
student I have had the pleasure of teaching knows that if they are determined and set their mind to it they
can accomplish whatever they set out to achieve. My motto will be to press onward and never give up!