Section 6: Teacher Candidate Teacher Interview Video

Teacher Candidate Interview Video

In section six and final section of my portfolio capstone project, I have put together a

mock interview video that is also a component of my weebly teacher website. It was designed

using screencast; ( The video is a recap of my background, my experiences, my education, my

teachings and my contribution to what I can offer as a teacher coming into a school or board. It

also reflects me as person and an educator as well as presenting my accomplishments that have

prepared me to be an effective and well rounded teacher. Below are the questions I have

prepared in the video as a mock interview to further my abilities and familiarity of becoming an

educator.

Question 1: Briefly share a little about your background experiences that have led you to

choose a career in education.

I have always known I wanted to be a teacher. I was in the French Immersion program through

my elementary education and continued through high school. I did my undergrad at Brock

University where I majored in French and minored in Child Studies knowing I wanted to pursue

my goals of becoming an educator. During my third year of University I had the opportunity to

work at a French Day Care in Niagara Falls where I gained experienced working with children

between the ages of 18 months to 12 years. I really loved being around the kids, helping with

programming and communicating with parents. It was a job but for me it was an experience that

validated my dream of working with children and enriching their minds. I was fortunate to begin

teaching French at a Montessori school in Kitchener after I graduated. I implemented and taught

French to students in Casa, grades one through three and was the assistant teacher in the Lower
MSED ELEMENTARY PORTFOLIO PROJECT 2

Elementary classroom (Grade 1-3). Ive had many experiences within the last 15 years to teach,

tutor and care for children of all ages in various environments. I ran a home day care where I

incorporated the French language as well as the Montessori philosophies. In the past I was a

supervisor in the day care for the Goodlife Fitness centre. I spent five years as a teacher at

Guelph Montessori School where my role was to develop and implement the French and physical

education program for students in Casa to Grade 6. I have tutored students in French as well as

worked with students in the French reading program for the Upper Grand District School Board.

I have also had the opportunity to supply teach and scribe for EQAO testing for the board.

Currently I am teaching at Wellington Hall Academy where I am implementing and expanding

the French program as well as teaching physical education.

Question 2: What have you learned in your teaching program that will make you an

excellent classroom teacher and colleague?

While I have a range of experience in the educational field I consider my time at Medaille in the

Master of Education program has taught me several important and essential elements of teaching.

I have learned the importance of Culturally Responsive Teaching and how to incorporate it into

my lessons, my instruction as well as in pre & post assessment to obtain effective teaching

practices. Understanding your students and their needs is a key component to teaching and

learning for ELL and gifted students and students with IEPs. I have gained knowledge how to

implement a modified or accommodated curriculum for success while integrating technology for

the diverse learners in a classroom. Technology was a complete course that we had and learned

about and how it used in various practices of teaching to support student learning. I learned how

to use SMARTboards, weebly and Emodo teacher websites and I feel much more comfortable

using technology now than I did when I started this program.

MSED ELEMENTARY PORTFOLIO PROJECT 3

Gaining knowledge in the various theorist and philosophies of education was a great learning

tool for me to explore what theories I relate to and want to include in my teaching practices and

within my classroom management. Classroom management as per Wong and Skinner were both

wonderful theorist that I became familiar with during this program and I plan on utilizing these

philosophies to maintain classroom control, create a positive and encouraging environment and

have collaborative work routines where all can be successful. Lastly I learned from my program

at Medaille is the importance of relationships. Building relationships with your students, fellow

teachers and your school community is for me one of the main factors of becoming an excellent

and successful teacher. Last but not least the relationships made with my cohort and professors,

I could have never imagined receiving so much support and guidance from a group of people that

only met a year ago and now we begin our next steps of becoming a teacher. Thank you!

Question 3: Provide us with an example of a lesson you taught. How did you integrate it

with other curriculum areas, address CLLS, technology, student engagement and

motivation? What were the results of the lesson?

An example a lesson plan was in our EDU 550 class where I taught the students how to

compare and contrast ideas from the story The Sandwich Swap by Her Majesty Queen Rania

Al Abdullah. I integrated culturally responsive teaching by using a story of two girls from two

different backgrounds and culture. I also used collaborative learning by including students to be

part of lesson as I was teaching the new vocabulary words we were learning within the book and

having them use their strengths of speaking aloud in front of their peers. I also used visuals and

various examples to explain compare and contrast objective for the diverse learning practices we

have in the classroom to include effective teaching. A variety of assessments for learning and as

learning, regular check-in and observing the students to ensure effective learning goals were
MSED ELEMENTARY PORTFOLIO PROJECT 4

being met and future learning could be established within this lesson with using descriptive

feedback was supported throughout. We videotaped our lesson so we could reflect on our

teaching which I was really nervous about but then I appreciated that I was able to see myself

teach and reflect on things that I could improve on to better my teaching practices as well as

things that I do well and feel good about my teaching abilities presently.

Question 4: How will your knowledge of the current trends in education inform you as an

educator in our board?

I believe knowledge of the currents trends in education is a key component of becoming

an educator in your board. I am familiar and value principles you expect within the board,

school and classroom. One central vision is students mental health and ensuring they feel

supported and also to create a safe and supportive learning environment where all individual

needs are met. I share the same notion of mistakes are encourage because I believe that

mistakes are proof you are trying and everyone should feel confident in trying something.

Understanding differentiated learning; where students are learning based on their strengths and

weakness to meet expectations within the curriculum and be successful. This may also mean

incorporating technology to support student learning or modifying the lesson to create future

learning. Anchor charts have been an excellent and constructive resource in the classroom for

students to use, create and learn from in various forms to engage and continue effective learning.

Another focal point is to make students learning goals visual for all to see and comprehend. Co-

created success criterias include classroom involvement so the students have a sense of

responsibility as well their opinion on what they believe is important to them and their peers to

create routine, classroom management and a positive learning environment. I plan on keeping up

with current trends by attending board workshops and other professional development
MSED ELEMENTARY PORTFOLIO PROJECT 5

opportunities.

Question 5: Why should we hire you instead of the other applicants we have interviewed?

Why hire me? I am dedicated and committed to creating a positive, respectful and caring

classroom community where students and their families can feel welcome and be a part of safe

and supportive environment to learn and succeed. My various experiences display my abilities

as well as my competence while continuing a life-long learning of integrating technology, CRT

and differentiated learning. I am a positive role model with strong communication skills and

approachable that will serve well with students, parents/guardians and colleagues. I believe in

the benefits of working collaboratively with those around me and Im a team player. Finally I

am completely fluent in the French language both written and verbal. I feel this separates me

from the other applicants as I have a lot to offer to the school, the students and the faculty of this

school. Thank you!

Conclusion

In this last and final section of the MSED capstone portfolio I have included a weebly

teacher website that highlights my portfolio, my interview video and shows a little about me and

my background as a teacher. It has been a sometimes overwhelming journey but it has proven to

also be an amazing milestone in my life-long dream to be a teacher.

However as I reflect and bring this project to a close, I hold close to my heart and beliefs

that teaching is a gift, making a difference and seeing the world through a childs eyes to enrich

them not only with a wealth of knowledge but also the love of learning about the world they live

in and an important part of it for the future.

MSED ELEMENTARY PORTFOLIO PROJECT 6

References

Effective Teaching. (n.d.). Retrieved June 18, 2017, from http://www.effectiveteaching.com/

McLeod, S. (1970, January 01). Saul McLeod. Retrieved June 18, 2017, from
https://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html

Montessori, Maria. (1914). Dr. Montessoris Own Handbook. Mineola, New York: Dover
Publications, Inc.

Montessori, Maria (1914). Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook. New York: Frederick A. Stokes
Company.

Montessori, Maria (1912). The Montessori Method. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company.

Montessori-Education/History-of-Montessori-Education/Biography-of-Maria-
Montessori/Quotes-by-Maria-Montessori

Maria Montessori. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, (Spring 2011). "Maria Montessori
Through the Seasons of the Method". The NAMTA Journal. 36)

(Multiple Intelligences: Gardner's Online Education Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2017,
from http://ericae.net/digests/tm9601.htm

Ornstein, A. C., Levine, D. U., Gutek, G. L., & Vocke, D.E. (2015). Foundations of education.
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Ultanir, E. (2012). An Epistemological Glance at the Constructivist Approach: Constructivist

Learning in Dewey, Piaget, and Monstessori. Online Submission.

Heward, W.L. (2012). Exceptional children: An introduction to special education. (10thed.).

Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-a-deaf-child-learning-to-feel-sounds-through-touch-
16404435.html.

http://media-dis-n-dat.blogspot.ca/2009/12/online-dictionary-allows-deaf-kids-to.html

Kornhaber, M. L. (2001) 'Howard Gardner' in J. A. Palmer (ed.) Fifty Modern Thinkers on

Education. From Piaget to the present, London: Routledge.