Section One: Teacher Candidate Introduction to the Elementary Portfolio Project

Introduction, Overview and Rationale

Hello, and welcome to my Elementary Portfolio. I have delightfully created this portfolio

as a professional collection of my acquired knowledge, and teaching techniques that I have

acquired throughout my educational journey. It will give a better understanding of my

knowledge, capabilities, experiences and what I have acquired as my own for future classroom

techniques and success. My Elementary Portfolio Project will display different pedagogy, best

teaching, practices, and my knowledge of technological practices, my abilities to plan, instruct,

assess and re-engage students in fun, engaging and successful ways.

As a future educator, it is of the utmost importance to collect, document and track the

growth of my experiences. My Elementary Portfolio is a collection of my lesson plans, rubrics,

worksheets, teaching plans, assessments and many other important documents that I have

composed for presenting my accomplishments. It is important for my own sake, as well as others

to be able to view my teaching style and preparations for teaching in the classroom. It also allows

the display of planning, instruction, assessments, accommodations, how I engage all students and

facilitate my lessons to be successful.

The Elementary portfolio is similar to a thesis or a research project, but instead documents

my own personal expertise in teaching. As a future educator, it is important to display what you

are capable of and the evidence that it is effective. In any given classroom, there are so many

different varieties of learning styles that need to be accommodated. I believe it is my

responsibility as an educator to make sure the learning styles, academic levels, behaviors and

other accommodations are being taken into consideration, and given opportunities for every

student to learn the lessons. My Portfolio directly documents my designed artifacts to ensure that
I am capable of preparing, using appropriate methods in teaching, being effective as a teacher,

how I assess and how I also improve my teaching. Tracking my experiences and growth will

give me a better opportunity to look forward as well as backwards, and prepare me to the utmost

extent for the field of education.

Portfolio Development

In my Elementary Portfolio, you will find many components that make up my journey

through the educational experience. There are six sections that compose this Portfolio. It will

present my background experiences, display many different artifacts, such as lesson plans, self-

created assessments, feedback and other accomplishments that I have demonstrated. It will also

present my artifacts and their alignment to curriculum and professional standards, a personal

reflection of my experiences and an interview video.

I have outlined my educational and work related experiences in the first section of the

portfolio. I will begin by stating that I did not start my journey anticipating a career in education,

so it is an exciting journey to follow! It also shows my growth, self-discovery and how I came to

find a passion in education. Looking back on my journey, it seems that I had the passion for

teaching all along, but the journey to discover it makes it even more zealous. I have had many

experiences throughout my journey that motivated me to become a teacher, and to truly find my

passion. It is helpful and enjoyable to document all of my experiences in the last ten years, and to

realize that I was meant to be a teacher. My philosophy of education is included with my

experiences, in connection to what I have learned and what I have personally developed in my

teaching. My perspectives and aspects of what I believe in relation to education, certainly did not

develop overnight. It has been a long excursion through many different classrooms, schools,

teachers, fellow peers, professors and evidence based observations to help mold my philosophy
of education. Putting all of my aspects and perspectives into one document is an easily accessible

way for myself, as well as others, to view my philosophy.

In this Portfolio, you will also find a current resume to highlight all of the work,

volunteer and observational type of experiences in education. Having a collection of this data

shows my extensive work with children of all ages, professional experiences and my individual

involvements that assist with my desire of becoming an educator. My resume shows my

commitment to being an educator, as well as my personal life choices. I was quite hesitant to

begin another career path, as anyone may be after getting into the work field after graduating

college. I was unhappy with my chosen field of working with juvenile children and students

facing mental health issues. Although I enjoyed my job, I wanted to be more involved, and

encourage the education side in an advanced position.

My most motivating experience that pushed me to really go after my dreams was

becoming a Mother. I had my first child in June 2015. My husband had just graduated Law

School, and our son was born 3 weeks before his scheduled Bar Exam. Watching him work so

hard and pushing himself to be the best for our family inspired me to go after my dreams. I had a

son to make proud, and I knew that I couldnt live the best life I wanted to without successfully

accomplishing my dreams. I went to my first day of Graduate school at Medaille College, 8

weeks after my son was born and havent given up since. I knew this is what I wanted, to educate

young minds. Being a Mother encouraged that passion more as I watched my son grow and learn

new things every day. I had been in classrooms and schools in my undergrad program, but when

I started observing and taking the leadership roles of the teacher, I felt so natural. It was

something I knew I was good at and never felt nervous about. Every chance I have had in a

classroom, is my time to shine. I have learned so much through each of my many experiences,
and it was even more exciting to be able to document and share them throughout my Elementary

portfolio.

Theories, Theorists and Experts in the Field of Education

Alongside my experiences and work, you will find a variety of educational experts and

theorists referenced to support my documents . I have referenced theorist Jean Piaget, Benjamin

Bloom, and Lev Vygotsky numerous times throughout my work. All of the theorists educational

beliefs and practices have helped me develop my own philosophy of education, and mold what I

believe makes successful teaching practices.

I reference Piagets schema and the belief that children have the ability to construct their

own learning. For example, when teachers introduces a topic or subject, I believe that it is more

effective to activate prior knowledge, or connect the lesson to something they may already

understand. Once they can make the connection, they are more likely to be engaged and

prepared to add to their schema. I also refer to Blooms Hierarchy of needs, which I use very

frequently in my teaching practices. I reference Blooms taxonomy and hierarchy of needs in all

of my lesson plans, learning objectives, central focuses and other focal points of instruction. One

other theorist I enjoy learning from is Vygotsky. I resemble his belief in choosing the level in

which you teach your students.

I have experienced that all classrooms and students need an individualized teaching

strategy. Some lessons may work better in classrooms than others, and as teachers, we have to

adapt to our surroundings. If a lesson is unsuccessful, it may be too hard or too easy, therefore

needing accommodations to modify the learning. The students and to be challenged, but also

have attainable goals. I enjoy Vygotskys scaffolding technique, and have used it many times
throughout my educational experiences. Giving the support a student needs to complete a task,

and gradually reducing the support, results in effective learning.

Conclusion

The Elementary portfolio is certainly an enhancement to my knowledge, experiences and

educational journey that led me into the teaching career. Possessing all of my best documents,

data, lessons and other accomplishments, shows my achievements and growth throughout my

voyage of education.. This portfolio gives me an advantage over others who may not have this

professional collection of accomplishments, practices, experiences and teaching philosophy on

hand. Having this easily accessible document to share gives an extra opportunity to get to know

what I am capable of and how I accomplish it. As a future educator, I believe every child

deserves an equal opportunity at learning. Regardless of academic level, specific

accommodations, or school setting, it is my priority to teach every student at their own individual

needs. This field I have chosen has given me so many moments of joy, watching children learn,

develop, accomplish new things and succeed from my teaching. Please continue to read more

about my capabilities and proficiencies I have achieved while in my journey through education!