Section Five: Teacher Candidate Reflection Guidelines

Introduction

In this section of my portfolio I will be reflecting on my experience working on this

portfolio project, educational experiences I have had during my time at Medaille College and

previous post- secondary institutions, and my readiness to become a teacher. I will be making

connections to the Teacher Education Accreditation Council and the Council for Accreditation

for Educator Preparation. I will be taking an in depth look at the courses that have given me the

knowledge and skill set to become the teacher I am today, as well as review learning experiences

from multiple educational institutions where I obtained my Early Childhood Education diploma

as well as my Honors Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership.

Portfolio Project/Teacher Education Learning Experiences

On my journey as an educator over the years, as well as my time at Medaille College, I

have learned many valuable teachings and I feel like this portfolio is the vessel to showing you

my work and experience and what I have done throughout my career so far to accomplish my

final venture of my Masters of Elementary Education. (TEAC/CAEP Claim 2: Pedagogy and

Best Teaching Practice). I am very fortunate to have experienced a lot through the Master of

Education program at Medaille College. Outlined below are some of those experiences that I

believe have encouraged me to develop into the person who I am today and the teacher who I

hope to be to my future students.

Buffalo prep was a new experience to me in first semester as a new graduate student at

Medaille. It was an incredible experience for me as I grew up in a very non diverse small town.

To learn from veteran teachers who have such incredible information and knowledge on creating
classroom culture and diverse learning experiences for their students was inspiring. It was

wonderful to see the determination these teachers have to come on weekends to set up leaning

experiences for children and families to benefit the future of students. It Is truly selfless. I had

never experienced a school setting like Buffalo Prep Academies until I attended. It helped me see

that there are different ways to give back to students and families other than just being in the

classroom daily and it gave me diverse ideas to connect with families outside of the school

environment for the benefit of the student. (TEAC/CAEP Claim 2: Pedagogy and Best Teaching

Practices).

Another course I took at Medaille that was extremely beneficial was a course called

Research in Education in the first semester. This class was extremely insightful towards

conducting research on students’ assessments, gain data to benefit your teaching practices and

collect and reflect on outcomes to have a better learning environment for all students and

teaching staff. (TEAC/CAEP Claim 2: Pedagogy and Best Teaching Practices & Claim 3: Caring

Educators).

Another course where I gained significant skills and knowledge from was a class called

Diversity and Culturally Responsive Teaching. Having the knowledge that my teacher had was

irreplaceable, she had experienced endless diverse educational concerns and taught how to

handle certain situations that can be uncomfortable. I learned how to authentically implement

diverse range of books in my classroom environment to benefit students as well as lesson plan. I

have the knowledge to genuinely represent all students in the classroom. (Claim 3: Caring

Educators).
 Another course that I found helpful at Medaille was the Technology course. During this

course we were given the knowledge on how to construct our own website and google classroom

for future online virtual learning experiences. I am now experienced with SMART board

platform and how to implement these authentically into my classroom. (TEAC/CAEP Claim 1:

Subject Matter). I can implement virtual lesson plans and content to benefit my students at

anytime and anywhere. All of these skill sets are essential for teachers, as our digital world is

rapidly changing in education, we need to be knowledgeable, recent and competent.

(TEAC/CAEP Claim 2: Pedagogy and Best Teaching Practices).

Every semester throughout my time at Medaille college, I have been given the

opportunity to take subject courses to benefit my teaching toolkit. Subject courses are revolved

around teaching that specific subject, so I have experience from Medaille creating lesson plans

and teaching Literacy, Math, Science and the Arts. I am well versed with the different curriculum

standards and creating content for diverse unique learning experiences. (TEAC/CAEP Claim 1:

Subject Matter).

Reediness to Become a Teacher

I always knew I wanted to work with children. My early life years I was obsessed with

dolls, babysitting and playing ‘school’. Throughout my eight-year educational journey to

becoming a teacher, I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the steppingstones that have brought me

to this moment of reaching my goal. From my time at Fanshawe College post high school

graduate completing my diploma in Early Childhood Education and working as a Registered

Early Childhood Educator in childcare centers and Ontario Catholic and public-school Full Day
Kindergarten classrooms. Passionate about my studies and child development I returned to

school for to complete my honor’s bachelor’s in early childhood leadership, from there I had an

internship as a Child Life Specialist supporting medical trauma in young children. My

background in early childhood education has given me extreme knowledge and great

opportunities to learn and grow as an educator. I have worked in many diverse settings that

involve children. Medaille College has supplied me when a wealth of knowledge that has

prepared me for my career as a teacher. My courses have allowed me to not only learn about new

information but also has allowed me to out sourse information correctly for the benefit of my

teaching practice. Lastly, I feel like Fanshawe College, my experience as a Registered Early

Childhood Educator, Child Life Specialist and Supply Emergency Teacher have given me the

necessary tools to develop and deliver authentic in-depth lesson plans and learning experiences.

Medaille gave me the knowledge to create standard aligned lesson plans that correlate with an

objective while still accommodating and differentiating for vulnerable students.

Conclusion

It has been a very eye opening, tiring, amazing journey to get where I am today. I am so

happy with myself to fulfilling this goal and staying the course when things got tough, it reflects

my attitude as a teacher and as a human being. I have had so many endless incredible learning

experiences throughout my rime working as an educator. My Early Childhood Education degree

helped me understand child development and the importance of early years care and teachings

where my honors bachelor introduced me to research and in-depth analysis and educational

theorists while my final venture at Medaille has equipped me with the skills and teaching of

becoming a wonderful elementary school teacher. And I am forever grateful to Medaille for that.
I am eager to get out into the world of teaching and spread my knowledge and joy for the love of

learning!

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