Portfolio Introduction: I have been working in the early childhood field for eight years. I began working in an Autistic Support Classroom as a paraprofessional. I was inspired to enter this field because of my youngest daughter who was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder when she was three. The agency I work for now is the agency I brought her to for services. They worked miracles and taught me many strategies to use when working with my daughter. When she turned five, she left S.P.I.N. and entered Kindergarden. She is now graduating from eighth grade and doing well. I started as lead teacher in a pre-school reverse mainstream classroom four years ago with the same agency. I am now working towards my degree in early childhood education and I am on a behavioral support team learning and colaborating with professionals from around the city discussing cases and sharing strategies. I also belong to a parent's association committee working with the families at our school.
Philosophy of Education: Understanding each other's philosophies and cultural diversity is important when examining our own. We have to allow ourselves to explore other ways of thinking. Our educational system needs to be open to this also. If we are flexible enough to bend our ways of thinking to accommodate all the students and families that we serve, then we have begun to open up the doors for educational success across the country. As teachers, our philosophies have an impact on the way we manage our classroom and the affect we have on our students. It is important to always reflect on your practice of teaching. Students grow and change from minute to minute and we have to keep up with them. The flow or direction of lesson plans should depend on where the children are at at that moment. Flexibility is the key with young children. I believe in reflecting on everything I do during the day. Supervising the staff in my room, teaching the children, interacting with the parents, managing the classroom environment, and collaborating with management and fellow teachers are some of the ways I reflect. This helps me to repeat things that work, restructure things that do not, change my approach to guiding adults in the room and supporting strategies for behaviors. Reflection allows me to see what might have caused something to occur rather than just look at what happeded after. You could say I am influenced by non-western philosophies that remind us that introspection undertaken with the help of a teacher is an ongoing process that leads to a fulfilling life. I hope by stepping back to see the whole picture, I can be of the greatest service to our children. I also realize that as the world grows, we have to prepare the children for that growth. Technology is a big part of our world now and its use is only increasing so we have to educate ourselves in how to teach them the appropriate use of it.
Portfolio Introduction: I have been working in the early childhood field for eight years. I began working in an Autistic Support Classroom as a paraprofessional. I was inspired to enter this field because of my youngest daughter who was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder when she was three. The agency I work for now is the agency I brought her to for services. They worked miracles and taught me many strategies to use when working with my daughter. When she turned five, she left S.P.I.N. and entered Kindergarden. She is now graduating from eighth grade and doing well. I started as lead teacher in a pre-school reverse mainstream classroom four years ago with the same agency. I am now working towards my degree in early childhood education and I am on a behavioral support team learning and colaborating with professionals from around the city discussing cases and sharing strategies. I also belong to a parent's association committee working with the families at our school.
Philosophy of Education: Understanding each other's philosophies and cultural diversity is important when examining our own. We have to allow ourselves to explore other ways of thinking. Our educational system needs to be open to this also. If we are flexible enough to bend our ways of thinking to accommodate all the students and families that we serve, then we have begun to open up the doors for educational success across the country. As teachers, our philosophies have an impact on the way we manage our classroom and the affect we have on our students. It is important to always reflect on your practice of teaching. Students grow and change from minute to minute and we have to keep up with them. The flow or direction of lesson plans should depend on where the children are at at that moment. Flexibility is the key with young children. I believe in reflecting on everything I do during the day. Supervising the staff in my room, teaching the children, interacting with the parents, managing the classroom environment, and collaborating with management and fellow teachers are some of the ways I reflect. This helps me to repeat things that work, restructure things that do not, change my approach to guiding adults in the room and supporting strategies for behaviors. Reflection allows me to see what might have caused something to occur rather than just look at what happeded after. You could say I am influenced by non-western philosophies that remind us that introspection undertaken with the help of a teacher is an ongoing process that leads to a fulfilling life. I hope by stepping back to see the whole picture, I can be of the greatest service to our children. I also realize that as the world grows, we have to prepare the children for that growth. Technology is a big part of our world now and its use is only increasing so we have to educate ourselves in how to teach them the appropriate use of it.