Introduction



Introductory Letter

As a first year teacher, who and where I am in my career is a work in progress. During my internship at Fallston Middle School and Edgewood High School I was able to exercise my naive beliefs and thereafter began to gain a more realistic idea of what it means to be a teacher. Being a teacher is a job that never stops; whether you are teaching or planning during the day, at home reflecting on the day's lesson, thinking of fun activities to integrate in future lessons, or attending a community event to support the students and community. My first example of such dedication in life was my mother; she taught me that the ability to learn is a remarkable gift, a lesson that remains an integral part of my beliefs. Throughout the remainder of my formative years I was blessed to experience several wonderful teachers; the unifying qualities these professionals possessed were their love for their jobs and their investment in their students. Both qualities are essential for me as an educator.

 As an educator, my strengths begin with my love for teaching, my dedication to the improvement of my students’ knowledge and lives, and my belief that knowledge is one of the greatest tools in life. However, if students work in an environment that does not integrate their previous experiences, beliefs, and community, then true knowledge cannot be attained. I believe that a major responsibility a teacher has is to learn from his or her students and adapt instruction to meet their needs and interests. To achieve this responsibility, my openness and interest in other people’s lives, cultures, and experiences will serve as a great strength. As an educator it is also essential to be able to adapt to situations quickly and communicate effectively - skills that I often exhibit in the classroom and continue to hone. Though I was raised as an only child, I believe I learned these skills through constant interactions with other children from various families. Such exposure also encouraged me to learn to adapt to different rules, situations, and people.

 Areas in which I would like to grow are various. As my experience grows I hope to become more effective in my interactions with others with each passing year. I hope to become more effective at planning and time management. Perhaps one of the most important skills I would like to improve on is my ability to manage inappropriate student behaviors in order to decrease the amount of distractions and interruptions during class. Finally, I plan to spend the rest of my career learning about effective teaching methods and implementing them in my classroom. While the essence of teaching does not change, caring about your students and their success, new methods are discovered that reveal strategies that promote efficient learning; if an instructor does not take the time to learn this information than improvements cannot be made. Besides, becoming a teacher means entering a career where there is always room for improvement, an aspect that encourages me to become a better human being and model a state of constant discovery for my students. It is my desire to instill this need for constant growth, to contribute to society, and to provide a safe, comforting environment for future generations.



To View my Resume, Please click on the link provided: III. Praxis Score Reports and Transcripts English Language Arts: Content & Analysis score of 182

PLT: Grades 7-12 score of 187

IV. Awards, Commendations, Certificates, Letters of Recommendation

- Member, The Honors College of Towson University - Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars - Published in May 2011 edition of //The Calvert Quarterly// - Published in Volume 5.1 of MBC's Outrageous Fortune online literary magazine

include page="zStyle_bground_green"