Section Two: Teacher Candidate Background Experiences

Introduction
I got one of my favorite sayings from a professor I had in my under-graduate experience,
Mr. Paul Mockovak. He always told us, You are always a work in progress. This has stuck
with me through the hardest of times and helped me to realize that my past experiences have
helped me build upon who I am today. My background experiences have led me to education and
in this section I will discuss those events and experiences that have lead me to this point. I will
begin with my educational background and work experiences. During my schooling I moved
around to three different school districts and as stressful as it may have been for me at the time, I
benefitted from it greatly because I had such different experiences in each district.
I previously mentioned that I am a current employee at a local childcare center and I will
discuss my work experiences from there as well as experiences from other past jobs. From there,
I will then discuss my observations from my field experiences at both an inner city charter school
and a suburban childcare center/summer camp. Later on in this section I will discuss my
philosophy of education and I will include a current version of my professional resume.
Teacher Candidate Educational Background
School and I have always had a very loving relationship. However, there were a few
years that school and I just did not get along. I was lucky enough to have some teachers who
really looked out for me and helped me on my path. One teacher was my English teacher in
middle school, and another was my high school violin teacher.
When I was in middle school we had a looping system in place so we would have the
same set of teachers for 8th grade that we had for 7th. I was lucky enough to have been placed
with a wonderful set of teachers, all of who I still look up to to this day. However, there was one
teacher I had who completely changed my life. My English teacher took me under her wing like

a baby bird. Up until then, Id been having a rough time with being bullied. I had gone home
almost every single day crying and begging to my mother to not send me back there. When my
teacher took me in, she had to help me learn how to build my confidence, how to appreciate
myself as a human being, and how to stand up for myself when times were though.
Once I was confident enough, I tried out for the swim team and didnt even make the first
cut. I was absolutely miserable and though I tried my best to hide it at school, this teacher knew
and called me to stay after class for a few minutes. She talked to me about the possibility of me
trying out for the track and field team. She mustve seen something special in me and wanted to
help me find the best ways to shine. I ended up going out for the track team like she had
suggested to me and I fell in love with it. Not with the running aspect mind you, I fell in love
with throwing. Shot put and discus allowed me to take out my frustrations in a healthy way while
also building up my strength.
When I got to 8th grade, I was worried about being too busy to join the track team for a
second year. I had auditioned (and got into) my schools rock band, which was the highlight of
my young life. I loved to sing more than anything in the world, but I had also fallen in love with
track and field. This particular teacher worked with me so I could be at as many practices as
possible while also going to rehearsals for the rock band. She taught me to never give up, no
matter what obstacles get in the way. I learned how to persevere through the toughest of times
and come out the other side swinging. I never gave up on myself again after that. This wonderful
English teacher helped me realize that I was worth more than that. She was an angel sent to me
by the powers that be and I will never be able to thank her enough for what she did for me.
Another teacher who made a huge difference in my school experience was my high
school violin teacher. She consistently found new ways to challenge me and challenge my talent.

She made me believe that I could do anything I set my mind to. Early on in my educational
experience with her, I had auditioned to be in my high schools string ensemble as an incoming
freshman. I unfortunately didnt make it in for that year, but this teacher made it a point to tell
me why. She told me that she just didnt have enough room for any new violinists for that year.
Luckily, since I had auditioned with her so early, I had an inside track for seating in my section.
With my audition she knew that she wanted me to be her principal second violinist in the
orchestra, which was our string group with no audition necessary, and I knew that I had big shoes
to fill especially as a freshman.
She pushed me to be better every single day. I went from practicing for a half an hour
three times a week to practicing for at least an hour every single day. When it came time to
audition for the string ensemble again, I was pushed through immediately and was fast-tracked
again for principal second violinist due to my hard work. My teacher had taken notice of my
work ethic and knew that the more she pushed me to be better, the more I could push my section
to be better. Not only did she help me with my violin playing, she helped me figure out who I am
as a human being. By my senior year my friends and I would eat lunch with her almost every
single day and she would help us with anything we needed. If we needed help with math she was
there for us. If we were having issues with being pressured into things, she was there for us.
Every single time we left her class, a lesson, or even passed her in the hallway, she would tell us
Make good choices. Her voice has stuck in my head for about ten years now with just those
three little words. Whenever Im about to do anything I always ask myself if its a good choice
and whether or not this teacher would tell me its time to walk away. Shes another teacher that I
will just never be able to thank enough.
Work Experiences

Im currently lucky enough to be working for a great childcare center right here in
Western New York. As I go about my day at work I travel from classroom to classroom, helping
students between the ages for 6 weeks and 12 years old to grow and blossom. One of my favorite
experiences at work has been when I help the school age children with their homework after
school. Many times, I have seen them walk off the bus frustrated with the work theyve brought
for home but as soon as I get them in my classroom their faces light up with joy when I can get
them to grasp the concept. There have been several times when a student has come up to me after
the fact in the hallway to thank me for all my help and I cant help but feel so proud of them and
all of their accomplishments.
I was also lucky enough to have worked full time in a toddler room for about eight
months prior to beginning my graduate school journey. Working with that age group was always
very difficult with students being between the ages of 18 months and 3 years old. The
developmental levels in such a classroom are staggering in differences but through it all we still
had to teach them to be the wonderful little humans that they have become. Working with
toddlers gave me a new found sense of urgency when it came to going back to school. Those
wonderful little people helped me grow and realize that the educational field is where I belong.
In a way, I honestly think they helped me to grow more than I helped them.
School Observations and Classroom Application
During my field experience I was lucky enough to have been able to complete the
remainder of the hours I needed with an absolutely lovely third grade class at an inner city
charter school. I went in at least once a week to help out in the classroom and grew quite close
with the students. As much as I was able to observe, I was also able to run bits of the class more
or less. The classroom was fairly balanced along gender lines and was primarily populated by

students of African-American and Latin origins. All of the students in the class were from the
low end of the socioeconomic spectrum and you never would have been able to guess when you
spoke to them. They were all so bright and focused on their futures and I still miss them quite
dearly.
While in the classroom, one of the things I noticed was how the teacher had positive
respect and rapport with her students. The best part about this was that the respect was not one
sided. She respected her students and her students respected her in return. Ill never forget the
day when she just stood in front of the class at the beginning of the day. The students knew
something was off because normally when they came to the carpet in the morning, the teacher
would begin the morning announcements. Instead, she was standing very patiently and very
quietly. When she was ready she explained to the class that the attendance keeper she had made
for the class had been ripped off the door the afternoon prior. She explained that she was very
disappointed with this and went on to explain how hard she had worked to make something like
that just for them. She didnt point out any individuals, though Im sure she had a few ideas as to
who it could have been. Instead, she told the students that if they had any information regarding
what had happened to the attendance keeper, whether it was an accident or not, they could go to
her privately. Later on, while the students were engaged in an activity, one of the students felt
safe enough to go to her and explained what had happened to the attendance keeper. It had been
an accident and all was once again well. I was able to visibly see the respect and rapport that
existed in that classroom and I hope to have the same levels in my future classrooms.
While I was there I learned how important it was to go with the flow when teaching and
that most of the time things dont go exactly according to plan. Some days Ill be interrupted by
things like fire drills and other things I have no control over and I have to be able to adapt to

those situations. I also need to be able to adapt to my students. At some point, I will most likely
have a student who needs to be able to move around more often than sit down. I may need to add
in a few activities throughout the day such as learning a yoga pose or having a mini-dance party
to get my students out of their seats so they can refocus.
Philosophy of Education
The purpose, role, and place of school in society
Growing up I was very economically disadvantaged. I had to push myself to be better in
school to fill my time outside of the classroom and for as long as I can remember I have always
wanted to be a teacher. I always saw them as some kind of otherworldly being. Teachers were
more or less superheroes to me. They had all of this knowledge in their heads to share with their
students and I thought that was incredible.
I once saw becoming a teacher as a way to get children to look up to me. I also once saw
it as something I could do to make a difference for children who had grown up like me, and I still
do. I believe in making a difference in the lives of children. I believe in helping them be all they
can be and pushing them to another level. Even looking around my neighborhood, I see so much
untapped potential in the children who live there. Talking to them, I find that they dont think
theyll ever get to college and many tell me they dont think theyll ever graduate high school. If
there had even been one person who believed in them, they could be so much more than they
think they could be. I want to be that person. Even if I can only help one child, I want to help
them realize that there is so much for them in this world if they go out and get it.
In colonial America, the purpose of schooling was much different than that of today.
Students in that time werent learning about American history, they were living it and schools
needed to produce students who could fill the needs of this new society. Instead they learned

about the basics. They learned about literature and math. They learned about the revolutionaries
of science making the world a better place. Before the separation of church and state, students in
this time would learn about religion in schools while also learning about the basics of democracy.
Students needed to be knowledgeable in the world they were entering after school. What they
learned in the classroom prepared them to be revolutionary thinkers who changed the world.
Moving forward to the end of industrialization in America, the purpose of schools in the
states changed to fit the new needs of society. With the influx of immigrants, schools were no
longer just focused on the basics, religion, and democracy. Instead they were more focused on
creating citizens out of those who had come to this country.
Jumping ahead once again to todays world, the purpose of schooling has changed once
more to fit the needs of society. Technology has emerged in a way that couldnt even be dreamed
about 50 years ago. We carry miniature computers in our pockets and on our wrists disguised as
watches. With the advances of technology during our time, students and teachers alike need to be
educated on how to use these properly to enhance the classroom experience. Technology needs to
be used responsibly in the classroom while also keeping the students engaged in the curriculum.
Despite all of these advancements in the field of education, some cultures do not hold
education and school in such a high regard. Those living in poverty may find it more helpful to
learn skills necessary to survival prior to learning how to divide fractions. Those students may
need a different method of teaching to show them that the things they are learning in school
connect to their lives outside. Meanwhile, children of different religions may also hold education
to a different regard. For example, a child being raised in a very strict Catholic environment may
have trouble grasping the fact that the Earth was not made in seven days by an omniscient being

while a child being raised in a non-religious household may be able to grasp the concept a little
easier.
In any case, the purpose of school in society today is to teach children and adults the
information that they need to know in order to be better people or even just to survive out in the
world. School is still a place where individuals can go to hold discussions on subjects they dont
understand to gain further knowledge. It is still a place for children to play and learn
simultaneously and through different learning styles. School is an ever changing, yet ever
constant staple in society.
The curriculum as a plan
The curriculum is a way of organizing the subject matter of what is to be covered
throughout the year. There are also several different kinds of curriculum as well which can prove
challenging for teachers. First, there is the basic curriculum set forth by the school, creating a list
of what the teachers are expected to teach. Secondly, there is the hidden curriculum which
more so teaches lessons that are not actively taught, but are learned by association. For example,
keeping boys and girls separate in a gym class may be easier for teaching purposes. However, it
also teaches boys that girls must be inferior to them if they have to be in a separate class, based
on what they have been told by society. Thirdly, and lastly, there is the curriculum of multicultural education. This is the one curriculum that varies from classroom to classroom based
solely on the fact that every classroom is different. No two classes have the same mixture of
students and therefore no two classes will require the same accommodations.
The learning experiences, contents, methods, and assessments that constitute the school
curriculum set the bar for where teachers need to guide their students throughout the year. Since
learning needs to be student centered, teachers need to focus on their students needs and abilities

in order to guide them in the correct direction while being in accordance with the school
curriculum. When planning a classroom around curriculum, one must also be cautious of
different levels of learning as well as accommodations that may need to be made for certain
students. However, one can plan around any curriculum in place that accommodates any
situation.
Learning experiences used in the classroom need to cover all learning styles and it helps
if learning experiences in one subject matter can cross over to another subject. For example, if I
was to read a book about flowers with my students I could work on reading comprehension with
them as well as a few other areas. I could bring science into the lesson and grow flowers with
them in the classroom, which they could also take home and they could continue to care for them
throughout the year. That way they could also learn how to keep something alive other than
themselves as well as record keeping for how much water they give and how often they give it. I
could also bring art into the picture and create a class garden. In doing this they get to work on
fine motor skills with things like scissors and glue while also creating a sense of community
within the classroom. These are also ways I could assess their learning on the subject of flowers.
Do they know what a flower looks like and can they recreate it? Can the students keep accurate
records on when they watered their plants and how much water was given? In this way, I am also
covering many different learning styles by having a variety of activities all centered on them and
what they can do. The students are writing, creating, reading, doing math, and learning science
all with the underlying theme of flowers.
By creating lessons that overlap into different areas, I am helping to guide my students to
where the school curriculum wants them to be by the end of the year. I am accommodating for
different learning styles as well as differences in intellectual development while also, providing

each student with the opportunity to learn about what the school has deemed necessary for them
to learn by the end of their time in my classroom. Connecting this to the multi-cultural
curriculum would be difficult, simply because this aforementioned curriculum varies from
classroom to classroom.
The learning and styles
Learning varies from student to student. According to Howard Gardner, there are at least
eight different learning styles present in students today. From those eight learning styles, some
students may identify with more than one as well. In order to accommodate this, teachers need to
be able to step outside of their comfort zones and not just teach the way they would like to be
taught. A non-musical teacher has to be willing to connect with his or her students that may be
more musical, just like a logical teacher needs to be able to connect with his or her students who
may think more irrationally.
I have found that I most closely identify with the educational theory of Dewey. He
believed in a student-centered curriculum and realized that children have their own timelines that
they work upon. They should not necessarily be held accountable to the standards and times set
forth by adults. Not all children are going to develop and learn at the same rate and they need to
know that its okay not to understand something the first time around.
John Dewey believed that there is an importance to active learning and I have to agree.
Children cant just sit at a desk all day and be expected to learn everything that is taught to them
through notes and tracking their speaker. They need to be able to experience what theyre
learning about in a way that engages their mind so they can remember what they are being taught
in the future. I believe that this closely relates to center based learning where children may go to
different centers in the classroom to do different activities with the same underlying theme.

The centers can be focused on sensory learning, reading, writing, math, etc. while also adding in
a technology center to keep up with the changing times. The children are still learning while also
accommodating for differences in learning styles, delivery, race, etc. This gives students a
differentiated instruction while also educating all students. It gets the students out of their seats
and into the inner-workings of their mind. It helps them to be engaged and actively learn.
How the learner learns and development
In the pervious section, I brought up Howard Gardner and his theory of learning styles. In
addition to these learning styles, one must consider the existence of developmental stages. A
child in 3rd grade must not be expected to complete the same tasks of that of a 6th grader, simply
because they have not developed to a point where they can understand the same concepts. In
addition, the same thought process should be going on for behaviors and socio-emotional needs
of a child. Because of the different developmental stages, teachers must be able to adapt to such
situations. Many times you will have children of all different developmental stages in one
classroom. As I previously mentioned, children do not all develop at the same rate. They have
their own little clocks that dictate when they are ready to progress. Teachers have to be aware of
where their students are developmentally and help them to reach the next level.
Planning for assessment
A teacher has many different options to choose from when conducting assessments in the
classroom. For example, they must fist choose between a formative and a summative assessment.
Basically, they must choose to assess either while learning is occurring, or after the unit of
learning has been completed. Formative assessments can be found in the form of exit tickets,
worksheets, homework assignments, etc. Summative assessments can be found in the form of

things like unit tests, presentations, papers, and more. Depending on the classroom, one might
choose to lean one way or the other when designing a plan for assessment.
When deciding on an assessment, I find that it is best to have a mix between formative
and summative assessments. When conducting formative assessments, a teacher can gather data
on where his or her students are in the material and how well they are grasping it. From there,
one can decide if they want to continue on in the material of if they need to go back to the
drawing board and find another way to leach the lesson if the students are struggling.
Management of the classroom
Classroom management is an extremely important aspect of teaching and there is no
universal method for it. Some methods work for one classroom, but the same method may not
work in another. I have gotten my management ideas from various places and various people
within them. From Doodlebugs! Childrens Centers I have learned the centers strategy of
teaching. It keeps all of the children engaged in an activity and allows for formative assessments
throughout. From Doug Lemov I have learned the strategy of Dont take no for an answer. Its
important that you dont let a child off the hook for an answer. I find that this is true especially
when some students may need more time to think of their answer. I have also found the
importance of having a classroom management box to help those who may not have developed
the attention span needed to keep up with his or her fellow classmates, but can pay attention
when doing something with their hands. In the box I would typically include things like silly
putty and stress balls for something that wont distract the other students, but the other items
would vary depending on my classroom.
The teacher

In the classroom, the teacher is a leader. They are there to facilitate learning and help to
shape young minds. They must be kind and maternal while also knowing when its time to put
their foot down. A teacher is organized in ways that those not in the field cannot comprehend.
Everything must be organized, labeled, filed correctly, and color-coded according to subject.
In society, teachers are the example. They are there for children to look up to in order to
figure out who they are supposed to be in society. Teachers are there to guide students to be
intelligent citizens with a sense of purpose in the world. In todays society, I believe that teachers
need to revolutionize their classrooms. A classroom should be a place of discovery, questioning,
and wonder. We need to push students to be revolutionary thinkers ahead of their time. We need
to care for them and guide them. Possibly most importantly, we need to help them figure out who
they are and be someone they can look up to.

Resume

TAYLOR RAE HESS

SUMMARY
Kind and compassionate Elementary School Teacher dedicated to creating an
atmosphere that is stimulating and encouraging to all students. Enjoys using modern
technology in the classroom.

HIGHLIGHTS
Curriculum development
Learning assessments
IEPs knowledge
Calm under pressure

Decisive
Discovery Education familiarity
Flexible and adaptive

WORK HISTORY
09/2014 to Current Teacher Assistant
Doodlebugs! Children's Centers - Cheektowaga, NY
05/2014 to 11/2015 Sales Associate
Aerie - Cheektowaga, NY
06/2013 to 01/2014 Barista
Starbucks - Hamburg, NY
06/2011 to 05/2013 Pet Sitter
Sit N' Stay Pet Services - Hamburg, NY

EDUCATION
2014

CERTIFICATIONS

DASA
SAFE

Bachelor of Arts: Theatre

Conclusion
In this section I have introduced myself to you, the reader. I have shared with you my
personal experiences that have shaped me into the educator and person that I am today. Through
this, I have revealed what makes me tick and how driven I will be as a future educator. Through
the inclusion of my philosophy of education, I have shown that I am ready to answer questions
during interviews about it and I will be able to provide a clear yet elaborate answer when
questioned about my philosophy. Through the inclusion of my resume I have shown that I can
create and present a professional looking resume that highlights my skills and prior experiences
of work and education. Possibly most importantly, I have shown that I am an open book. I have
been through some tough experiences in my youth and with my schooling that many if not most
of my students will face at some point or another. Thanks to my experiences, Ill be able to assist
my students in any way I can and be able to understand their experiences on a deeper level.