Teaching Portfolio

Finally, I got that ever-ellusive permanent teaching job!  I contribute my success largely to the building of my portfolio.  I used this to illustrate important points of my interview, to organize my thoughts, and to demonstrate my organizational skills.

Contents:

• 3-5 Copies of my resume
• 3 Copies of my letter of intent/cover letter
• 2 Copies of each letter of recommendation I've ever gotten in clear protective sleeves
• 2 Copies of my education philosophy statement
• 2 Copies of my teaching license
• Test scores
• Transcripts
• Examples of classroom expectations, ground rules and behavior management steps
• A six-week curriculum overview (fifth grade because that's my ideal)
• Pictures of my budding classroom and professional development library
• Business cards in business card sleeves
• Copies of my tutoring fliers

Additional:

• Example interview questions to practice
• Two work sample curricula (one first grade poetry unit and one fifth grade landform unit)

Funny Reference to Teachers Who Have Been Doing the Same Old Thing for Years

"When you're ripe, you rot; and when you're green, you grow." One-Minute Discipline by Arnie Bianco.

Super Sentences

This chart was from a unit on super powers.  We did an expository piece on the super powers students would choose, then made a creative writing piece (students had a choice between making a comic or standard story).  This was just one step along the way.

Rotational Symmetry

What's better than combining art and math!?  Just cut out a thin shape out of cardstock, punch a brad through the shape and a small piece of paper, turn and trace.  So easy, cheap, and looks fab (not to mention illustrates the concept fabulously).  Thanks to my co-teacher for the idea.

My First Attempt at the Scottish Storyline Method!

Scottish Storyline Method... Love It!!  Check out the book (very informative, few pics):

I've used other's storylines before, and loved it but this year I took my first shot at creating my own storyline.  The premise: (You'll have to excuse the fact that the students are running a pretend candy factory.  My excuse: We found a "healthier alternative to sugar," AND students find it very motivating).  The students run a candy factory and we've discovered a new species of sugar cane called the candy flower which offers a healthier alternative to sugar.

ODE Standards Covered:

Persuasive writing

EL.03.WR.27 Write brief reports:  Include observations and information from two or more sources. Use diagrams, charts, or illustrations that are appropriate to the text.

3.2L.1 Compare and contrast the life cycles of plants and animals.

SS.3.19. Identify and compare different ways of looking at an event, issue, or problem.

SS.3.20. Identify how people or other living things might be affected by an event, issue, or problem.

SS.03.CG.03 Identify ways that people can participate in their communities and the responsibilities of participation.

SS.03.EC.01 Understand that limited resources make economic choice necessary.

SS.03.GE.01 View and draw simple maps and pictures to locate, describe, and show movement among places.

3.16. Describe the relationship between producers and consumers.

3.17. Explain the issue of scarcity to personal, community, regional, and world resources.

3.4D.1 Identify a problem that can be addressed through engineering design, propose a potential solution, and design a prototype.

The Frieze (ever-changing of course):

In this episode the candy flower crop is being plagued by too many bugs.  Students as small groups have to find a solution to the problem.  Our solution: bringing in mongoose, spring-boarding a discussion on invasive species.  Each week one student's product is selected as the best selling product and is given a billboard on the frieze, a certificate for the student, and a class money bonus.

Photos:

 The candy flower crop diagram, life cycle of a candy flower, the employee and product handbook and my ridiculous hat (Dr. Candi B. Goode, lol).

Wanted poster for the Boll Weevil which is destroying the candy flower crop.

More to come....

Yearning

I know you know the feeling...  I have never wanted anything more than having my own class.  As my current temporary position soon ends I've begun the applying process again...  I just hope I can find the right place for me.  My goal: turn my longing into the most persuasive interview ever witnessed.  It's a long road ahead, and previously well trodden.  It's like that stretch of I-5 I know so well.  It's familiar and yet not a place I want to be...  I simply pray for the chance to have my own space to make a difference.

HUMOROUS BIO!? WHAA?

I am in the process of applying for a job that required a "humorous, creative, informative bio."  First I hastily left my computer, instantly overwhelmed with the thought and underwhelmed with the number of ideas I had.  Too cliche...boring...childish.  Turns out, I'm not funny.  But, I still managed to scrape up an ok humorous bio (or so I think).

You know that adult woman you see buried in the children’s section at the bookstore laughing out loud as she reads and keeps sorting and resorting books into the “to buy” and “save for later” piles?  That’s me, nice to meet you.  What you don’t know about me:

I had a thirty-minute conversation with a student about the history of videogame consoles this week.

I once read an entire professional development book in a day, when my husband asked what class it was for I was confused.

I think talking to oneself is a very efficient strategy for many things.

I’m an ounce of clever a pound of quirky (which I find comes in handy when working with children).

My motto: Will sacrifice sleep for success.

I truly know everything (according to my husband) but, of course, modestly disagree.

I watch kid movies and call it research.

Rumor has it on the day of my birth the world did not change, though I like to think otherwise.

I race bicycle motocross.  (No, that one’s serious).

I collect post-its, bins, totes, and any other item that could be confused with an organizer.

I enjoy astonishing those with limited perspectives.

If list making were an Olympic Sport I would for sure be at least a bronze medalist (see, modest again).

I take serious joy from working with over 60 kids every day.

I got the interview for this job, but had already accepted another!