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== = **WELCOME TO MY ONLINE TEACHING PORTFOLIO** = You can click on the pages listed on the bar to the left to view my portfolio documents and information.

Thank you for your interest.

**Why I Want To Be A Teacher**

I’ve had many jobs in my life, but until worked in a classroom, I never really loved my job. I have worked as a Special Education Instructional Aide in an inclusive setting for the past nine years, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it (well //almost// every minute). It is challenging, yet enjoyable and very rewarding.

When I first started working as a classroom aide, I felt that I didn’t want the responsibility of being a teacher. When my husband would ask me about becoming a teacher, I would say, "Me, responsible for over thirty kids’ learning each year? No way!" However, the more I was in the classroom, the more I said to myself, "I can do this! I //want// to do this!" When I finally decided to go to school and get my teaching credential, I was so excited that I began to write down ideas for my future classroom. I have observed many different teachers and found some things that work and some things that don’t work. I have also learned a lot about classroom management, which I’ve been told is one of the most difficult things about being a teacher. I love talking to the kids and hearing their ideas and opinions. I love teaching them new things, new ways to do things, and expanding on their ideas and experiences. Many times I have also learned from them.

I remember when the kids I worked with in fifth grade were working on math and how they came up with so many different ways to do those math problems. I learned a lot from them and their creative ideas. Some of their ideas and problem-solving techniques were amazing!

I think I am a good teacher because I love kids and I am sincerely interested in their learning and their lives as individuals. I want to share my love of learning with them and I hope that they can develop a love of learning also. I want to show my students that they can do anything they put their mind to. They can become whatever they want to be. I have a saying on my fridge that reminds me every day of the kind of teacher I want to be. It says, "The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates, the great teacher inspires."

I want to be one of those //great// teachers.