Self Reflection

This experience at Dr. Albert Einstein Academy in Elizabeth, NJ has been just that, an experience. I was able to be a part of the Middle School experience as a teacher. I bonded with my clinical supervisor, cooperating teacher and my students. It truly was a time of learning. Even though it was hectic at times, it provided me with a taste of what the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly schedule of a Middle School teacher is like. This Teacher Work Sample is documentation of time and work with the students of Dr. Albert Einstein Academy. Although it focuses only on one of the four classes I assumed responsibilities for, all of the students I saw were exposed to the dedication I put forth and care I expressed for their education. With the information I learned through Kean University's demanding curriculum for prospective teachers, I was able to provide each student a fair and accommodating education in lieu of the cooperating teacher for these past four months. It is my belief that this Teacher Work Sample is evidence of my abilities to successfully teach grades K-8 focusing on the academic subject of Science.


I have developed professionally through this experience. I was given a great deal of support by my clinical supervisor and cooperating teacher which allowed me to gain the confidence needed to strongly believe that I am ready to walk into any fifth or eighth grade classroom and teach as if I have been doing it for twenty-five  years.

I feel the time I spent teaching was successful based on the results my students obtained when performing the work. The learning goals I had established were met by the learners with exception for learning goal #1. Students were least successful with Learning Goal #1. A possible reason for this is because learning goal #1 was in the beginning of the "My Sediments Exactly" unit. Some students had no prior knowledge of the subject and therefore may not have been adapt to the material yet, even as simple as it was. Still, overall results for learning goal #1 were satisfactory. As a professional, I feel I can improve or modify learning goal #1 to accommodate those who are learning this unit for the first time. I assumed this time around that all students did have prior knowledge on the subject. I have learned through this semester that the only safe assumption to make about student learning is that they do not know the material you are about to teach. The next time I use this learning goal I will give clearer explanations of my expectations as well as more background information on the material.

Overall, this experience was successful for the students and me alike. The students learned a lot form me but I definitely learned more from them.