Growing up in home full of books I was always an avid reader always begging for “just one more book” before bedtime and squealing with delight when a birthday present revealed a new book. It was during my time as a Kindergarten student though that my true love of books began to emerge as library visits were the best day of the week and each new author study in class provided me with my newest reading fascination. It was during these formative years of my life that I knew without a doubt, I was going to be a teacher!
As a teacher now, my deepest desire is to instill in each and every
one of my students the same love of learning and zeal for life that my
elementary teachers did for me, including that of reading.
After graduating from Ashland University with my degree in Early
Childhood Education I accepted a teaching position at St. Edward Elementary
School where I had completed my 4 month student teaching assignment. While at St.
Edward’s I taught 1st grade for 3 years before my urge to explore
the world took over. It was then that I decided to apply through the Ohio
Department of Education to teach English in Taiwan.
This past year of teaching English to native Chinese speaking
students has had the most tremendous impact on my growth as a teacher. When you
are presented with students that speak little to no English, co-teachers that
are not familiar with your teaching methods, and administrators who are not
familiar with the American education system, you are quickly forced to
reevaluate your teaching methods. You begin to truly focus on the best
practices for each of your individual students as opposed to the newest fads in
the education industry.
With these unique experiences and valuable knowledge that I have
gained in the classroom I am more eager than ever to return home and continue to
pursue my passion of teaching and learning as an elementary school teacher.