Noemi Pimentel

Who am I?

I am a junior at ODU and an elementary education major. I was born and raised in Staten Island, New York and moved to Fairfax, Virginia when I was a freshman in high school. My love for teaching started at a very young age. Instead of playing house, I wanted to play school and I was always, without fail, the teacher. Since I was old enough to start working, I got a job as a swim instructor, teaching all ages from 6 months to 12 years old. I volunteered at my church in Fairfax and was a Sunday school teacher for two years.

What I know

In this world, kindness and patience are in short supply. As I get older, I notice people can be mean and impatient. But what I've learned is that the phrase "pay it forward" is more important than we even know. Giving others the patience and kindness that we would want for ourselves is how we can make our lives more peaceful. I would want my students to know the importance of treating others how we want to be treated. To me, that lesson matters more than any academic lesson they'll be taught in school.

What I have to learn

To become an effective teacher, I need to learn more classroom management techniques. When it comes to teaching, you should never stop learning. I will always strive to continue my education, especially when it comes to special education. There is constantly new research and studies around children's psychology, so no teacher should ever stop learning about that.

The teacher I will become...

The purpose of school is to educate students and help them become the best people they can be in our society. The most important thing students can learn is how to be self-sufficient and kind in their daily lives. I want to provide an interactive and hands-on educational experience. I believe first-hand experience is the best way to learn. My philosophy most closely ties into constructivism. One word that describes me as a teacher is patient and a word to describe my students is compassionate. I'd want a visitor in my class to see cooperation and an interactive classroom.

Noemi (sorry the comment section was not working for me), I love that you included educating yourself in psychology to better assist you in the classroom! I got my first degree in Psychology and it has been really helpful in understanding child development and behaviors! Also i appreciate that you have patience, as I think that could be one of the most essential tools a teacher could have in the classroom! -Brennan Davis