Sydney Pugh

Who AM I?

"You are the architect of your own destiny; you are the master of your own fate; you are behind the steering wheel of your life. There are no limitations to what you can do, have, or be. Except the limitations you place on yourself by your own thinking"

-Brian Tracy

I am someone who is not completely satisfied with the person I am now, but I am satisfied with the progress I am making toward the person I want to be. I identify as a cisgender, 26 year old female whose pronouns are she, her and hers. I am a non-traditional student, meaning that I took a few years after graduating High School to attend College. I used those few years to enter the workforce and decide what career path was best for me. When I returned to school in 2020, my ultimate goal was to be a LCSW, completing my Masters in Social Work. However, after working in case management, I decided that was not the right fit for me. I changed my major to Elementary Education in Fall of 2021 and have had no regrets or second thoughts since! I am currently still in case management with a Medication-Assisted Therapy program whose goal is to treat those with substance abuse disorders. Working with addicts has proven to be much more challenging mentally than I thought it would be, however, I absolutely love my patients. The knowledge, experience I have gained and the insight and views I have been able to experience while employed there have been life changing. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a patient who was struggling and watching them turn their life around and truly progress in treatment with our help. When I am not working or studying, you can find me surfing the web for wedding ideas! My better half, Tyler asked me to spend the rest of my life with him on December 30th of 2021 - fun fact: I threated him to purpose to me on a holiday, so he did it between ALL the important ones! We are in full wedding- planning mode as we plan to tie the knot in late September! Though Tyler and I do not have kids yet, we ds o have the most adorable fur-baby! George, our 16 week old Saint Bernard puppy is definitely one of kind! Already weighing in at over 50lbs, he is starting to take his "lap dog privilege" to extremes! Tyler, George and I like to take walks around our farm as well as go for rides on our side-by-side. In addition to spending time with my two boys, I also have a third boy who has stolen my heart - my nephew, Briar, who will be four years old in March. Briar was diagnosed in October of 2021 with severe autism. Some of our favorite things to do include swimming, going to the park, riding around the farm and eating a multitude of dips! In addition to spending time with them, I also enjoy riding horses, running, traveling, competing in local barrel races and rodeos, riding horses, and spending time with family and friends. Some of the exciting things I was able to mark off my bucket list within the last year includes running my first half-marathon, traveling to New Orleans, winning another buckle on my horse during her "retirement year" and moving into a new home. My life is a crazy, busy, and slightly stressful, but I wouldn't change one single thing about it!

What I know

What I have to Learn

The Teacher I will become

I like to imagine myself as a tour guide, and the children are my tourist. This metaphor is beneficial to my philosophy for teaching for many reasons. Firstly, it is important to that students are guided by their teacher. It is more affective to support and guide a student through their learning rather than simply "telling" them the required lesson material. By being interactive and providing a hands on experience for the children, they are more likely to be captivated by the material and to better comprehend and retain it. In addition to the way a tour guide leads a group, they also offer so many new experiences. As a teacher, I want to inspire students to take interest in new concepts, and ideas as well as places. By providing the students more opportunities to learn and explore, I will aid them in becoming more open, informed, well-rounded individuals in and out of the classroom. I believe that the purpose of school is to effectively teach students life skills, including math, communication, structure, and self-discipline. What should be taught should be decided by teachers and students and will be implemented at a district level. The emphasis of what should be taught should be based on the importance of academic and civic success, as I believe that communication, responsibility and critical thinking are important aspects of education. I like to describe my teaching style as a collaborative and interactive. I am student centered and believe that lessons should be taught in a way that actively involve the children by requiring them to participate and interact with myself and other students. Philosophically, I would describe my teaching style as a combination of progressivism and essentialism. I think that a set curriculum is required and there should be emphasis on cultural literacy. However, in my opinion, the best way to teach is by capturing the students attention through participatory lesson plans, hands-on activities and allowing the students to "do it themselves" with guidance and assistance. It is important for them to understand that you are not always going to be right, but we can work together to get the right answer.

Comments:

I also want my classroom to collaborative and Interactive, I think getting them to actively participate and problem-solve will help them In life and school as they get older. I also have a dog! He Is 8 years old and I've had him since he was a puppy...It's sad to watch them get old but It's great to be able to give them a good life!-Amanda Henson
Hi Sydney, I absolutely adore your page. The colors flow together really nicely! Congrats on your engagement! I am sure your wedding will be great. My boyfriend and I also have a wonderful fur-baby who just turned one, and already weighs 92 pounds. Trust me he acts like a lap dog too! -Cassy Hixson
I love how you are always looking to improve. Character development is so important and it is crucial that you are proud of the person you are today. I think this is reflected in your teaching style. It is okay to make mistakes as long as you are trying to succeed. -Andrew
Hi Sydney! I honestly really enjoyed your page and everything you had to say. I think all of the lessons that you have learned that were included in your "what I know" section are all essential in having a fulfilled life. I also really enjoyed your metaphor in comparing your students to tour guides. Teachers are just there to show them the way, it is up to them to take it all in. - Mallory Hodges

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