Hello!!
I am from Richmond, VA, and I am studying Elementary Education at ODU. I am a bubbly person and enjoy all things that are cute and make me happy, regardless of whether they're deemed "embarrassing" by others. I adore animals and briefly studied marine biology before changing my major, since I find working with children suits me more. I enjoy being out and about, but I also love staying indoors to play video games and watch TV while drawing. My favorite TV show at the moment is The Golden Girls!
One thing I adore doing is going to markets and festivals! I love the Renaissance faire, Wiccan markets, local festivals, and your typical flea and farmers' markets.
I was a preschool teacher for about a year and adored the children I worked with. I was a "floater" and would go from class to class wherever I was needed.
I love collecting. I collect antique figures and crystals, almost like a dragon collecting its hoard. It makes me happy to see my collections grow and to tell people about it when asked.
I know how to be kind and compassionate.
-Knowing these simple feelings can help open a variety of doors for future experiences. Being kind can be good for children as it helps them to read emotions and learn how it can feel good to do something kind.
I know how to listen and understand children.
-It's one thing to listen to children, but to understand them helps both you and the child. Children have different ways of viewing the world compared to adults, so it's important to make a connection with them and understand them. I love getting to talk to kids and learn from them as they learn from me.
I know how to redirect and excite students for learning.
-I know how to understand children and express the excitement for learning in ways they would understand. Many students aren't excited for learning, which is understandable, so it's important to keep learning engaging and have hands-on activities for them. I love creating ideas and activities for children that get them excited about the thought of "playing" when they are playing and learning at the same time, it's a win-win!
Being confident in myself.
-Sometimes it can be a struggle to just be yourself. I often don't feel confident in myself in regards to how I look and what my capabilities are. I want to learn how to truly like myself and to feel confident in my everyday life!
Understanding I will make mistakes.
-I am so worried about making mistakes in life, and that probably stems from not being confident in myself.. As I am a human being, I will make mistakes, and more often than not, they are small mistakes. Still, these may seem small to others, but they could feel massive to me and crush my confidence. As a teacher, I will make mistakes in my lessons and will need to be corrected by my students, that doesn't mean I'm a bad teacher, though, but one who is willing to learn.
Learning to gain attention in a classroom
-One of the hardest things I had to do in a preschool was call attention to myself. As a teacher who floated from classroom to classroom, I was often seen as a "friend" or "fun teacher," so I wouldn't get the same respect other teachers got. I want to learn how to use my voice and command attention in a classroom with rambunctious children and feel that they are truly listening to me.
I will become a compassionate teacher!
I feel that I align with being a teacher who practices progressivism and social reconstructionist beliefs. The number one priority I will have for my students is to make sure they are safe and loved. I want to be a safe space for students who may need a break from their home life or need assistance with their assignments. Children are the future and have always been the future, so teaching them the basics, such as reading and writing, is crucial. Still, some forget that empathy and curiosity are just as important. I want to teach my future students about the world around us and how to make the change in the world we want to see. Sometimes children need the right guidance to teach them so they can learn and begin to form their own ways of thinking. I want to guide them in the best direction. Compassion will be a daily presence in my classroom, and I believe my students will sense my compassion for them and for teaching as soon as they enter.
In this AI-generated photo, I have created a fun image of what I would look like in a classroom. The walls have bright decorations with fun lighting, the students are paying attention, and the room feels comfortable. This demonstrates the progressivism and social reconstructive beliefs I will bring to the classroom by creating a space where students can express themselves and learn. The idea of having progressive beliefs is to assist children in problem-solving abilities, along with helping students be confident in working with others around them. When thinking of social reconstructivism, I want to learn and create a lesson plan that is influential to the students and not simply copy a simple instruction. When you have an emotional connection, then learning becomes more enjoyable and not frustrating.
HIComment Section!
Hi Dani! Your page is so cute. I find it so interesting in preschool I have always wanted to do that. Being a floater is cool too because you get to see how each class is. Also, being compassionate and understanding can be so helpful for children! Especially at that age, emotions tend to be high and being that person they look to for support and who understands them is so special. I think being able to work so effieceintly with younger kids is such a skill. I understand how being nervous to make mistakes and being confident but I think this is so common and with the more practice you get, the better you may feel! From your image I can see your student centered beliefs and the connection you hope to make with your future students. I hope to do the same! The design for your page is so awesome and I love the AI image! - Taylor Jameyson
Hi Dani! I love your page, well organized, vivid, fascinated and cute. I love all the images you choose to share here, so lovely. You have so many cute collections, and it’s such a cool experience to wear the outfit for the festival. Trying to connect with them, understand them, and teach them to be kind is important as a teacher. I can see that your educational philosophies and personal beliefs (such as empathy and curiosity) can help create a wonderful environment for your future students. - Hsin Tzu Mighall
Hi Dani! I love the what I have to learn section because I feel like I can relate to it a lot! I also want to learn how to be more confident in myself when teacher because I know I can be very soft-spoken and I do not want to be taken over by the kids and as someone who wants to be a perfectionist in the teacher world I also will need to learn hat making mistakes are okay and that it is just apart of life! I love how I was really able to relate to your about the author page! - Cheyenne Keefer
Hi! I love your set up. I wish I knew how to get as creative on these things as some of you. I saw whereyou were talking about wanting more confidence to be yourself and worried about making mistakes. I just want to say that I often feel the same. It's hard out here. I believe that you will make an amazing teacher due to being able to connect with the children on a level of trying to be themselves.
Hi Dani! I think it is really cool that you had an opportunity to teach at a preschool, that sounds like so much fun! I also align with the proggressive style of teaching and want my future classroom to be a warm and welcoming environment for my students. I like how you mentioned that it is important to understand that you will make mistakes and that is just part of life and that we aren't perfect and we will make mistakes along the way, but that shouldn't crush our confidence. - Jordan Brown