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WHO AM I??
I was born and raised in Fredericksburg, VA. (and still living here) I am married and have two kids and two dogs. When I graduated high school I wanted to either be a teacher or nurse. My grandmother pursued me to go into nursing. I worked as a certified nursing assistant for 17 years, my plan was to go to nursing school but every time I went to apply something would get in the way. I have worked in a hospital, same day surgery, assistant living facility and home health. After I had my daughter it was harder to work nights, weekends, holidays, summers and inclement weather with two kids. In my heart I really wanted to be a teacher, so right before Covid in January of 2020 I got a job as a special education para for Stafford County Public Schools. (I work at the middle school I attended). I never thought I would love special education but it has been amazing working with the students I have. While I am not set on going into special education as a teacher, it has taught me so much about students, learning and building relationships and the importance of making your students feel seen and heard. Outside of school or work I enjoy snowboarding (even though I am terrible) I love snow! I love Winter but only if we are getting snow. I love Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day! I am an Autumn (Gilmore Girls iykyk) I love the pumpkin patch but HATE that it is always 80 degrees when we go. I enjoy learning new things about people or random topics.
WHAT I KNOW:
I feel like I don't know much, but what I do know is when you have a difficult student, starting fresh everyday and trying to build a rapport with them. Get to know them, even the ones that drive you bananas. Learn what they like, dislike, do they play sports, what movies or music they like, their favorite snacks. This has helped me more than once.
What I have to learn:
I have a lot to learn. I have worked with many cultures and religions in health care and in education. I want to be able to include all types of learners and keep them engaged and develop a love for learning. Being kind is so important, it doesn't matter who or what your role is in education-everyone deserves kindness. I also think the most important thing is learning how to balance work and home life. As a para I have set great boundaries, but once I am a teacher making sure I set those boundaries, so I am not stressed out and taking time away from myself and my family.
The teacher I will become:
I hope to be a teacher that students (even when I don't teach them) want to come to me for help or encouragement. I want to make learning fun and engaging. I want my students to remember me and one day say "Mrs. Perkins was the best teacher, I learned so much from her, she is unforgettable!"
Teaching philosophies: I like progressivism and existentialism for my personal teaching philosophies. progressivism focuses on real world experience, encourages hands on and experimental learning. The needs and interests of the students are the main focus. incorporating group work along with experiments will be paramount for student learning. The second teaching philosophy that stuck out to me is existentialism. The focus is on student individual choices while tuning into the personal accountability for students. Being flexible and allowing students to explore their personal interests. As the teacher i will encourage students to explore their interests and build their skills. These two philosophies interests because I feel students should have a some say in how they learn, since everyone learns differently it is important to make sure every student is able to learn in a way that is best for them.
How I used AI: I used chatgpt for my teaching philosophies. I used pinterest for images, and you tube for my video and google map. I used canva for some of my pictures.I am still very unsure how to use Ai and if i even like it. i am an old fashioned google girl along with not being very computer savvy :)
Comments:
Amanda,
You sound a lot like me! As soon as my youngest started preschool I got a job as a para in a special education classroom. I absolutely love my job. I also have a daughter with a disability in a special education classroom. She is in middle school this year. I think working with children with disabilities is so eye opening and can teach you so much. It should almost be a requirement for teachers to work in a special education setting first. My teacher specialist wants me to work in the classroom I am in now but I feel like preschool is my calling. I want to try that before committing to a self-contained classroom. Our classroom motto is every day is a new day and we play that kindness video you posted all the time!
Amy Balzer
Amanda,
I too feel very uncomfortable with AI however, I think it can be such a great tool in upper education. I saw that you teach at a middle school as a PARA and girl you are tough! My county's middle school is a place I never want to step foot in. I am also a PARA, and it's how I solidified my love for teaching! I know you stated that you're not sure that you want to teach in special education; however, reading your philosophies, I think you would make a great one if you ever went in that direction! Your belief in using projects and discussions to foster a student-led classroom drew me to you as I hold very similar beliefs. (Also, I love the Magic School Bus and saw Ms. Frizzle, lol.) Your quote at the bottom of the page highlights a teacher's need to meet students where they are so well!
-Hailie
Amanda,
I struggle with balancing work and home life as well. Going to school, working, and raising two young boys the struggle is real. I also feel like a dinosaur when using technology, I can't say it has every really been my friend. You and I have progressivism in common as a philosophy, I also plan on being a hands on teacher. I also love Ms. Frizzle, she will forever be an inspiration to all.
-Meghan Blowes
Hi Amanda, I completely agree to always love the kids who drive you crazy the most! You truly never know what children are going through at home and that extra love and attention could be exactly what they need to finally find a person who makes them feel safe and supported! I learned this when working at my local daycare and as soon as I started reacting differently to the child, their demeanor towards me completely changed and it was like they were a brand new kid! It truly is amazing how much kids just need some love to finally open up and change their behaviors! - Abbie Wilson
Hi Amanda, I love your page! Although I am the opposite temperature wise (I despise the snow and cold) I do also love Gilmore Girls, my daughter has also grown to love the show. I was in healthcare for years also, and never considered teaching until recently. I absolutely love it, and wish I had figured it out years ago. It's funny, I've always known I wanted to help and make a difference, I just had to find the right avenue. Your "What I know" section was great. I'm still struggling in that area, not to take things personally and find a rapport with each and every student, you made some really good points!!
-Andrea Banschenbach-
Hi Amanda!
I enjoyed looking at your page! I like how you mentioned starting fresh each day while also trying to build a rapport with your students. It is important for students to feel comfortable and want to come to school. I also need to learn more about how to balance work and home life as I have small kids that still need a lot of help at home with homework and support at extracurricular activities. I hope to read more from you in the future!
Candice Mason
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