Introduction

Welcome!

Thank you so much for taking the time to review my portfolio. My name is Daniel Parker and I am pleased to present my portfolio for teaching social studies with you. I welcome questions and suggestions that you have regarding my portfolio, and my teaching practice as a whole.

Before you get started on reading about my rationale for teaching social studies and my synthesis papers, the following is some background information on me.

I have recently finished my student teacher experience at Apalachee High School in Winder, GA. I taught there for fifteen weeks in an on-level economics class that was comprised of 20 seniors. As a student teacher, I assumed primary instruction for this class, in planning, grading, and classroom management. Before teaching at Apalachee, I also taught at Cedar Shoals High School, Clarke Central High School, and Clarke Middle School during my practicum experience in the fall of 2016.

Though I taught economics during my student teaching semester, I have a particular interest in history and specifically United States' history. However, I did find that economics can easily be connected to the students' lives and that inquiry can be a key feature of instruction.

Regarding my non-academic background, I am twenty-three this year and am pleased to say that I am currently engaged to my best friend and college girlfriend. We have been together since the summer of 2013 and became engaged in March 2016. My fiancee and I will be getting married later this year in October.

In addition to the relationship that I have with my fiancee, I am an adamant musician and play both guitar and piano. I primarily play classic rock and love artists such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Rush, and Queen.