Where the Heart Is...
I always knew I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. Even as a child, I would pretend my stuffed animals were my students. However, after high school I decided to work in finance and raise a family. But my dream of becoming a teacher never died. So, after raising my children, I decided to return to college and become a licensed educator. Soon after enrolling at Regent University, I began substituting for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. The moment I stepped into the classroom, I knew that this was where I was called to be. All of my reservations about returning to school began to fade away. As each semester passed, I gained valuable experience in and outside the classroom. I spent a year serving as President of the International Honor Society in Education, which gave me valuable professional development and leadership experience. Through my student teaching internship, I learned how to apply developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive classroom strategies effectively.
In my student teaching experiences, COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions challenged me to grow and reflect on building an effective and engaging learning environment for my students. Instruction moved from virtual to face-to-face into concurrent models of instruction. It required adaptability, a strong background in technology, and a firm foundational knowledge and understanding of effective teaching practices. By spending additional time checking-in, playing games, or having extended closing circles, I built a trusting relationship with each one of them. Throughout my internship, this relationship continued to grow and positively impact classroom management.
I learned how to provide students with unique and meaningful but student-centered learning experiences challenging enough to foster learning and critical thinking. Using informal and formal assessments, I allowed students' performance data to drive instructional and curriculum planning to meet students' needs with differences in readiness, interests, and learning needs. By focusing on the "whole child," I created an engaging and personalized learning environment for students to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. I incorporated logical strategies and other learning components in my responsive classroom, such as daily morning meetings, PBIS, and student choice.
I am grateful to all of my professors, cooperating teachers, grade-level educators, and peers for supporting me on this academic journey. You have taught me the value of professional collaboration and communication with other teachers, support staff, and parents. I am excited to continue to grow and transform my passion for education into becoming an effective educator for my future students.
Thank you for visiting my e-portfolio!
Lisa Crider