Biography
I am a recent graduate from Keene State College located in Keene, New Hampshire where I earned a bachelor's degree in music education.I am currently employed by Waterbury Public Schools where I teach general and vocal music at two inner-city elementary schools. I also rehearse fifth grade choruses and talented and gifted students for annual concerts. I have participated in choral workshops with members of CONCORA under the direction of Rick Coffey and have also sung with The Hartford Chorale. I am an active member of MENC and ACDA.
I believe that all teachers should have a firm grasp of their subject. I hold myself to this standard, making sure that I am fresh and current in my knowledge of Music Education. I am a member of the Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Directors Association. I read several journals on-line to discover new developments in education, content, and pedagogy. I also attend regional and national conferences to further my knowledge of my subject. Recently, I have worked with music majors at Keene State College to charter a campus chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. I spend time carefully planning the lessons I am to teach, as well as spend time contemplating different ways I should approach the lesson to accommodate different learning styles. I believe that all students have unlimited potential, and that they should be encouraged to try their best, whatever their best may be. Through my music-tutoring job, I discovered my students’ diverse learning styles and tried to implement a variety of teaching techniques to help them do their best. I look forward to further developing skills in lesson planning and preparation by gaining a greater knowledge of child and adolescent development.
I have integrated aspects of the classroom environment in my teaching experience. I believe that mutual respect is required between student and teacher, and that a general sense of caring should be evident. In my lesson plans, I try to maintain as much student participation as possible and try to make them curious about the content I am teaching. I believe in an organized and safe classroom setting, with procedures set in place that encourage learning and develop skills that will help them in other classes and outside school.
When I present my lessons to the class, I make sure to present my directions clearly and try to explain the content so it connects with the students existing knowledge. I enjoy making up activities and games to demonstrate the concept I am teaching, and always incorporate my objectives into these activities so that the students demonstrate their knowledge of what I just taught them. For each lesson that I teach, I incorporate both state and national standards. I also go back and alter my lessons to revise methods that did not work.
As a teacher, I believe it is crucial for teachers to reflect on the lessons they teach, as well as on themselves. I think that videotaping one's self, when appropriate, is an effective means to do this. It is important to notice what did and did not go well with the students and the lesson, and to apply multiple solutions to these problems. By reflecting on my teaching, I feel that it makes me stronger as a professional. I welcome both support and criticism from my peers and teachers.
As a teacher, I strive to affect all of my students positively, and to push them to their potential. I work towards having a respectful, organized classroom environment and excellent classroom management skills. I will continue to attend professional workshops and to reflect on my teaching and new topics in education to better myself as a Music Educator.
I believe that all teachers should have a firm grasp of their subject. I hold myself to this standard, making sure that I am fresh and current in my knowledge of Music Education. I am a member of the Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Directors Association. I read several journals on-line to discover new developments in education, content, and pedagogy. I also attend regional and national conferences to further my knowledge of my subject. Recently, I have worked with music majors at Keene State College to charter a campus chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. I spend time carefully planning the lessons I am to teach, as well as spend time contemplating different ways I should approach the lesson to accommodate different learning styles. I believe that all students have unlimited potential, and that they should be encouraged to try their best, whatever their best may be. Through my music-tutoring job, I discovered my students’ diverse learning styles and tried to implement a variety of teaching techniques to help them do their best. I look forward to further developing skills in lesson planning and preparation by gaining a greater knowledge of child and adolescent development.
I have integrated aspects of the classroom environment in my teaching experience. I believe that mutual respect is required between student and teacher, and that a general sense of caring should be evident. In my lesson plans, I try to maintain as much student participation as possible and try to make them curious about the content I am teaching. I believe in an organized and safe classroom setting, with procedures set in place that encourage learning and develop skills that will help them in other classes and outside school.
When I present my lessons to the class, I make sure to present my directions clearly and try to explain the content so it connects with the students existing knowledge. I enjoy making up activities and games to demonstrate the concept I am teaching, and always incorporate my objectives into these activities so that the students demonstrate their knowledge of what I just taught them. For each lesson that I teach, I incorporate both state and national standards. I also go back and alter my lessons to revise methods that did not work.
As a teacher, I believe it is crucial for teachers to reflect on the lessons they teach, as well as on themselves. I think that videotaping one's self, when appropriate, is an effective means to do this. It is important to notice what did and did not go well with the students and the lesson, and to apply multiple solutions to these problems. By reflecting on my teaching, I feel that it makes me stronger as a professional. I welcome both support and criticism from my peers and teachers.
As a teacher, I strive to affect all of my students positively, and to push them to their potential. I work towards having a respectful, organized classroom environment and excellent classroom management skills. I will continue to attend professional workshops and to reflect on my teaching and new topics in education to better myself as a Music Educator.
