I graduated from St.Mark High School in the year 2000. After completion of high school, I then proceeded to complate a BA (Honor) in Child and Youth Studies at Brock University. Presently, I am working towards a BEd at Brock University.
As a Child and Youth studies major, the courses that I have taken over the past three years have benefited my overall understanding of children and youth. I feel that each course has influenced my decision to become an educator, as well as my teaching related skills and abilities.I have developed a strong background of child development that will be essential to understanding children, and the way they learn. Through the various courses I have takend, I have built a library of resources and materials that will be useful to help all children achieve their personal and academic goals.
I have several past work experiences that I feel have been influential and beneficial to my overall understanding of children and youth. IN the summer of 2004, I worked as a Recreation Program Assistant. This position gave me the opportunity to work closely with children ages 2-12 in a variety of community based programs. As well, experience has been gained as a Camp Coordinator for the City of Ottawa summer recreations programs. As a coordinator, I was responsible for planning, implementating, and supervising of three children's summer camp programs. Program promotion, sponsorship, and fundraising played an essential role in the daily planning of programs. I gained knowledge about how to interact and communicate with not only children, but also co-workers, parents, and community members. I learned how to effectively and professioally present myself to the community to create an atmostphere that is positive and stimulating for everyone. The skills and abilities that I acquired provide a favorable background for planning and implementing successful programs. I became aware of activities, games, and learning opportunities that are developmentally and age appropriate, which can be applied to educational settihngs.
Based on previous experiences and knowledge, my current goals for the upcoming academic year are to further my skills and knowledge in order to become a successful teacher. I would like to be able to learn and practice a variety of teaching strategies and techniques that will be useful in not only classroom settings but also everyday situations. I look forward to applying my knowledge and understandings from academic courses into practical hands-on experiences in the classroom.