1. Describe your educational philosophy. You might want to consider the following:
a. Age group of students you hope to teach.
NOTE: (AGE GROUP I WILL BE TEACHING: KINDERGARDEN TO SEVENTH GRADE)
b. Type of teacher certification you hope to earn as part of the program. NOTE: Type of teacher certification will be in science, elementary school (Kindergarten through sixth grade).
c. How do you feel students learn best?
d. What would the environment look like?
e. What are your thoughts regarding discipline and addressing unwanted behaviors?
2. Please describe your prior experiences with school-age children and why you want to be a teacher at this time in your life. Include why you are interested in applying for this program.
NOTE: (I have prior experience with school-age children. I want to be a teacher at this time in my life to mentor, inspire, and be a positive role-model. Our children are the future of this nation.
3. Share about an experience you had in school (positive or negative) that has had a lasting effect on your life.
NOTE: My negative experience that had a lasting effect on my life, which eventually gave me the passion to pursue a career in teaching, was I was neglected as a child by the Puerto Rican education system. The school system in that country mistakenly diagnosed me at an early age with a learning disability, thus, I was assigned to special education from first grade throughout eight grade. Unbeknown to school officials and so-called educational professionals, I had an extremely abusive childhood. My father, who had a third-grade education, constantly physically assaulted me because I, a 4-year-old child, frequently misspelled words each time he “taught” me. His “teachings” were several grades beyond my intellectual capacity at the time. The physical assault continued despite having blood splattered on the kitchen table, my clothes, and blood pouring down my face. The abuse ended sometimes by me losing unconsciousness on a puddle of blood. Thus, the so-called learning disability was due to physical trauma as a child as opposed to a learning disability. It was not until I was 17-years-old that I realized I had this trauma when a teacher decided to sit next to me to teach me a lesson. The moment I identified the trauma, I was able to permanently remediate the situation. From that moment on, I began using those unpleasant experiences to be an inspiration, a mentor, and a role-model to many.
