User:Awade006

About Me

Hello! My name is Ashley Amelia Wade and I am twenty-two years old. I am a native of Newport News, Virginia and have lived there my entire life. I am an only child and have a passion for dance. I have been dancing since I was two years, doing everything from ballet, jazz, modern, and even tap. Although dance is my first love, it does not always "bring home the bacon" and so naturally I chose a different career path. After graduating from high school, I attended James Madison University with a major in kinesiology and a minor dance in hopes of becoming a physical therapist. I absolutely loved JMU, but during my sophomore year, my mom lost her battle to cancer and I chose to move back home to be closer to family. As a result, I landed at Old Dominion University with a similar degree in exercise science and a minor in dance. After a combined four years in college and many hours in the physical therapy setting, I soon discovered that I had a change of heart. I have recently decided that I would love the opportunity to teach elementary education and follow in my mom's footsteps. With only three classes left, I will finish out my undergraduate degree in exercise science and then move on to get my masters in elementary education with my initial licensure. In between school and work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I am currently engaged to my high school sweetheart of five years and we will be getting married August 1, 2009. I also have a sixteen month-old mini dachshund named Rudi, who was named after my favorite former Cincinnati Bengal football player. I love sports, especially football, and simply just love to have fun.

My Educational Philosophy

I believe that education and the drive for learning are some of the most important tools an individual can possess. Although I believe this to be true, not everyone is given the ultimate chance to obtain all the knowledge and understanding that they can. I believe that in today's society, with all the technology and resources that we have, a child should be given the same opportunities as the next. Whether it be that the funding in a school sysytem needs to change or it is simply the teaching style of the professor, children should be given the opportunity to grasp anything in their reach. Having been in many classrooms, I have seen teaching styles that have worked and some that have not. I believe it is the teacher's responsibility to motivate their students and find ways to captivate their minds, whether it comes easily or it is something that they have to work at. I also believe that students should be taught ideas that relate to the real-world. Not only do these ideas "stick" in the minds of students, but it is something they can think about and even use in their own life. When something becomes relatable to a child, they remember it. Being able to actually make children think for themselves and shape their own ideas is very important. It is not about reading a book and spitting back the facts, but actually asking why and creating their own perspective.