User:Phura001

 About Me 

I join the group of students authoring this textbook from the Southside area of Virginia, where I was raised and have resided most of my life. I am the mother of two boys, ages 14 and 10 currently. My past career path led me through the EMS/medical field and, briefly, law enforcement. I became a stay-at-home mother at the birth of my oldest son and returned to college once my youngest son was settled into elementary school. I am now currently enrolled in Old Dominion University pursuing a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies for Teacher Prep PK-6.

 Teaching Philosophy 

Every child has the right to an education and deserves the fullest education and life-long learning skills possible in our society today. As teachers, these children look to us for leadership and information. While making education a positive aspect of their lives, we have the opportunity to extend their knowledge gathering abilities and habits far beyond the formal school years.

This may prove to be a challenge in today's school settings. Often we have only the equivalent of one hour per class with 15 individual students in each block. The amount of information that we want to impart to these students is massive. They are curious and inquisitive and we want to support that characteristic and encourage them to reach further for information. Standardized testing has provided us with a great check and balance system, yet also limits us to more inflexible schedules and demands. How we juggle all of these challenges and maintain the education enriched environment that the students deserve may be the largest challenge many of us face as teachers.

Teaching today has become a multi-faceted role. We have to be information providers, facilitators, flexible leaders, coach, and supervisors, as well as learners ourselves to face the modern student.