User:Ssmit099

All About Me My name is Sonia S. smith. I am originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina. I have been living in Virginia for about 2 1/2 years. I am the youngest of three and the only girl. Both of my older brothers are in the military. One is in the Army; the other is in the Navy. I am currently teaching in the Norfolk Public School system. I also taught one year in Fayetteville, NC before relocating. While it is at times a rewarding profession,teaching is certainly challenging a great portion of the time. It takes a special person to be a teacher. Most of my friends can't believe I've lasted this long.

Education I have a BA degree in English Language and Literature from Fayetteville State University. I am a Bronco for life! I also have an MA in English from Old Dominion University. I began my graduate program in the spring of 2004 and graduted May 2005. While I am currently on a Provisional License, this course was a requuirement for me to become fully certified in Virginia. Once I am finished I do plan to return to my beloved state of North Carolina.

Teaching Philosophy: My philosohy is one that has changed since I have been teaching. What I typed below is where I stand with my beliefs as of this year. Of course as I have more expereince it will change.

All students have the capacity to learn regardless of their age, gender, nationality, or intellectual ability. Teachers must first determine where students are in academic ability. Once that has been determined, the educator must craft instruction to increase student knowledge and improve performance. As teachers, we must also have the ability to differentiate lessons in order for students to achieve at higher levels. Instruction must be guided by measurable objectives. Using data to guide instruction provides concrete results, enables the educator to assess how well students have mastered previously taught objectives, and identifies those students who are performing at high, medium, and low levels of accuracy. Allowing students to teach is a method that shows how well the objective has been mastered. If students are able to convey what they have learned by correctly teaching it to other students, this shows full comprehension and mastery of the specified objective. This method forces students to take charge of their own learning. “It requires them to evaluate their progress and the effectiveness of their effort” (Rutherford 2002). Technology has become an essential part of not only daily life but the workforce as well. “Technology enriches the curriculum by providing additional sources of knowledge and supplementing the textbook with various forms of multi- media” (Dede, 1998). While standard forms of lecturing provide students with auditory instruction, the information may be harder to grasp for those who are visual and tactile learners. Therefore, the delivery of instruction should incorporate a variety of teaching strategies to actively engage all learning types.