About

Online Teaching Portfolio

Amanda A. Thompson

Student Teaching—Fourth Grade

About

I am a teacher with current certification in Michigan in the areas of Elementary Education, K-8 English Language Arts and K-8 Science.

Biography

Born in Saginaw, Michigan, it was apparent early on that I was destined to be a teacher. I had a natural attraction to books and spent much of my time reading and writing. In addition, my younger sisters like to remind me that I was constantly convincing them to play school, always insisting that I be the teacher! I have many fond memories of helping my sisters learn to read or helping them with homework.

I began exploring teaching as a career when I was still just a student myself! While in middle school, I became involved in church activities that allowed me to both create and present lessons to younger students. I attended and graduated from a small private school where I was able to excel at my own pace and be inspired by teachers who truly cared about their students. Not only was I proud to graduate as one of my class salutatorians, I was also able to explore future career paths by working as a teacher’s aide in a first grade room.

In college I was anxious to keep my options open, so I explored several fields and even took a few years off to work in a retail setting. Ultimately, however, I was drawn to the classroom and worked toward my teaching degree. I completed my student teaching in a fourth grade classroom that challenged me to fine-tune my classroom management practices. I was warned that this particular group had several behavioral problems and had been a challenge to teachers over the year, but I worked with my host teacher to develop specific strategies to help my students grow. Some of my most treasured moments of that time were watching students with particular learning or behavioral problems make positive choices and believe in themselves!

Since then, I’ve had a wealth of varied experience in the classroom. I began substitute teaching while still in college and have worked a variety of settings: regular and exceptional education rooms, early childhood programs, and even physical education and music classes. I have successfully worked with students with a range of ability levels, from students with academic giftedness to those with physical and cognitive impairments. I’ve also personally mentored students, worked as a Title I assistant, taught activities at science and math camps, and even worked with college-age English language learners in a cultural exchange program in China.

As of now, I continue to hone my stills through substitute teaching and working with children through various volunteer activities. I am committed to education and eagerly await the day when I can apply my skills to a full-time teaching position.

Sharing an “All About Me” book with my students

Owner of this site does not endorse the products, services, policies, practices of or opinions of any advertisers on this site.

Last Update: May 2010

Questions or comments? Technical problems with this site?

Please contact me by clicking on the image above