Hello everyone. I wanted to re-introduce myself for those of you just joining me now on my journey in Education. I am currently working on my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Master's Degree in Education. I have been volunteering in 1st grade- 5th grade classrooms since I was in middle school. I have always had a passion for teaching ever since I began my volunteering in middle school. I decided to pursue my passion for teaching last year in March 2015. Before pursuing my new career, I was working as a Department Manager in Nordstrom in Orange County. I was working at Nordstrom during my senior year at San Diego State University. My career took off and I was quickly promoted two times at Nordstrom within two years. This persuaded me to put my passion for teaching on hold. Last year, I began to feel like something was missing. I began volunteering in a 1st grade when I moved back to my home town San Diego and remembered the joy and passion I had for teaching. I knew that this was my calling and it was time to make a career change.

I am not currently working in a classroom, however, during my time of volunteering I have observed multiple strategies to use for meeting the needs of diverse learners. The teacher emphasized the importance of grouping students based on their needs. For example whole class grouping, small groups, or working individually with a student that needs additional support. During these groupings, the teacher also differentiated her instructions. For English Language Learner, Special Needs Students, and struggling students the teacher used manipulatives and pictures to further explain the unit. She also used various delivery formats including videos, readings, lectures, audio, or pictures to assist in presenting the material for the lesson. I also observed the teacher provided different activities for the students to show their understanding of the content.

I feel my personality will assist me in meeting the needs of my students and to building a strong relationship with my students. I took the Teamtechnology personality test and found my results to be a true description of my personality. The personality test suggested that I prefer to deal with reality, facts and tangible outcomes. I feel this will help students that need to use manipulatives and learn by using concrete examples. The test also revealed that I enjoy taking a more personal approach when communicating with people and I care about people's feelings. Children need to feel that their teacher values their thoughts and their feelings. I feel these strengths in my personality will help build strong relationship with my students.

I also took the Felder and Soloman Learning Style Survey and found my learning style will assist me in teaching my students so they will be more successful. The results of the survey stated that I am an active learner as opposed to a reflective learner. This learning style is comparable when students collaborate with fellow classmates after a lesson on the material. I also found that I learn best by collaborating with others rather than reflecting quietly. I appeared to be a well balanced visual and verbal learner. Having a balance with both visual and verbal learning styles will assist me in making sure I present the material visually and verbally for my students. This will meet the needs of diverse learning styles in my classroom.

Lastly, I took the Grasha-Riechmann Teaching Style Survey and found some of my teaching styles will also increase my students' abilities to be successful. The results of the survey stated I was ranked high in expert, formal authority, personal model, facilitator, and delegator. One of the sections that stood out to me was how I scored high in Facilitator. Facilitator is the ability to focus on the students's needs/goals, display willingness to be flexible and explore options for students' learning, and use different methods for how students will show they have achieved these goals. I also found my score was high in delegator; to assist students to perceive themselves as independent learners. I feel it is important to hold students accountable and responsible for their learning. I will make an effort to help students feel confident and comfortable in the classroom, which will lead to students' success in the classroom.

After taking the personality, learning style, and teaching style surveys, I am confident that I made a great choice in changing my profession to teaching. I will continue to look for best practice strategies while volunteering in classrooms to bring to my own classroom one day.