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 * Who I was, who I am now, and who I will become as a teacher **

I'm glad you can follow with me, this exciting adventure called  ** "Teaching"! **
 * H **ello, Thanks for dropping by.

So hmm…..**what did I learn about my teaching?**

1. **//Be clear.//** I used to get very upset with students because they would ask me what to do on a task even though the directions were right in front of them. Multiple requests for clarification are a signal to me that I need to rewrite or restate the directions for the class, while isolated incidents are simple requests for help from a student who is having a hard time comprehending.

2. **//Change takes time.//** I can see this clearly with the **Framework for teaching.** At first I didn’t quite understand how will I benefit from it, but now, I can assure you that I have it scanned in my head every lesson I teach. I know that I need more time to reach the distinguished level in all domains, but I am positive that I will get there one day.

3. **//Problems can be solved.//** Fortunately I learned this early in my career, this is when I went through some very trying times. I must say that now I have confidence in myself as a problem-solver. And I even find myself more challenged with a struggling student since he represents for me a **map **full of clues which I have to solve.

I also always identify weak areas in my teaching as well as areas of interest, and I have educated myself in those areas through reading and through discussions with veteran teachers.

I also openly share my failures with my students as well as how I am trying to overcome them, and I hope modeling this habit of mind will transfer to them as well.

4. **//If something doesn't work, So What.....//** How ridiculous is it to continue doing something you know does not work? Throw it out, be honest with the kids about the reason for the deletion, think about why it did not work, and start over.

5. **//Be Samaa//** "Don't smile until Christmas," I know teacher who still follow this advice and they think any questions about their personal lives coming from kids are not appropriate. I do not care if my students know my first name or my age, and I think it is important for them to know that pink is my favorite color, that I have 2 beautiful girls and that I am studying my master in education right now.

When my colleague Maram observed me during a regular ICT class, she was so amazed of the energy that I got. She said: **You are Gifted Samaa**.

I jump around in class, make up little jokes, and compete with them on their project to see who will do a BETTER JOB than me. At this time in their lives, especially when they are questioning who they are and how they should be, I think it is important for them to see an adult who has embraced all the quirks and idiosyncrasies of their personality while working to become a better human being in the process.

What this portfolio is all about?
This week I received, signed and returned my permanent teaching contract. It was the first milestone of my teaching career, and though it means little officially, becoming a permanent teacher as opposed to a probationary teacher feels like an official stamp of approval.

Receiving my permanent contract spurred me to reflect on my teaching career. There have been good, bad, and downright ugly times during my brief career, but every event has contributed to my abilities as a teacher.

As I was preparing a project on volcanoes as part of the IPC unit Volcanoes, I came across a volcanologist’s statement that in order to predict future eruptions, one had to be aware of the history of the volcano's activity. Only by looking to the past could one predict the future. I believe the same is true for teaching. That is why I am planning to use this Portfolio to track my development as a teacher. And though still under construction, once completed it will truly be an honest reflection on this amazing adventure called teaching.So come back again, and watch the seed...................................... growing.

**Something about Me**

I started my career with the best of intentions. At Randolph Community Middle school, and as the Technology teacher for over 600 students, I had no curriculum guide and no clear understanding of what, exactly, I am supposed to do. My mentor later suggested I follow the book and use the resource materials that came with it. That's the way they had always taught technology at this school and so she was giving me her best advice.

Thank goodness I did not take it. I was filled with the blind enthusiasm of a new teacher, and I set to work to create challenging, interesting projects and lessons for my students. After meeting them for the first time, they seemed just like any other kids, so I treated them that way. With a few exceptions, they followed where I led.

That first year, however, was a real challenge for me, especially with classroom management. By the end of that year I was so tired of yelling everyday, writing parental appearance notices, and requesting suspensions that I vowed to learn everything I could about discipline and classroom management. I spent the summer on the internet picking the brains of the people on Teachers.Net, reading books and planning my rules for the next year. Though my second year was far from perfect, it was a lot better, and each year has been better yet.

I believed that if a teacher just loves her students enough, all of them would succeed in life. **I also believe that determination, planning, and reflection are by far more important ingredients to the making of a good teacher.**

= Evaluation EDU 501 =