In this section I reflect upon my experience in 2007 as I observed in a Nursery School Program at the Skaneateles Nursery School in Skaneateles, New York. I was fortunate to be placed in a classroom with a Certified although retired Kindergarten teacher who sincerely enjoyed her position as lead teacher in a preschool classroom. During this placement I gained a wealth of management strategies, organizational tips, as well as confidence in my own ability to lead children. This experience was one of the best that I have had in my journey to become a teacher. I appreciate the joy of learning and natural exploration that this age group is inclined to.

In this section you will find a read aloud artifact from a Kindergarten practicum as well as the verification of the hours that I fulfilled in the setting during 2011.  I chose this read aloud artifact because I feel that this was my first classroom experience with a specific targeted literacy strategy; such as making connections. I consider myself a rather amazing oral reader and now that I have the knowledge which I gained during Block II, I am able to enhance the literacy experience that children will have in my classroom during the oral read aloud. As always please feel comfortable to contact me at darcy.barber@cortland.edu.  Thank you for your interest.

In this section you will find documentation of my Student Teaching experience in a First Grade Classroom in 2012. I felt right at home in the First Grade. My Cooperating Teacher was an incredible role model whom I will emulate through my classroom management, my teaching philosophy and a constant reflective practice. I learned a valuable lesson during this placement and it was a lesson in reflection. Student Teaching can be very consuming in and of itself, however, what I consider to be the most valuable lesson I learned during this placement is that the classroom teacher really does set the tone of the classroom. I learned to be more purposeful in my methods and that I must make a conscious effort to physically and mentally slow down. That is a strategy which I have been aware of, yet had never needed to apply. Slowing down was something I did not know how to do before this placement. I feel that though this experience I have grown in character and will carry these valuable lessons with me as I continue to develop in my teaching profession.

As ever please feel comfortable to contact me at darcy.barber@cortland.edu