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Lindsey
Estill, Excellence in Beginning Teaching
 Jackson
Elementary School
First Grade Teacher
Philosophy
of Teaching
Educational/Professional
Background
Philosophy of Teaching
A Painting in Progress
“I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.” -Claude
Monet
If
you see a masterpiece hanging in a lavish art gallery
can you see the big picture? If you study this composition
long enough you see the work in progress.
You see heart, dedication, and each flower working together to make a statement.
You see the each layer, and hear the words of encouragement. Monet attributes
his success as a painter to the flowers who taught him how to form each stroke.
I attribute my passion of teaching to each flower within my classroom.
My personal teaching philosophy is to help students discover the masterpiece
within by establishing
an environment of encouragement, love, and discipline. While I joke about learning
more than my students in my first year, it is true because I’m learning
how to turn my classroom into a masterpiece. Each child has a uniqueness to add
to the classroom, and acts as an individual flower. Tending to each flower, the
artist must nurture their wants and needs while instilling pride in their own
cultures and experiences.
By creating such an warm and loving environment, I
encourage students to become successful learners who understand the importance
of acceptance. I believe that an atmosphere built on trust and classroom
community will allow the students to become more
open and honest with their teacher while
instilling a deep love for school and learning. Every child is an artist
inside, yet their tool might not be a paintbrush.
A
painter has very high expectations for their work.
I realize it is not an easy job. The days are long, hard, and seemingly
endless. Yet,
just when
I
think the
masterpiece is complete, the flowers call me back. Constantly learning,
modifying, growing, and striving for perfection, I am adding more layers
into the classroom.
I know I will have to change my strokes, styles, and colors each year in
order to have the perfect painting. The flowers have already taught me
so much, and
yet, I can hardly wait to start painting a blank canvas again next year.
Educational
/ Professional Background
Education and Training
- 1999–2003 College Station, TX Texas A&M
Universityo Degree in Early Childhood, and certified
to teach pre-K through fourth grade.o ExCET test
completed in October 2003.o National Dean’s
Honor Listo Dean’s Honor Role
- 1997–1999
Plano, TX Plano Senior High Schoolo Graduated in
top 20 percent of a class of 1700.o
Involved in National Honor Society and Student
Congress.
Work Experience
- August 2004 Jackson Elementary Plano, TX
Plano
Independent School District Beginning Teacher
of the Year
- Designed and made costumes for the
first
grade Thanksgiving production.
- Organized and
designed voting day booth, ballots, and flag
for the grade
level.
- Prepared and planned Language Arts plans
for the team.
- Member of the Technology Vertical
team.
- Technology representative for the SBIC.
- Created
interactive murals for first grade’s
open house.
- Acted as a first grade facilitator
through monthly
newsletters and weekly updates.
- Member of
the Discipline Committee.
- Technology Team Trainer
- End of the year slide show coordinator.
- Arts
mentor for a special needs student.
- Coordinator
and seamstress
for grade
level quilt.
- Planned and created teacher
booklets
for the social committee.
- Selected
and certified for the campus code red AED team.
- Created
first grade artwork in support of the PTA
auction.
- Completed a campus wide Jim Faye book
study.
- Completing
the SIOP training this summer.
- Spring 2004
Aldridge Elementary Plano, TX
- Completed a long
term
substitution in
third grade from March until May.
- Prepared
students for the math portion of the TAKS test.
- Volunteered
in the after school math tutor
program.
- Fall 2003 College Hills Elementary College
Station, TX
- Completed student teaching in the
first
grade classroom of
Mary Jones.
- Wrote and taught
lesson plans geared towards an inclusive classroom
including children
with autism and life skills.
- Spring
2003
Pebble
Creek Elementary College Station,
TX
- Completed methods
semester in 3rd grade classroom
of Suzie Mills.
- Learned to plan and teach
modified lesson
plans
within an inclusive classroom.
- Spring
2002
Carver Elementary
Bryan, TX
- Observed and taught
in
an inclusive pre-K classroom, filled
with a range
of learning
abilities.
o Assisted specialty teachers.
Fall 2001 Fannin Elementary Bryan, TXo
- Planned
physical
education games and lessons
for a second grade class.
- Taught
lessons throughout
the semester. Fall 2001
Crockett Elementary Bryan, TX
- Completed teaching
and observations in a
fifth grade classroom.o
Volunteered time
to tutor fifth
grade students in reading
and mathematics.
- Fall 1999- Spring 2001 Crockett
Elementary
HOSTS
program Bryan,
TX
- Helped tutor one
student a
semester in reading and spelling.
The HOSTS (Helping One Student To Succeed) program
is
designed
to
allow volunteers
tutor one
student every week.
Activities
- Fish Camp - Texas A&M University, College
Station, TX
A recognized student organization providing
an extended orientation program to new Texas A&M
University students. Fish Camp consists of a leadership
staff
of 93 and a membership of 900. 4,000 freshmen participate
in fish camp.
10/2001 – 8/2002 Co-Chair Camp Fernandez
Responsibilities:
Conducted interviews and selections of counselors
from an applicant pool of 1400.
Managed a group of 24 volunteer counselors for
a period of six months.
Facilitated group trainings on leadership skills,
communication, goal
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