For my artifact for domain A, I choose three letters of recommendation from my master teachers. Student teaching was one of the most difficult, yet satisfying parts of my teaching formation. In retrospect, I was really fortunate to have been able to select the master teacher I wanted to guide me in my initial steps as an educator. I chose my previous high school English teacher, to this day he remains a great friend and mentor. Those days in the trenches of freshman and sophomore English were one of the fondest memories because I began what has since become my teaching style. Like then, I still yearn to develop rapport with my students, finding that a strong relationship based on mutual respect creates a safe environment for both teacher and student to succeed and like then I still love incorporating creativity into my lesson plans. These three letters of recommendation remind me of my initial days as an educator and give me hope that one day I will become the great teacher that my master teachers thought possible.
It can be difficult for people to highlight their own strengths and also to show proof of their effectiveness; thus, having others help can facilitate this task. A working portfolio integrates both academic coursework and field experiences that help assess the teacher by looking back and guiding forward, “the materials included in this portfolio provide evidence of a teacher candidate’s accomplishment at various benchmarks throughout the program” (3). Therefore, I decided to begin with my letters of recommendation because they begin setting the stage for my work ethic. I trust the comments and am humbled by the opinions expressed in these letters and feel a sense of obligation to continue my education in becoming the best teacher that I can be. I have been blessed to study under such great teachers, teachers who taught me how to make subject matter interesting, stimulating and comprehensible to students. These letters attest for my efforts from three people that observed me during those first days as a teacher. They speak of the effort and time that I devote to each lesson plan, the execution and the assessment. Always, creatively incorporating the CA Teaching Standards using various teaching strategies to engage all students. The reading states, “Student achievement is dependent on teachers who have strong content knowledge and a multitude of skills that continue to evolve throughout their careers” (12). I think these artifacts successfully achieves this, for they are a look back into what I have done and hope for the future. A great teacher is always evolving and trying new ways to reach her students.