Meredith Ann DiSandro

 

  "Concerning a teacher's influence: I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that created the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or dehumanized." Hiam Ginott

 

 Welcome to my Electronic Portfolio!  I am an undergraduate student at the College of William and Mary.  I will graduate in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Elementary Education.  I have enjoyed every moment I've spent in the classroom throughout my practicum and student teaching experience, and I feel that I have grown so much throughout this process.  Teaching children really is my passion and I cannot wait to begin my teaching career.

This electronic portfolio contains the competencies that I have met through the College of William and Mary School of Education. Included are examples of my work with elementary students and my personal reflections concerning my abilties and growth in each competency area.  I feel that this site really shows how dedicated and excited I am about teaching.

A professor here at the college gave us a copy of the quote above and I put it immediately on the front of my binder where I kept all of my lessons for student teaching.  Everyday I read this quote and was reminded of the incredible influence that a teacher has on her students.  This kept me in constant reflection throughout my student teaching experience and I believe has made me a more sensitive educator and aware of the needs of the children in my class.

 Please direct any questions about my portfolio to meredith.disandro@gmail.com