Folio Reflection Student: Erik Childers Seminar Instructor: Jill Wiser

State below your reflections after having reviewed and collected items indicating your attainments or accomplishments in pursuing your content major, courses in education, and related areas. While compiling this professional development portfolio I have realized how far I have come in my journey to becoming a music educator. While I have gone through many struggles and shortcomings in my courses here at Grand Valley State University, it has allowed me to develop as a human being, student, and future educator. My one driving force that has kept me going with this journey has been my passion; my passion for music and my passion for teaching. When in my content major, there were many things that I found to be very irrelevant at the time. However, now that I have been able to compile all of these documents that I have sequentially created in those courses I am able to understand why these materials were so important. Applying musical techniques in my teacher assistantship I was able to go through trial and error and find what works best for me as a teacher. The department of music could only give me tools to assist my instruction, but it is up to me to take what works best with my teaching style and what will allow me to reach more students in my classrooms. The College of Education has prepared me with a variety of teaching strategies that will allow me to grow as a future educator. These tools have already been a help in my teacher assistantship, and will only continue to develop as I grow into my own role as an educator. Having made lesson plans, unit plans, assignment using instructional strategies, differentiation, and assessment tools I will be able to effectively instruct my future students with poise, confidence and excitement because of my commitment to preparation through the College of Education. Although I am still a learning musician and educator, I am excited to continue on this professional journey to become my own. These artifacts within my folio will continue to multiply and update as I learn and discover knew and effective ways to deliver my instructor to my students.

Education is an ever-changing profession and I look forward to seeing the changes and developments I will have made in 10 years from now. The Department of Music and the College of Education have provided me with exceptional tools and strategies in order to create this professional portfolio and I am confident that I will take these tools and expand on them throughout my career as a music educator.