TED 633 Week one Blog

Hello my name is Jessica Pierce, I am from Riverside, CA and I am currently teaching 8th grade mathematics through an internship. Before getting this position, I was a resident substitute teacher at a Continuation High School in Jurupa Valley. Once becoming a substitute, and working with the same students every day, I realized how much I enjoyed helping children, and making a difference in their lives. I then decided to join the credentialing program through National University and it has led me to this point. 

After taking the personality test, I found out that I am more of am both extrovert and introvert, but more on the extrovert side. Based off of this test, I find it great for my content area of mathematics and teaching. With being an Extrovert, I was categorized as ESFJ where I promote corporation and teamwork. I believe that everyone can succeed, but I do not push so hard that there is conflict. With math this is so important to push students to their full potential, but also limit it at times as students can break down if pushed too hard. Extroversion directs energy towards people and things, which affects my teaching especially in mathematics. It takes a lot of energy to not only teach students about math, but also make it fun and enjoyable so that students want to learn.  Another great aspect that I learned from my personality test is that I lean towards feeling and the more important things in life. Being a teacher we must be sensitive to student’s thoughts and feelings, and be there to help them. I found several aspects of my personality test may have been a reason of why I chose to become a teacher.

As I like to get to know my students, and I am sensitive to their feelings, I feel like my personality will affect my students in a positive manner. I am able to be tough in a sense to push my students, but they also know that I believe in them, and I am pushing them to be successful. Once students know that there is someone that believes in them, they try so much harder to be successful.

My teaching and learning styles will affect my student’s abilities to be successful in a positive way. As my personality test said, I direct my energy towards people and things, and that my mode of perception is realism. By working to create activities for students to understand and see math in a different way, will help my students to be successful. I am one to work and change things until I find the right fit for my students. By being flexible and working to find what works best for my students will help them find success.

Overall, I think that my personality will help push my students to be successful, but also being sensitive shows my students that I care about them and that I want them to do well. With this, my personality will have a positive impact on my students.