Hi, my name is Jennifer Elizabeth Naumann. I was born here in beautiful San Diego, California. My parents divorced when I was 10 years old. My dad remarried a few years later. Even though my parents split up were all still very close. I was blessed with an awesome step-mother and my parents still get along great. I have two sisters, one younger and one older. My older sister is getting married next summer so I will have a brother-in law too. My mother is a software tester engineer and my dad is a lawyer. They are both very hard workers. Some of the activities I enjoy include dancing jazz and ballet, going to the beach, and hanging out with friends. I recently moved back to San Marcos after being in Boulder, Colorado for four years. I received my Bachelors degree in Humanities and Pre-Education. I attended four different schools during my K-12 education. When I lived in Rancho Bernardo I went to Turtleback Elementary for Kindergarten and 1st grade. Then I moved to Carmel Valley where I finished up elementary school at Solana Highlands. For 7th and 8th grade I attended Earl Warren Junior High located in Solana Beach. Lastly, I went to Torrey Pines High School for 9th grade-12th grade. During my junior year of high school my mom moved up to San Marcos. Luckily I didn’t have to change schools because my dad still lived in Carmel Valley with my step-mom. The long commute to school was definitely an inconvenience at times.
I was first introduced to a computer in elementary school and have used one frequently ever since. My first computer in college was a PC desktop. At one point I never wanted a laptop. I always thought they were too complicated and scary to work with. After using a desktop for a few years I changed my mind. I hated the fact that they were heavy and bulky. I faced my fear and bought a laptop a few months ago. I’m so glad I did because they are so much easier to work on. My preconceived notions were wrong. The first time I used a Mac was at a friend’s house. It was very confusing because I was unfamiliar with the different settings. I got so used to working on a PC that I didn’t like the Mac at all. Since the class is forced to work on Macs this semester, hopefully they will grow on me. I think I will always be a PC person at heart though. I rely on my computer for everything these days. I use it to search the net, type up papers, and store my music and pictures. I check my e-mail and facebook on a daily basis. Since my mom works with computers I know a lot about them. I rarely have questions on how to use programs on a PC. The Mac is another story.
There was one sentence in the College of Education Mission Statement that stuck out to me the most. The quote goes as follows, “We are committed to diversity, educational equity, and social justice, exemplified through reflective teaching, life-long learning, innovative research, and ongoing service”. I like this particular quote because it addresses the core meaning of teaching. If a teacher isn’t able to embrace students cultural and racial differences, then their not meeting the needs of the student. I believe that every student should receive the same amount of help despite their financial status, race, or cultural background. It is also crucial for a teacher to review and reflect on one’s teaching methods in order to help their students to succeed. Many students learn in different ways so teachers should construct lesson plans that encompass all types of learning. It’s important to remind ourselves that learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. Life-long learning refers to things we learn in our environment every day. We learn from our friends, family, and co-workers. The process of learning is never ending. We can also learn by doing research and volunteering in our community. “Innovative research” and “ongoing service” shows dedication and appreciation to the teaching profession. By volunteering for organizations in the community and expanding your knowledge, you will gain a respectable reputation as a teacher and people with look up to you more. A clean cut image is important for a teacher to have because their actions reflect them as a person as well as a professional.
