William Laufer

1
William Laufer

• Portfolio Background

2
EducationGeneral

• Attended Drexel University
• Majored in Mechanical Engineering
• 1987 to 1993
• Attended Holy Family University
• Majored in Elementary Education
• 2000 to 2003

3
EducationBackground

• I graduated from Holy Family University earning a
  degree in Elementary Education with a 3.7 GPA in
  February, 2003. Prior to deciding to obtain my
  teaching certificate, I attended Drexel
  University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I
  was active in many programs on Drexel's campus. I
  was active in Drexel's Town Watch Program, which
  was awarded a "Point of Light Award" from
  President George Bush, Sr. I was an officer in my
  fraternity, captain of Drexel University
  Cheerleading, played intramural sports, and
  actively volunteered in many extra curricular
  activities.

4
EducationBackground

• While at Drexel, I was offered a position for a
  engineering and manufacturing firm. It was an
  opportunity to work in the field in a position
  that was exactly suited to my goals while
  continuing my education as a part-time student.
  After some time in the position, I found it
  lacked any personal satisfaction and offered
  minimal human interaction. I decided to leave the
  position and the field altogether.

5
EducationBackground

• Facilitating my decision to leave engineering was
  an opportunity to work as a cheerleading
  instructor, traveling all summer running
  cheerleading summer camps and clinics, judging
  competitions, and working as a consultant
  preparing squads for competition. I loved this
  position, but it was not a career. My enthusiasm
  for working with children and the learning
  process flourished at this point. I started
  taking education courses knowing that I wanted to
  obtain a teaching certificate.

6
Teaching General

• Pennsylvania Teaching Certificates
• Elementary Education K-12
• Middle School Science 6-9
• Middle School Math 6-9
• Industrial Arts K-12

7
Teaching Experience

• Courses I Have Taught (past 3 years)
• at Pennfield Middle School
• North Penn School District
• Physical Science (9th grade)
• Honors Physical Science (9th grade)
• Exploring Industrial Arts Technology (8th grade)
• Technical Drawing (9th grade)

8
Teaching Experience

• Courses I Will Teach This Year
• Physical Science (9th grade)
• Honors Physical Science (9th grade)

9
Teaching Experience

• My School
• Pennfield Middle School
• 856 Students Grade 7-9
• North Penn School District
• Facts and Figures
• Click on link for more information

10
Teaching Philosophy

• Teaching Goals
• To motivate and encourage life long learners and
  readers by providing exciting and engaging
  instruction.
• To further develop the skills necessary to move
  away from a teacher centered management style
  towards a student autonomous philosophy.

11
Teaching Philosophy

• To me learning is highly personal. Students
  learn and strive for knowledge in their
  individualized manner and students motivation to
  learn is the result of personal experiences and
  influence. The best teachers address this
  personalize nature of learning by structuring
  lessons to meet the needs of the students. The
  best way to make lessons personalized is to allow
  student input to the direction of instruction.
  This is not to say the student decide what the
  course is but to allow them options in the
  approach to the course.