Professionally speaking, as a music educator, it is important to understand and acknowledge my role in the education system, as well as embrace the benefits that I am capable of bringing to my students. Shared below is my personal Teaching Philosophy; this document explores and defines my teaching techniques, strategies, and it provides the foundation on which I plan to build my program. My philosophy and rationale define what I think music education should look like within public schools and why music is essential in curriculums throughout the nation, regardless of age.
These beliefs have been formed over the course of my undergraduate years, and they continued to grow and form into concrete opinions as I began teaching out in the field and taking courses that specifically related to teaching school in american socities. Even though I know the course of my opinions are bound to evolve and change throughout my years in the professional world, I am proud of my stance as an educator and I hold my beliefs in high regard, especially as an advocate for the Arts.
Teaching Philosophy and Rationale.pdf
Throughout the course of my undergraduate career, I involved myself in as many opportunities as possible, especially in regards to professional organizations and conferences. Whether it was attending the VMEA Conference, performing and soloing with The Virginia Tech Symphonic Wind Ensemble at the VMEA Conference, participating and attending The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, or being a member of NAfME since my freshman year, I have continued to strive to be a successful and current professional in the Music Education community.
Placed below are small artificats regarding my particiation in VMEA and Midwest.
JennaGeorgeVMEARehearsalSchedule, 2009-1.pdf
VMEA Roster.png
Midwest Receipt.png
During my fall placement in the field as a student intern, I was responsible for two video tape evaluations; after these videos had been recorded and submitted, we were then responsible for completing a "Student Evaluation". Below, you will see my two personal evaluations. This is a curcial part of my professional disposition because it shows me evaluating myself and placing a weight and grade on the value of my work.
Self-Assessments are never easy, but I found that grading myself and reflecting upon my personal growth and work and a student intern left me understanding my personal strengths and weaknesses. Even though it was hard and brief, I appreciated the time we got to spend focussing on ourselves and nothing else. I believe it really help set me up for success during my full-time student teaching experience.
Jenna George, EarlyFieldStudentEvaluation Form 1.pdf
Jenna George, EarlyFieldStudentEvaluation Form 2.pdf
As mentioned above, my professional Disposition was just another opportunity to reflect upon my teaching. As a result, this specific Disposition placed below helped change or alter my teaching strategies and helped me develop new ways to encourage, motivate, and educate my students. My Disposition was filled out and reviewed by both me and my University Supervisor. This document represents and demonstrates that I am consistenly trying to display professional dispositions and attitudes that are essential in order to become (and remain) a successful music educator.
Disposition-1.pdf
At the conclusion of my fall internship at the high school level, I was responsible for writing a summative reflection. We were presented with a few questions that would essentially help us reflect on our experience and decide if we were ready or capable of observing our strengths and weaknesses, and if we were ready to pursue a full-time student teaching position for the spring.
Throughout this reflection, I found myself accurately asessing myself, both professionally and as a student, in order to determind my ability to move into a full-time workload. I believe this reflection incorporates my professional dispositions because it shows my ability to accurately assess myself, as well as express myself honestly with little reservation, while maintaining a professional disposition.
Jenna George, Reflection Final.pdf
Regardless of the expectations set by the state of Virginia, in order to be a successful teacher, you need experience; Below you will find a log of my teaching hours from my year in graduate school. My first Log of Hours is from the fall, when I was a student-intern. The second Log of Hours is from this spring, during my experience as a full-time student teacher.
Throughout my time both semesters, I was responsible for classes at both the high school and middle school level including jazz band, music theory/piano lab, concert band(s) at various levels from beginning to advanced, and marching band. During this time, I also attended faculty meetings and various county band events.
Jenna George, FieldExLogHoursFall.pdf
Jenna George, FieldExLogHoursSpring2014.pdf
I created this video collage and placed it within my professional disposition because it shows clips from throughout my semester student teaching. This collage is centered around the lessons I learned while out in the field. It touches on subjects relating to successful modeling vs. mediocre modeling, discipline, being myself and showing that I am human, too, and the importance of having fun and getting to know your students.
Placed below you will find another copy of my most current and up-to-date Resume
JennaGeorgeResume2014.pdf
For a list of my Profession References, please email me.