Carol A. Fry
Future Educator
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, Illinois
Welcome to my web page! It has been created to allow me to share some of my personal background, interests, and perspectives about education and learning. I have journeyed on many different paths and embraced many different professions in my life. I am a former paralegal, church musician, legal secretary, and computer/word processing training specialist. I am currently a full-time preservice elementary education student, tutor, musician, wife, mother, and reading enthusiast. I have become a college student much later in life than most other college students. I appreciate the opportunity I have been given to pursue my lifelong goal of becoming a classroom educator.
Education is often referred to and thought of synonymously with schooling – acquiring knowledge through attendance at a structured, systematic program during one's formative years. I believe that while acquiring fundamental math, language, science, and life skills is certainly an integral part of education, it has another equally important role. I believe education is an influential component in the development of individuals' minds and characters. It should not just be concerned with mathematical equations, scientific principles, and communication skills. It should also be concerned with developing an understanding of that knowledge and using it to facilitate an overall understanding among peoples and cultures. Education should be "valued" and afforded a high respect in our society. It is a lifelong learning process which plays an integral role that supports and directs the development of members of current and future societies.
My role as a preservice educator is an ever-changing and challenging, evolving learning process. I have experienced the value of working toward a commitment of the betterment of "someone" rather than of "something". I am continually learning about myself through experiences with students and fellow colleagues. It is my intention to always strive to facilitate an engaging, challenging, and supportive learning environment where students can feel comfortable taking learning risks outside their comfort zone. It is my goal to support all the developmental needs of every child, and present instruction which addresses many different learning styles. I believe each student can learn, and I want each student to share that belief. I hope to share with my students the joy of learning - that it is a life-long gift which is important to nurture and respect.
I believe teaching is a "calling", not a job. I have the advantage of having had the opportunity to work in and be successful in many other professions. I believe this life experience will be advantageous to my teaching career. It has allowed me the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to work with individuals from many backgrounds and perspectives. This experience has helped me develop the understanding necessary for working in today's diverse classrooms.
I now confidently choose the teaching profession. I believe I have several attributes which will help me be successful in this endeavor: life experience, patience, self-discipline, organization, a love of learning, knowledge of children through my own parenting experiences, and an understanding that students learn best through doing. I also want to be in a classroom. I wholeheartedly want to teach. I look forward to becoming a part of the education community and to the new learning I will receive from my fellow colleagues and future students as well.
These are a few of my favorite sites!
Fun Brain
Bensenville Community Public Library
Elmhurst College Library's Children's Literature resource
The WiLEARNS website (Literacy, Education & Reading Network System
Mrs. Susan Stein's TOOTER4KIDS
Lesson plans: successlink
Lesson plans: teachersnetwork
---Ralph Waldo Emerson