Career History

I have had the pleasure of

working in classrooms for the
past seven years as a

Contact
Information
Email: smithb.1313@yahoo.com

paraprofessional. I worked at

Phone: (517) 712-3892

Okemos High School in Okemos,

Michigan in their self-contained

Website:
smithb1313@weebly.com

special education department. I

Home Address:

had the pleasure of working with

roughly 40 students a year with a
vast array of disabilities.
In 2011 and 2012 I worked

417 Della St. Portage,

Michigan 49002

Brian
Douglas
Smith
Provisional
Teaching
Certificate
Elementary K-5 all
subjects (K-8 All
Subjects Self
Contained
Classroom)

at WoodsEdge Learning Center in

Portage, Michigan. WoodsEdge is
a specialty school devoted to
special education learners and
students with disabilities. I have
experience as a long-term
substitute teacher for a pre-K
class for students with autism. I
worked with eleven students who
were between the ages of three
and five. These experiences have
given me exposure to many
classrooms, students, and
teaching styles.

Our greatest
weakness lies in
giving up. The
most certain way
to succeed is
always to try just
one more time.

Classroom
Management and
Organization
My classroom has a detailed daily
schedule so that my students can
always know what to expect
throughout the day.
My classroom has a basic clip
chart to promote positive
behaviors while still having
consequences for undesirable
behaviors. I use a card system
for older students.
I promote positive behaviors by
offering both personal and whole

Assessment, Grading
and Data
Assessments in my class consist of:
Clear purpose
Clear targets
Sound design
Effective communication with
sound grading practices

Involve students in the

Grading is used to convey

knowledge and understanding of
standards and content. I use a
Marzano four point scale in my
class. Grading is always used to
motivate the students and never
used to discourage or punish them.
Data is used to help create
groupings within the classroom so
that students may benefit from
cooperative learning.

Instructional Strategies
There are five core learning
strategies that I apply to my
classroom.
1. Cooperative Learning Students working together to
problem solve.
2. Identifying Similarities and
Differences - Students learn
how to compare and contrast
ideas.
3. Cues, Questions, and
Advanced Organizers Students ask questions and use
higher level thinking to solve
problems and create
conclusions.
4.
Technology
Nonlinguistic and
Representation - Using
Certifications/Traini
nonverbal methods to teach
ngs
better understanding of topics
Proficient in: Microsoft Word,
Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint,
Smart Board, Internet, e-mailing,
iMovie, iPad with many
instructional applications, Infinite
Classroom, Eureka Math, Being a
Writer, Tienet, AESOP, and PESG.
Certifications/Trainings: First
Aid/ Child and Adult CPR,
Michigan Literacy Progress Profile
(MLPP), Crisis Prevention
Intervention (CPI).