Michelle Frownfelter 

Personal Background I grew up in a small town, Monroeville, which is located just outside of Fort Wayne. The community I lived in was an agricultural community and was very family oriented. My mother and father own their own business and work full-time there. My sister and I went to the same schools, but we were never in them at the same time. I graduated from Heritage Jr. and Sr. High School in 1998. The school had approximately 500 students but I graduated with less than 100 of those students. I was involved in the marching band, concert band, dance squad, swing choir, womenís choir, madrigals, barbershop quartets, plays, musicals, speech team, and academic decathlon.  Significant personal and musical events in my life I have sung in some type of choir since I was about 4 or 5. I began singing at nursery school and church. In elementary school, each class sang at concerts numerous times throughout the year. In the fourth grade, I auditioned for an extra-curricular choir called FAME; I sang in this group for the next three years. Also in the fourth grade, I started taking organ lessons. I continued to take organ lessons until I graduated from high school.Throughout high school, I filled in at my church as a substitute organist and eventually volunteered to play for mid-week services.I learned how to play alto saxophone in the sixth grade and tenor saxophone when I was a freshman. Throughout junior high and senior high, I participated in every band and choir that was offered to me. I was a section leader in concert choir, concert band, and pep band. I was captain of the winter color guard and president of the high school band. I also participated in swing choir, madrigal groups, a barbershop quartet, and a spiritual group; we competed every year and always did exceptionally well  Reasons for wanting to be a teacher I have always wanted to be a teacher, but I didn't decide to teacher music until my junior year of high school. I love helping people and I wanted to work on a one-on-one basis with others. I also had a lot of teachers that were good role models for me; they made a difference in my life. I want to return the favor, in a way, by making a difference in someone elseís life. My most influential teachers have been my music teachers. They were always encouraging me and praising what I was doing; but still giving me feedback and direction so that I could improve. They made me feel like I could do anything I put my mind to. They not only encouraged and supported me in music but in everything I did. They taught me responsibility, dedication, honesty, and teamwork. The teachers who were least influential in my life are those that I could not related to or those who were not consistent in the way they taught. I think it is very important that a student feel that their teacher can relate to them. I also think that it is very important that teachers are consistent in the way they discipline their classroom and that they are fair to their students.The most important thing I think some teachers forget is that if they are teaching just to get a paycheck then they are teaching for the wrong reason.Teachers shouldnít be in a classroom just for themselves; they should be there for the benefit of their students.  Preparing to teach I think that the first time I am in front of a classroom I will be quite nervous, but I know that I will do well. My biggest worries are not being able to handle a situation that arises. I also know that students are going to challenge a new teacher and I am a little nervous as to how they will choose to challenge me. I know that I would not be ready to get up in front of that classroom tomorrow, but I know that in two years time I will have the knowledge and experience to be able to do a good job. I think that the experiences I will get in my classes are the things that will help me most in preparing myself to be a teacher. I don't like the peer teaching situations, but I also know that they will help me overcome some of the anxiety that I have. But I think the experiences I need the most of are those that I will get in front of a group of students just like the ones I will be teaching one day.