2008 Woodie Awards
Fourth-year students begin to teach
Lauren Whitaker
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Features
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As each education major nears the end of their college experience, they look forward to one last piece to conquer which promises to be the most challenging and rewarding piece of their education: student teaching. For each student majoring in elementary, secondary and even physical education, student teaching is that last step to graduating. It is also a test to see if they can handle the classroom and the stress that goes along with being a teacher, but it does promise to be an experience.
Student teaching usually takes place in the last semester for teaching students, and places them in schools that coincide with the area of teaching they have been studying for three years; an elementary education major to an elementary school, a secondary education to middle schools and high schools, and physical education majors who not only spend time in elementary schools, but also in secondary education schools.
Each student is given a supervisor and a supervising teacher who they mirror all day everyday for the next three months. Not only do they mirror their actions in the classroom and learn from them, but students engage in every activity the teacher does,
"I get the full experience in my school," fourth-year elementary education major Shannon Whitney said. "I come in when my teacher does, and I leave when my teacher does, and I also do the outside stuff, like attend meetings just for teachers and attend parent nights. I really get to feel like I'm a teacher."
Whitney, who student teaches first graders at Hancock Elementary School in Norristown Pa, loves the experience.
"I love my school and the staff there, my teacher is always there to help, and so is all the staff," Whitney said. "I really feel like I'm learning a lot."
Her supervising teacher, Carrie Barnshaw, is a first grade teacher who also enjoys having student teachers.
"Any extra hand in the classroom is always nice, but the students also benefit from having a student teacher, because they learn more and in different ways," Barnshaw said. "It's also really important for future teachers to get the experience of being in the classroom, and with the students".
Student teaching usually takes place in the last semester for teaching students, and places them in schools that coincide with the area of teaching they have been studying for three years; an elementary education major to an elementary school, a secondary education to middle schools and high schools, and physical education majors who not only spend time in elementary schools, but also in secondary education schools.
Each student is given a supervisor and a supervising teacher who they mirror all day everyday for the next three months. Not only do they mirror their actions in the classroom and learn from them, but students engage in every activity the teacher does,
"I get the full experience in my school," fourth-year elementary education major Shannon Whitney said. "I come in when my teacher does, and I leave when my teacher does, and I also do the outside stuff, like attend meetings just for teachers and attend parent nights. I really get to feel like I'm a teacher."
Whitney, who student teaches first graders at Hancock Elementary School in Norristown Pa, loves the experience.
"I love my school and the staff there, my teacher is always there to help, and so is all the staff," Whitney said. "I really feel like I'm learning a lot."
Her supervising teacher, Carrie Barnshaw, is a first grade teacher who also enjoys having student teachers.
"Any extra hand in the classroom is always nice, but the students also benefit from having a student teacher, because they learn more and in different ways," Barnshaw said. "It's also really important for future teachers to get the experience of being in the classroom, and with the students".
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