My Experience

*During my last semester of college, I participated in student teaching at Roanoke Elementary School.  I spent 8 weeks in a 1st grade classroom and 9 weeks in a 4th grade classroom.  During my time there, I assumed the responsibilities of a classroom teacher, planned and executed hands-on lessons and assessments according to state standards, worked with small groups in reading and mathematics, participated in class field trips, and communicated with my cooperating teachers and grade level colleagues in order to learn about and understand the role of a teacher in an elementary classroom.

*In the fall of 2007, I spent one week in IPS #74 observing and participating in a 4th grade classroom.  While there, I learned about the culture differences between an inner city school and the rural schools where I spend most of my time and chaperoned a field trip to the Indianapolis Zoo. 

*I have been babysitting for friends of the family and people around my neighborhood since I was 15. (many...MANY wonderful hours J)

The Rex boys: Logan, Tristan, Colby, and Mason (in lap)

*Through Manchester College, I was able to get involved with the Indiana Reading Corps.  I went to local elementary schools and helped struggling students with reading and comprehension.  It definitely gave me experience in working with students who do not want to learn and taught me how to handle those types of situations. (4 hours a week for 2 semesters)

*I have been involved in the Manchester College Student Education Association.  Not only have I been able to gain great insight to use in my future classrooms through the programs involved, but I have also had the opportunity to actually put my talents to work in helping to improve the learning environment of a struggling elementary school.  Through Outreach to Teach, I went to an elementary school in Fort Wayne, IN, on a Saturday morning in May and did various jobs in the ISEA's version of "Extreme School Makeover."  Some of my specific jobs were reorganizing the teacher's workroom, cleaning up classrooms, and spreading mulch around the front of the building. (5 hours)

*Literacy Block my junior year of college provided me with a variety of opportunities to work with elementary students.  One of those was during Read Across America Day.  With a partner, we read a Dr. Seuss book to a class and then did an activity with them. (30 minutes)

*Another Literacy Block experience was judging a 4th grade science fair at Metro North Elementary School. (2 hours)  

Liz Binkley and I judging a science fair project at Metro North Elementary School.

*Performing a running record assessment for 1st graders at Manchester Elementary School was also a part of my Literacy Block experience.  These were used for the students' grade cards, so it was a lot of responsiblity; but the students were really good.  I was pretty scared going into it; but looking back, I realize how great of an opportunity it was. (45 minutes)

*10 hours of observation time was a requirement of Literacy Block.  Although most of my time was spent simply sitting in the back of the classroom and watching the teacher, one of the teachers at Manchester Elementary School did things differently.  She doesn't believe that sitting and watching is going to help us learn anything.  So, from the first time I went to visit, I was thrown into teaching.  My first time in her classroom, I walked around and helped students proofread the stories that they were writing.  During the second visit, I actually taught a group of 5 students how to write a poem.  We talked about our poems, which had 5 lines. The first line and the last two lines rhymed; the second and third lines rhymed, but they did not rhyme with the other 3.  Then, they wrote a poem themselves and shared them with the rest of the class (who did various other forms of poetry such as acrostic and shape).  On my third trip to her classroom, I was able to walk around and help the students choose a topic to write a descriptive story about in partners.  At first, I simply wanted to sit in the back and watch.  Now, just as with the running records, I realize how great of an opportunity it was.  (3 hours)

*Being involved in the A Cappella Choir for the 2006-2007 school year meant that I was given the opportunity to travel to New York City and sing in Carnegie Hall.  In order to raise money for this trip, we had a carnival during Homecoming weekend.  I was in charge of the bungee run, and I had a lot of fun watching the children try their hardest and helping them finally succeed. J (7 hours)

My little brother and I doing the bungee run.

*I spent time at Akron Elementary School for Educational Psychology.  Through their Flyer Time program, I tutored two 2nd grade boys every Tuesday and Thursday after school. (2 hours a week for 1 semester)

*For my child development class, I also spent 20 hours in the Manchester Church of the Brethren Preschool interacting with the children and helping the teacher do activities.

    Marielle and Morgyn tie me up with links.

*During my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to cadet teach in a kindergarten classroom.  Most of the time I simply helped out around the classroom with supervision and assistance.  However, I did get the opportunity to teach one lesson.  For my lesson, I read the book There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.  My cooperating teacher had a puppet of the old lady and all of the animals that she eats in the book.  As I read, the students came up and put the animals into the old lady's mouth.  After we had read the book a couple of times, the students then had to recreate the sequence of animals from memory.  It was a scary but awesome experience!  (12 hours a week for 6 weeks)

Miss James' kindergarten class at Central Lutheran School (2004)

*Back home in New Haven, I work at Bob Evans.  Since it is a family style restaurant, I am in contact with children all of the time.  In the summer, when the store is not busy, I love to play with the children and keep them occupied and happy while their families enjoy their meals.  Through this job I was also given my an opportunity to practice my teaching skills.  During the summer of 2005, I was a trainer.  In this job, I help new employees learn all the ins and outs of our restaurant as well as helped them learn the menu and how to take orders.  It was a big responsibility, but it was a lot of fun watching them finally be able to take their own tables after following and helping me with my tables for a week.

"Life is a succession of lessons, which must be lived to be understood."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson