Hover over each box to read a brief reflection about each of my pre-student teaching field experiences.
Batchelor Middle School
Spring 2017
For my first field experience, I worked in a 7th grade science classroom for 2 periods one day a week. Both classes were inclusion classes, which gave me experience working with paraprofessionals in the classroom in order to give students with special needs the proper supports. I worked with small groups of students who needed additional support in staying on task and completing their work. Though I had some experience working with kids, this was my first time in the classroom. Though I didn't do much teaching on my own, I learned a lot from this experience. In retrospect, I wish I had spent more time focusing on building connections with those students rather than trying to manage their undesired behaviors. This is something I took with me going forward, and remains central to my personal teaching philosophy.
Bloomington H.S. South
Spring 2018
In this field experience, I worked in a high school chemistry classroom twice a week for 2 hour-long periods per day. I worked with varying levels of chemistry students: college prep, honors, and AP. I also assisted in the elective organic chemistry course, in which I developed and taught my own lesson. This field experience taught me a lot about the "behind the scenes" work of teaching--grading, use of learning management systems (Skyward and Canvas), and lab set-up, to name a few. It was my first time working with high schoolers, which took some adjusting but I was grateful that I could act more grown-up with them. My teacher had an incredible amount of content knowledge and it was so helpful to see how he taught the concepts and managed misconceptions that arose. One thing I learned from this experience is that it's ok to tell a student you don't know the answer to their question!
Batchelor Middle School
Fall 2018
In my final field experience before student teaching, I worked in a 8th grade science classroom for 5 periods two days a week. I was there for one period of inclusion with a paraprofessional, one period of honors, and 3 periods of grade-level science. One of the biggest lessons I learned in this field experience was how to differentiate across class periods. Differentiation can seem intimidating at first, but my mentor teacher differentiated by adjusting level of depth and degree of scaffolding for similar assignments between class periods. I also learned a lot about incorporating 1:1 technology into lessons and managing that use effectively. I was fortunate to teach a majority of the classes, in addition to develop and implement a few of my own lessons. I absolutely loved this field experience and hope that my future leads me to another bunch of crazy middle schoolers!