Now missing in action: where have all the education majors gone?
Posted by The Skyliner on March 17th, 2010Hannah Reynolds
Staff Writer
Many North Greenville students may be wondering where all the senior education majors have gone this spring semester. The answer lies in the fact that senior education majors are busy completing 60 days of consecutive student teaching to complete requirements for graduating from the teacher education program at NGU.
The 60 days of student teaching NGU education majors are required to complete are in accordance with South Carolina standards. Education majors are evaluated throughout their student teaching to ensure that they are completing their requirements adequately.
Education majors are placed in schools within Greenville, Spartanburg and Pickens county districts. They adhere to the schedules of the schools where they are student teaching. This means that education majors who are student teaching do not have the same spring break as the rest of NGU students.
Student teaching is the culmination of everything education majors have been taught during their college career. Throughout the course of the teacher education program, education majors are involved in observing, teaching and planning lessons for the classrooms of students within their area of concentration.
Spring semester of their senior year, however, their involvement in the classroom is their sole focus. Through spending five days a week in the same classroom, education students have a chance to experience what it is really like to be a teacher. Although the teacher education program does everything possible to ensure that students are ready for their field experiences, education majors admit that nothing can truly prepare them for the reality of being in charge of a classroom.
When asked if she felt prepared for her student teaching, Ashley Sullens, senior early childhood education, said, “In many ways, yes, I feel prepared, but honestly—no groups of kids are the same, no teacher, no school, and so you’re basically learning something new every day. A phrase that every education professor preached resonates through my mind constantly: ‘Be flexible.’”
Other education majors also agree that while NGU’s teacher education program has definitely prepared them well, nothing substitutes for hands-on experience in a classroom for an extended period of time.
Jessica Tooley, senior elementary education, commented, “Student teaching is way beyond my expectations. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work, such as grading papers, talking to parents, planning and writing lesson plans that I had not expected. The students, however, are wonderful and make up for all the other stuff I have to do.”
Students within the teacher education program all seem to have something in common—a love for God and a love for children. Surprisingly, several education majors started out in other fields.
Taylor Thompson, senior early childhood, said, “I came to NGU as an intercultural studies major but changed to early childhood because I wanted to teach overseas as a missionary.”
Sullens admits that she does not know exactly what God wants to do with her life. She is open to His call and she knows that she wants to reach children with God’s love.
Danielle Russell, senior early childhood education, also sees teaching as a great opportunity to share God’s love.
“In today’s world, we need more Christian teachers that want the best for every child,” said Russell.
Emily Chappell, senior secondary English language arts, commented, “I have a heart for teenagers and a passion for English. I hope to be able to positively influence and minister to my students, even those who do not enjoy English.”
Education majors agree that student teaching has been full of interesting experiences. From students throwing up to pitching temper tantrums, the life of a student teacher is far from boring.
As Thompson summed up student teaching, “My class is full of interesting experiences, and I love it.”
So the next time some education majors seem to be missing, remember that they are hard at work doing their student teaching. Say a prayer for them and for the students they are impacting.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 7