Celebrating the “aha!” in learning
Junior Elementary Education major Paul Steinert knew he wanted to complete his Teaching in a Diverse Setting internship at his own alma mater, Norwood Elementary School. What he didn’t anticipate was a full-circle moment sharing a classroom with one of the teachers who inspired him on his educational and teaching journey. Steinert shares how during three weeks of all-day teaching and assisting, his Jan Term internship helped him learn more about himself, diverse populations of students, and the teaching profession.
When I was in elementary school, I had a lot of energy — even now, I can’t stay still. When I was younger, my teachers did an amazing job at leveraging my energy into my learning instead of pushing it down. My dedication, grit, and passion for learning came in elementary school from my teachers, and I want to be able to do that for students. I want to help the students of this next generation like I was helped.
At first, I thought that I was going to be placed with another mentor teacher, but I was happy that at least I would still be in the same building and grade so I could run into Ms. Tarbell. When I found out that she was my mentor teacher, I was ecstatic. She was one of the teachers who made me fall in love with learning and got me interested in gaining mathematical skills. I was over the moon that I got placed with her, and I am very appreciative of the experience.
I had so many “aha” moments during the internship. Whether it was regarding classroom management and lesson planning, content instruction and teaching practices, or methods of inclusivity and diversity, I was taking an immense amount of notes to carry with me as I move on in teaching. I asked a million questions, both for myself and as a part of an interview assignment for the January Term class, and the answers opened my eyes to a lot of the intricacies of teaching. It felt like every single second of this internship was an “aha” moment.
A main takeaway I have is the importance and beauty of diversity in the classroom, and how a teacher can help it flourish and make all students feel safe and supported. Whether it’s through the language/vocabulary used in the classroom, the models and posters on the wall showcasing different cultures and backgrounds, or teaching to all demographics and abilities, diversity can be adequately cherished and showcased in the classroom.
For wanting to be a teacher, I am not much of a morning person, but waking up each day was exhilarating, and it was fun to go to school. Whether it was the memories of my old elementary school, the students and teachers at the school currently, or a combination of both, I was so excited each day to go to school. I became a lot more confident in myself during January Term, and I was happy each school day. I have learned that second grade teaching is something I work well with, what subjects I felt more comfortable with instructing, and I got to learn a lot about who I am as a future teacher.
It gives you so much experience and opportunity. Teaching is controlled chaos. You can have lesson plans set up perfectly, but school days can change so rapidly. Learning about teaching styles and teaching practices only goes so far. Whether you participate in a full-semester internship or a January Term, in-classroom experiences give you the opportunity to dive in and experience it hands on. It really helps you develop your teaching skills, confidence, and comfort in a classroom.