TIU Student Teachers
Most Trinity students have started this semester with
homework, tests, and projects to keep them busy. For second semester seniors in the Department
of Education, however, their time has come.
They are now in the classroom as student teachers in area schools,
assigning homework , doing lesson planning, and performing all the duties
necessary of a teacher.
Priscilla Park, an Elementary Education major with emphasis
in Social Science and Language Arts, is teaching first grade and says it’s a
bit crazy trying to manage seven-year-olds, but every day is getting a little
better as she is being eased into teaching.
She said that helpful feedback from the cooperating classroom teacher,
who has 23 years of experience, has put her more at ease. Also, God has shown her that prayer really
works.
“I had such little faith, but through changing my major and
God continuously opening doors, it’s really confirmed my calling and that if I
rely on him, I can do literally anything,” Park said.
Park added that the most rewarding things about student teaching
so far has been being able to take over the subjects and doing something to
impact their learning. She also felt
junior block at TIU prepared her in the best way of the experience of
student-teaching.
Kristy Sorensen, an Elementary Education major with emphasis
in English Communications, is teaching eighth grade language arts and says her
time spent teaching so far has been both good and rough, a “one of a kind
learning experience that one can only receive when put in this position”.
Sorensen says her eighth graders have been a pretty mature
group, but knows she has room to grow when it comes to taking control of a
classroom in a way her students will respond to. While there have been rough patches, she
pointed out the positives.
“What’s cooler than being a kid disguised as an adult? I can goof off with my students, read
children’s books, and never, ever stop learning. When they told me that being an education is
a lifelong learning profession, they weren’t kidding, “ Sorensen said.
Sorensen also added that she has an amazing family and
friend support system who are constantly praying for her. She also takes comfort in a God that is with
her.
“My God is walking beside me, holding my hand when I’m
terrified to move forward and whispering that I have nothing to fear,” Sorensen
said. “I can do this, but only with
him.”
Dave Mackett, a History/Secondary Education major with
Social Science certification, is teaching four section of 9th grade
Global Studies and one section of 20th century history. While he said he has been unbelievably busy
and stressed out, he feels his cooperating teachers have been good about giving
feedback, sharing ways to improve lessons and classroom management, and helping
him to adjust to being a teacher.
Mackett said that God is definitely teaching him humility
after a first week that rocked him.
“Between lessons that I thought would go well going poorly
and needing to rely completely on him for energy and strength, he is definitely
reminding me that I am far from a finished product,” he said.
Silvia Yim, an Elementary Education major, is teaching first
grade and is grateful that she is being eased into more responsibilities with
each day. She said it is nice to finally
be able to apply what she has learned into a classroom setting.
Yim has seen God’s faithfulness so far, even when she feels
she doesn’t have the strength for the next day.
“I know God has placed me in these classrooms so that I can
be a light in my students’ and parents’ lives,” she said. “God is continuing to show me the bigger
picture of teaching.”
TIU’s student teachers will be in the classrooms until late
April.
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