In this post please discuss how your Sophomore Block field experience helped you to move forward as an educator. That is, what did this opportunity allow you to do and how will this experience help you to make the next step on your journey.
I truly LOVED my sophomore block experience! I never had the feeling of having to go to school to teach, but rather getting to teach!
The way my day would look would be starting out with a college class every morning, usually ending my 10 am; from there, I would make my way to East De Pere High School where I would join Mr. Wagner’s string orchestra class to play/teach/observe! My first day, I was purely observing, focusing on which students I was to observe for my project, ultimately ending the day with some insight from the teacher and my “marks” selected.
Day two, forward, for the next four weeks was spent conducting pieces and playing instruments alongside the students, with an occasional observation break between difficult sections of pieces I conducted.
To answer the questions, this opportunity allowed me allowed me to actually teach, seeing what it is like to BE IN the driver’s seat. An experience I wouldn’t know until my last semester..which would be inconvenient if it turned out to be something I did not like. Yeah RIGHT! I LOVE teaching and this was just another reaffirming experience which I will truly cherish. It introduced me to some teaching techniques, like being able to address an individual performer’s issue through the mask of instructing an entire section. That way, it not only teaches the section, but also provides the student another attempt at fixing their issue. I also learned how to build relationships with students, and how to find time to take interest in their interests, which ultimately benefits the classroom dynamic.
For the next step of my journey, I know what I am working towards. I know what is to come, and I know that I can do it. I am reassured, confident, and on a stride!
