The Skyliner

Media Credit: Ryan Stone/The Skyliner

Media Credit: Ryan Stone/The Skyliner

Media Credit: Ryan Stone/The Skyliner

Student teaching proves hard work brings great rewards.

North Greenville education majors here at are truly in a league of their own. Strict scheduling, tight hours, heavy course loads and higher-than-average stress levels are nothing short of daily routine for these hard-working men and women.

After three semesters of hard-hitting preparation courses, elementary education majors end their training with a semester of close, personal contact with a class full of young children. Brittany Ward, senior elementary education, is wrapping up her student teaching semester at Lake Forest Elementary School.

Ward, like education majors, began her college career by taking the typical general education courses her first two years. Entering into her junior year, however, the requirements for a degree in education meant that her class schedule would be pre-planned for her. This is where the true education courses kick in for NGU education majors.

"We are put into one group," said Ward. "We are with this same small group of people every day from our junior year on. We have no leeway in our schedule because there are such strict requirements. Our courses, times and hours are already spelled out for us."

Then when education majors reach the first semester of their senior year, the emphasis on teaching is taken to a whole new level. Ward took education classes, and attended NGU just like regular students, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays she went to observe elementary schools.

When her second senior semester approached, Ward and the other education majors had two days of training, and were then sent to student teach in classes every day for three months. Instead of simply observing her class, Ward worked with the cooperating teacher and gradually took over the class.

"My responsibilities are that of a regular teacher now," said Ward. "I have to look out for the children and take their individual needs into mind. I am also required to make sure I grade papers correctly and keep the classroom and students running smoothly."

When the course peaks, the student teacher has to teach a five to 10 day unit where they pick a chapter in their materials and teach it to the class.

"I did a six day unit on weather," said Ward. "I then have to use that information to make a teacher work sample. This means I keep record of all the information about my class and keep it in a huge notebook. I have to keep track of class demographics, unit details, and student grades from the beginning and end of the course to contrast. After I am completely done working in the classroom, I have to write a reflection about my students and experience."

"It's a very tiring, draining experience," said Ward. "My roommate and I both have to get up around 5:30 every morning, then we rarely get back to school before 4 p.m. After being in front of a classroom of second graders, I don't have the energy or the time to do anything extra at the end of the day."

However, this is not reason enough for education majors to not pursue their careers with whole-hearted passion.

"This is by far the most rewarding, hands-on experience I could ask for," said Ward. "The North Greenville College of Education program prepares us so well to be teachers. We get an unbelievable amount of field experience opportunities, which is the most beneficial help we could receive."

After four years of hard, draining work, Ward knows it will be rewarding in the end.

"I am truly blessed to have such an amazing cooperating teacher to work with. My class's eagerness to learn is my motivation to get up every morning. More than anything, I want to help them succeed at life," said Ward.

Article Tools