Field Experience Thoughts

I feel very fortunate to have been assigned to Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon for my field service experience. The added bonus being that I am only about 25 minutes from my home, compared to the 1 hour and 15 minute commute I have to MillersvilleJ.

To begin with, my co-op teacher, Mr. Gates, is very enthusiastic about having me in his classroom. Not only has made me feel very welcome, but he also introduced me to a number of other teachers in the building who have welcomed me into their classrooms with the same enthusiasm as Mr. Gates. He is an amazing teacher who totally dedicates himself to his profession, and gives his “all” to his students. He is inspiring to watch. From the time I enter his classroom in the morning and until I leave at the end of the day, he includes me in his strategies and plans for the day. He teaches me and guides me as a mentor, yet at the same time he shows me great respect making me feel less a student and more of a co-teacher.

In the few weeks of my experience I have observed and participated in Honors English, Applied English, College Prep English, Humanities, Intro to Mass Media, and the CLIP program—the CLIP program is for students with behavioral issues who are unable to be mainstreamed into the school population for an amount of time affiliated with the severity of their infractions. Additionally, my co-op, who at one time worked in the newspaper business, teaches Yearbook and oversees the Talon—the school newspaper; in these two classes I not only have learned from my co-op, but also from the students who behave more as young professionals with a job to do than as high school students.

I am seeing many of the teaching methods and total participation techniques that we discussed in our classes in action. I have also witnessed a plethora of assessments, both formative and summative, noticing which seem to be the most beneficial. I’ve noticed too that in the teaching methods and assessments what is a success with one class may not necessarily be as productive with the next class.

Probably the most valuable lesson I have learned so far is that teachers have to be flexible and willing to adapt on the spot. They always have to have a “plan B.” And when “plan B” falls through they rely on that “extra bag of tricks” for a filler! Sometimes those moments can end up being even more beneficial than the original game plan!