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Page 3 • fuesday, November 4, 2003
Globalize;
By Lauren Romero
THE BATTALION
Kimberly Skelton has wanted to be a teacher all her life. Skelton,
id China lenior interdisciplinary studies major, never had any decision to
: as an impol'te a b° ut which level to teach. She said she has always wanted to
■chelementary school, based on the experience she had as a child.
I the speedw "I want the children’s experience to be as great as mine,” she said,
'ts of Chin ; I In the fall of 2003, there were 3,314 undergraduate students in
the Un« College of Education and Human. Development. Many of these
mproveii Bdents will later become teachers.
'f the confcl |n addition to coursework at Texas A&M, students in the inter-
^etter undiMcipiinary program are required to student teach for 12 weeks
iture leade*f ore graduate. Students receive six hours of credit during
Mephenmj]. s t u d en t teaching and must pay for tuition at A&M. Many stu-
0 ^Bnts choose to stay in Bryan or College Station, but students can
, , logo to surrounding cities such as Houston to fulfill their student
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Skelton is planning to go home to Houston to student teach, since
lie plans on living there after graduation.
J‘Tm going where I have the greatest possibility of getting a job,”
'lesaid.
They’re cc'l She will be involved in an inner city program with low econom-
iificanttr :| status children. As a perk for participating in the program, stu-
ited State' ps are paid $ 1,000.
1
For her, though, the money is not the reason why she chose to
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littcipate in an inner city program.
“These children will be most rewarding to teach,” she said.
She said these are the children who need a teacher’s guidance
ore than others. She said it will be good for them to come to a
tool and have a teacher who cares about them.
“If kids are not getting any education at home, then it means
(ore to them and to you as a teacher,” she said.
Melissa Pepper, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, is not
Preside: |re where she will be doing her student teaching. She said she is
;cited about being in a classroom.
“Hove working with children,” she said.
Pepper wants to teach first grade, where the initial teaching of
ading begins. She said she is interested in that, although she won’t
ave a specific subject to teach.
I will have to teach all of the subjects because I will only be cer-
fiedforpre-k through fourth grade,” she said.
said her field experience classes, where she has a mentor
lacherand observes at a school, have taught her more than she has
md in all her classes at A&M.
It’s all based in theory,” she said. “Until I was in a classroom, 1
j understand how it works. There’s a lot of support in these
lasses, which helps us,” she said.
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Students are in a field classroom, where they are able to help the
teacher. Although students don’t teach, they can experience first
hand what a classroom is really like.
Connie Wood, a seventh-grade English teacher at College
Station Middle School, is a mentor teacher to A&M stu
dents. She said being a mentor keeps her fresh and
aware of her teaching methods.
“It keeps you on the edge — always working
towards your craft,” Wood said. “Your
approach with the students needs to be rele
vant and current. You wouldn’t want some
one watching you if you’re doing the same
old thing.”
Wood’s main goal is to give the stu
dents she mentors an opportunity to see
firsthand what teaching is actually
about, rather than simply learning
teaching theory.
“Student teaching is where the
river meets the road,” Wood said.
Wood said a lot of students have
the impression that teaching is like
the fantasy world where teachers sim
ply stand in front of the classroom,
and automatically make a difference in
their students’ lives.
“Teaching is a ton of paperwork,” she
said. “Students get to see that too.”
She said that by participating in the
mentorship program, students are able to
decide if teaching is for them. When they
become a student teacher, they have already
had a glimpse of what student teaching is
like.
“The national average for a person to stay a
teacher is three years,” she said. “Student teaching is
really important.
Skelton said student teaching will let her know if she is
ready or not
“I really am looking forward to it,” she said. “The nice thing
about it is, it’s almost like having your own class.”
Pepper said she is excited about being in an actual classroom, but
she said she knows she will be extremely busy during her student
teaching semester.
“It’s like a full-time job, but instead of getting paid, I’ll be pay
ing A&M,” she said.
Wood, who received “Teacher of the Year,” has been teaching for
Josh darwin •THE BATTALION
10 years. In those years, she has taught more than 1,500 students.
To her, the relationships she builds with her students are more
important than the curriculum.
“Teaching is about building relationships,” she said, “and mak
ing a positive impact on the students’ lives.”
The Total Violin Experience!
Are you planning to apply to medical or dental school for
Fall 2005 admission?
The Office of Professional School Advising
WAISTS YOU
To Attend a BASICS WORKSHOP!!
We will discuss deadlines, letters of evaluation, H1CAT/DAT,
essays, timelines and what the applications address.
Oct. 7, 2003
Oct. 15, 2003
Nov. 11, 2003
Nov. 17, 2003
Dec. 4, 2003
Tuesday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Monday
Thursday
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
10:30 am
2:00 pm
12:00 pm
‘‘Seating is limited so please contact OPSA at 847-8938 or come by room 205 of the Academic
Building to register.
rtunines-
vent and |
One of the hottest acts currently touring
North America, BOWFIRE features ten of
the world’s most acclaimed fiddlers and
violinists playing the most electrifying music.
This explosive concert includes nearly every
music genre including jazz, modern, Celtic,
rock, classical, bluegrass and more.
BOWFIRE
Friday, November 14 at 7:30 PM
Rudder Auditorium
TICKETS
845-1234
www.MSCOPAS.org
Triple Treat
Weekend Package!
MSC OPAS teams with The Museum at the
George Bush Presidential Library and
Messina Hof Winery for an all-inclusive
weekend package. For only $205
students can get a ticket to BOWFIRE,
tour The Museum at the George Bush !|
Presidential Library and attend the
Messina Hof Annual Wine Premiere
on Saturday, November 15. The annual
event at the winery includes a wine
premiere lunch, port blending lab, !
champagne reception and the wine i
premiere dinner. For reservations to the !
Triple Treat Weekend package, please call !
Messina Hof at 979-778-9463, extension 34. I
Send 3<M'®
ion of S!^" 1
ii„n.Fo fcat
MSC
OPAS
he Museum
♦at the-
Thrte Decades of Performing Arts
enlighten j entertain. | inipire
buy tickets,
be inspired
George Bush Presidential Library
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Northgate Post Oak Square Center
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979-846-3600 979-764-7272
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