Donald M.Austin - Newark Academy

I was now about to have my eyes opened to a completely
new and exciting perspective of the classroom – the
perspective of the teacher. My schedule as an intern was
made up of four classes a day,
consisting of 5th and 6th grade
students. I had been assigned to
assist a science teacher for two
periods, a math teacher for one
period and an English teacher
for one period. I had a unique
and wonderful experience with
each teacher and class to which
I was assigned.
In science, I learned how
important it is for children to be
engaged in hands-on activities.
Nearly every day the teacher,
Mrs. Bier, had a new experiment
for the students to do. On one
of the first days a student said, “I have never had a science
class like this before!” I was able to be part of this great
learning experience for the children by preparing and
presenting several of my own lessons, such as a chromatography
experiment. Even when I did not lead the class, I
felt free to chime in to the teacher’s lesson, as well as walk
around and help the students.
One of the highlights of my experience teaching at NA was
when Mrs. Bier and I placed a surreptitious ransom note
in a student’s desk to challenge the class to use problem
solving skills to discover who wrote the mysterious note.
Although the original plan was to ask the students to
clean out their desks (and hence guide them to discover
the note), one of the students beat us to the task and
found the note before we had planned. Enthusiastic and
confused by the note, the classroom suddenly transformed
into a crime scene with fifteen little detectives. It was
amazing to see the light bulbs go on in the students’
heads when they realized that chromatography was the
means to solving this real life situation. I learned how
valuable it is to connect seemingly useless lessons with
practical applications.
Math class also opened up a
whole other perspective of
teaching to me. I was exposed
to the struggle that many
teachers face when students
are at different levels of
academic ability. Through
observation and experience, I
learned many methods on how
to manage a classroom where
there is a wide spectrum of
academic ability. For example,
it is useful to have extra individual
work or games ready
at all times to give to students
who are more advanced, while spending individual time
with others who are struggling.
I was given a third, completely different perspective of
the life of a teacher in English. As an intern in this class,
I learned the importance of modeling an example for
the students. I also learned how hard it is to motivate
students to think and be creative, but observed ways
to break through their resistance. Lastly, I learned that
I am a horrible speller. (NOTE: Always have a Webster’s
Dictionary on hand!)
I could not have asked for a more rewarding summer
experience. I feel as though I have learned so much
about teaching and I am excited to continue the journey.
Although teaching definitely comes with struggles at
times, there are no words to describe the satisfaction
I felt while watching the students succeed.
ALUMNI PROFILE fall 2007
43