Student teaching is a well-known way to gain classroom experience before committing to an actual teaching career. This year, Powell High School’s choir classes have a student teacher of its own.
Becoming a teacher in training depends on commitment and dedication to teaching. This comes from both the student teachers and the teacher hosting.
“I would like to get a teaching job in music ideally,” student teacher David Van Slyke said. “Music has been a passion of mine for a very long time and I want to share that.”
Student teaching helps gain familiarity within the classroom. Learning new techniques and ideas that they can apply to a classroom helps them prepare for an actual teaching job.
“Getting to experience what teaching is like in an actual classroom is my favorite part,” Van Slyke said. “Obviously it’s not the same as a real classroom, but you get a lot of the same feels with the guidance of someone who’s more experienced. Being able to interact with people who will likely be my colleagues in the future is very enjoyable and fun.”
Some may think interning is only about in-class help. Coming from the teacher’s perspective, a student teacher can be very helpful everywhere.
“Mr. Van Slyke has been very available, obviously during class, as well as after school activities and extracurricular activities,” Middle School and High School choir teacher Mrs. Rachel Schoessler said. “On top of that, he has helped me to evaluate my own teaching and become a better teacher. He has opened my eyes to some new cool ideas and techniques.”
Helping student teachers is an important part of this involvement. This can be done by giving them advice, or just simply creating that relationship.
“Its helped me connect to my students in a different way, which is really neat,” Schoessler said. “It’s also exciting to just be part of someone else’s education as an adult and the entrance into a new profession; to be able to have that connection as colleagues once he graduates.”
Going through this whole process can bring trying times, creating positives and negatives.
“It gives me an experience to practice everything I’ve learned throughout college with an actual classroom, so I can get to apply my knowledge and share music I love with students,” Van Slyke said. “Getting feedback from other teachers helps. Mrs. Schoessler and Mr. Fabela have a ton of advice for me and Mr. Wiley.”
Learning with Maclin Wiley, the student teacher in the band class, has helped them increase their knowledge. Student teaching can also come with some setbacks.
“You don’t really get the same resources that an actual teacher does and you don’t get the same access to all the systems,” Van Slyke said. “You don’t have the same relationship with the students. A lot of times the students will go straight to Mrs. Schoessler when I’m running the class.”
Being able to connect with the student teacher is key. Mrs. Schoessler has previously been a student teacher herself. This has allowed for some more personal connection.
“There were certain things I desired when I was a student teacher, certain things I wanted to learn or to have help with,” Schoessler said. “I didn’t have this and using that, I think I’ve been able to provide that for my current student teacher.”
Experiencing this through the school can help everyone around. Being able to take something away is one of the most important parts.
“Powell is a great school. I am glad I chose here. It’s been a really pleasant teaching experience, and I think if I ended up, if for whatever reason one of the teachers left, I think I’d enjoy teaching here,” Van Slyke said. “Fortunately for you all, it seems like you have great teachers who will be here for a while longer.”
