This school year Fair Grove has two student teachers who have come to Fair Grove High School. Kelsi Meyers and Absity Mcginnis are finishing up their last semester in college and preparing to begin their career as teachers.
Traditionally, student teaching for college students occurs during the last semester as they are completing their schooling for a bachelor’s degree.
Some of the education Meyers and McGinnis said is required to become a teacher includes a minimum of four years of college education (a bachelor’s degree) as well as passing a certification test.
McGinnis stated her passion for becoming a teacher was, “I had teachers that inspired me.” She went on to name a few of the teachers that inspired her when she was a student at Fair Grove Schools, “Mrs. Fender, Mrs. Strader, Ms. Meals, and all the middle school teachers, and fine art teachers.” She added that she wants to be there for her students, inspire passion and lead them to something good when the world seems to be full of disagreements and uncertainty, just as her teachers did for her.
McGinnis explained a few things she had found beneficial about student teaching is that, “… Mrs. Harmon has been very kind to me and provided plenty of examples and time to teach. I also really like that it feels like the classroom is mine, and that I am given space and opportunities to lead.”
A few other things Meyers felt were beneficial she said was, “… I’ve learned so much more about just communicating and getting student engagement than I did before.”
Something Meyers mentioned that had sparked her interest in teaching was that she has always enjoyed working with kids and enjoys specifically teaching high school students. Since she has taken business classes in college, she would like to teach business to high school students.
Mrs. Harmon teaches Music to students in 5th-8th grade and is also the director for both the High School Choir and Singing Eagles. She explained that as a teacher she does have the choice of having a student teacher or not.
A few reasons Harmon enjoys having a student teacher she stated is, “I love that it opens up the opportunity for individual help on vocal solos or audition material. I also like watching the student teacher grow into an educator over their 16-week experience.”
Harmon gave some advice to student teachers and said, “Be eager to help.” She added on to this statement with, “The hardest thing about learning to be a teacher is you can’t be adequately prepared for what it is like to be in a classroom. Nothing can prepare you for that first time you have the students all to yourself. Be firm in your classroom behavior expectations, and remember that if something doesn’t work, that doesn’t mean you are a failure. You just need to try something new.”
