Amelia Anderson

May 2, 2016
TAAP 1 spring 2015

This year I was given a unique opportunity to take Teaching as a

Profession. Though I was not quite sure what the class had to offer, the
program intrigued me. I knew that the course would be beneficial,
regardless of the workload, because of my interest in becoming an
educator. This program has taught me more than I could have ever
learned sitting in a classroom 5 days a week. Working with a
cooperating teacher in a real workplace environment has only
furthered my desire to become an educator in the near future. In my
semester working with students and other teachers at West Valley
Middle, I have not only grown as a student, but as a leader, and also as
a person.

Over the past 18 weeks, I was placed in a classroom with Mrs.

Sherry Fischbach, a sixth grade teacher at a local middle school. She
has taught me so many things about not only teaching, but also
interacting with the students. Beginning each day asking students
about their other classes and how things are going in general, Mrs.
Fischbach goes above and beyond to assure that each student has the

necessary tools to succeed in their middle school (and beyond)

careers. I have learned that it is important to not only teach students
but also to meet with them on a personal level and take in to account
each students home life in their education. No single student learns in
the same way. This is something I have learned is entirely important
when creating a classroom for your students.

When in the classroom, you must show authority. As a high

school student this is not always an easy thing to do. This program has
helped me learn to take authority and be firm. When working with
students it is important to be clear in instruction, firm in discipline, and
assertive when needed. Because of the many types of students in the
classroom, I have learned, and been shown, that each student is their
own personal academic case. Everyone learns in different ways; some
learn from audio-visual material, others from simple instruction.

The most important thing I have learned in my time in the

classroom is how to work hands on with students. As stated before,
every student learns differently. For Mrs. Fischbachs classroom
learning each childs personal and educational needs is an important.
She finds that doing this only helps to enhance their knowledge and
comfortably in the classroom immensely.

As a student in the Teaching as a Profession program at Bearden

High School, I have learned how to recognize and accommodate to
individual childrens needs, developing personal relationships with
each student, and many skills needed to be an effective leader in any
situation. I know as a student, this program has helped me immensely
in my decision to become an educator in the near future. Beginning to
look into colleges and programs I am confident that my time working
as a co-teacher has inspired and made me sure that I want to pursue a
career in teaching.