In the spring of 2021, I completed my student teaching experience at Medary Elementary

School in Brookings, South Dakota. I was placed in a second grade Mass Customized Learning

(MCL) classroom. COVID-19 greatly impacted how the Mass Customized Learning classrooms

functioned. In order to keep everyone safe and follow school and state protocols, we were unable

to move learners from one classroom to another, which typically occurs in a MCL setting. My

cooperating teacher told me that this year the MCL looked more like traditional classrooms.

Even though the children were unable to move from classroom to classroom like they typically

do in the MCL setting, we found many ways to individualize their learning to meet each child's

needs.

Over the course of the semester, I had the opportunity to teach all subjects. This

experience allowed me to strengthen my knowledge in each of the subjects taught in a typical

elementary school classroom. Throughout the experience, I was challenged with finding ways to

make the content both engaging and relevant to the learners to the learners I was working with. I

enjoyed finding ways to individualize the content to each of the children in the classroom.

During my time as a student teacher, I discovered my passion for teaching elementary math. I

loved finding hands-on ways to practice the skills we were learning.

Our classroom had a variety of learner backgrounds and abilities. I was able to work with

children on IEPs as well as children who were gifted. I also had the opportunity to work with an

English Language Learner (ELL). As I worked with each of these children, I was able to better

understand how to meet the needs of varying levels of strengths and abilities in the classroom. I

was fortunate to be able to attend a few IEP meetings to better understand how they work and the

role of the classroom teacher in these situations. I was also able to attend Teacher Assistant Team

(TAT) meetings where we discussed specific strategies that could help children who were
struggling in some way in the classroom. Each of these experiences taught me the importance of

meeting each child where they are at.

Throughout the whole student teaching experience I have learned so much about myself

and about teaching. I have seen the importance of creating positive relationships with each child

in the classroom. These relationships help foster a safe learning environment where children

know they will be able to take risks. Along with this, I have learned so much about classroom

management. I have learned the importance of creating a welcoming environment, managing

student behaviors, and that being prepared can greatly decrease the number of issues that can

occur.

I am so grateful for my student teaching experience and all that I have learned along the

way. The information that I have gained from this experience will help guide me as I begin my

teaching career.