Read about Naomi’s growing pains through her experience student teaching, to her success managing a middle school classroom and then a high school classroom. Naomi was a member of the September ’09 Cohort where she completed an English concentration and earned her teaching credential.
As a student with MAT@USC, I experienced true growth during my student teaching assignments. I taught one semester at JJ Daniell Middle School in Marietta, Georgia and the next semester at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, GA.
During my first teaching assignment, I was incredibly nervous. I was constantly worrying about whether my lesson plans were effective for the diverse set of learners in my class. Needless to say, my students could feel my nervousness from a mile away. My major obstacle was classroom management. My students would talk while I was talking and get off topic really quickly. My professor could quickly note these behaviors in the classroom. I began to get discouraged until finally I decided that I was
going to “take” the classroom.
I came in with confidence and established my rules. The students were surprised but definitely did not fight it. The lesson turned out really well and it was more enjoyable for everyone because it was more stable. When I began teaching at Booker T. Washington High School, I knew not to make the same mistakes again. I established my rules and classroom structure from the very first lesson. Even though I still had some behavioral problems, it was nothing compared to the problems I had at first.
So yes, I had to experience some growing pains during my student teaching. However, lessons are better learned through trial and error. I am presently in the market for a middle school language arts teacher position. I make it a point to tell all of my interviewers that I learned more from those “growing pains” than from any chapter of any book throughout the program. I am thankful that the MAT@USC program involved field experiences that allowed me to understand the classroom environment.
This program has given me the tools I need to pave the road to my future as an effective educator that can serve my students, school and community.
Learn how MAT@USC can prepare you for your Georgia teacher certification by contacting our Admissions office at 888.MAT.1USC or email us at matadmit@usc.edu.
