End of course Essay
It’s over, I have waited a whole lifetime to begin my work as a California Credentialed Teacher of English. After working with high school kids in Southern Marin County, my internship teaching assignment at Novato High School was going to be quite a different experience. The school placed me with their Beginning English classes consisting of over eighty students all who have been in the country less than two years. The school did not provide me with instruction materials, lesson plans, or any textbooks. The previous teacher, who was on leave for the semester, directed me to a handful of beginner workbooks, and she suggested I cover everything to page twenty before the semester’s end. For the Intermediate classes, it seemed I was on my own.
Overcoming this challenge and meeting my own expectations as an intern teacher hinged on my ability to speak Spanish fluently. I came to the Redlands School of Education with the express aspiration of providing an equitable education to all students of all backgrounds. What was most important in my approach was how easy it was to share an hour of instruction with me, which made the class less intimidating by gaining the trust of the students. By emphasizing effort, I was able to model the expectations and responsibilities of the classroom and elevate them beyond the limitations of last year’s remote learning.
My mentor was there every step of the way giving me advice on how to get my textbooks and how to structure my lesson delivery. She encouraged my ideas for my self-designed Graphic Novel unit and how I was properly integrating other platforms for increased engagement. She encourages the adaptation of content for different native speakers and strategies for engaging with the constant stream of new arrivals. Together, we were able to work it out by improving my skills on a week-by-week basis.
The Redlands School of Education gave me an understanding of the challenges students face in a new home and campus. English gave me room not only to teach but to relate demonstrate how to “do” high school and become successful with the help of the community. My students needed an advocate, an explainer of the sports, clubs, and service groups available for their participation to increase their involvement in the school community. Taking advantage of all the services the counselors had to offer was also an important thing to emphasize to the students.
Most importantly, the Redlands School of Education program has provided me with the foundation to pursue my life’s work as an educator. My vision is to encourage students to evolve into future leaders and understand the urgency for pursuing social activism for meaningful change. Their journey through life can be the most fulfilling when they see the path with a vision for change in the world.
The teacher I want to become is now here today. I have reached the jumping off place; the same one a group of high school kids insisted should be my vocation back in 2019.