Early Glimpse Into Teaching Life Provides Valuable Experience for Education Majors
Midland University education students are getting an early look into what a future teaching career may look like.
Through Midland’s Topics in Education course, freshmen education majors are gaining knowledge through field-based experiences as they look to jumpstart their careers. As part of the course, students will spend the final five weeks of the semester accumulating 10 hours in an actual classroom setting.
“Getting to be in a community of educators, and being able to experience that classroom setting, is very empowering to our students,” said Jill Frederick, Assistant Professor for the Walker School of Education. “They get to see firsthand what being a teacher is like.”
Student teaching is the final pathway for college students before they venture into a teaching career of their own, but in the 3 ½ years before they reach that point, they are required to have at least 100 hours of classroom experience. Getting them into the classroom early in their freshman year is a great start to gaining that experience.
“Getting a feel for the classroom, and also deciding whether or not this is the right career for them, is invaluable,” Frederick said. “For those who know they want to be teachers someday, this is their favorite part. Being recent high school graduates, they now get to see education from the other side by helping students and working with teachers.”
Claire Wisnieski is a sophomore education major who completed Topics in Education in her freshman year. “I really loved the opportunity to jump into classrooms right away,” she said. “Being in different classrooms not only helped me interact with students but learn from many different teachers. Getting to apply what I learned in the classroom so early in my teaching career was so beneficial, and getting to know different teachers allowed me to see they each have their own insights, which was very eye-opening.”
Janeal Zechman, Field-Based Coordinator for the WSOE, works with dozens of schools in the area to find field-based opportunities for Midland students completing Topics in Education. “We work with many different districts across the area, as well as making sure our students have opportunities at all levels of teaching,” Zechman said. “We try to give them a well-rounded perspective so when they leave Midland, they have an idea of what they like and might not like, and that will help them become successful teachers.”
Much of the field-based work done by Midland students is done through observation and seeing how teachers handle their classes and how students react. But that doesn’t keep them from being involved in daily classroom activities. “We always say ‘on your feet and out of your seat,’” Frederick said. “They have a specific checklist of things we want to see from them and the goal is to have interaction with the students.”
The relationship between Midland students and cooperating teachers has been a positive one. Todd Niehaus, Principal of Fremont Middle School, appreciates the partnership and believes both parties benefit.
“Having Midland students at FMS isn’t just about giving them hands-on experience; it’s about building relationships and identifying future educators who are passionate about working with this age group. It’s giving them an opportunity to connect with our school culture and our staff,” he said. “These interactions can be pivotal in their decision to pursue a teaching career with us after graduation. This partnership is a vital step in building a strong pipeline of qualified and committed teachers for the future in Fremont. This partnership strengthens the educational community as a whole, benefitting both our current students and the educators of tomorrow.”
Niehaus has seen the impact future teachers have in his building and knows the experience they are gaining is irreplaceable. “These future educators bring fresh perspectives and new ideas into our classrooms, which can enhance learning experiences for our students,” he said. “Equally important, the exposure they gain in our middle school environment is invaluable in preparing them to meet the diverse needs of students in the future.”
Fremont is one of many districts across the area that has been able to utilize and benefit from Midland students. Zechman views having a variety of districts to choose from as an important part of the process as future teachers prepare for decisions they need to make down the road. “There is value in determining what they like and don’t like,” she said. “Every district does things differently, and it allows our students to find out what they are comfortable with and what the characteristics are of each district.”
For future educators like Wisnieski, getting to spend time with students has strengthened her love for teaching. “It’s made me realize that I love getting in the classroom and has made me excited to continue on my path and get into a classroom of my own,” she said.
