Congratulations to our Fall 2021 Methods Year teacher candidates for completing your many required field experience hours this fall. You made all of us professors proud by being “an active participant in the investigation of learning, teaching, and leadership processes” (SMSU SoE Mission Statement). Plus, there is no better way to hone your teaching craft than being IN the classroom teaching children!

You succeeded (which we knew you would)! 👏👏

When asked what was rewarding and challenging about your social studies, math, and early literacy field experiences, a few of you responded with some great responses. Thank you for that…

Carrie: Rewarding…The opportunity to teach. Relationships developed with classroom mentor teacher and students. My mentor teacher will be a new friend and tremendous resource throughout my teaching career. Challenges…the requirement to complete my 45 hours within a three week period.

Rebecca: Rewarding…Seeing the student’s light bulbs turn on when they finally understood something. Their smiles were priceless. Also, how much they grew over a short three week period. Teaching the social studies lesson was so much fun. Challenges…finding enough hours for social studies because my classroom didn’t do much social.

Jessica: Rewarding…integrating social studies with science and reading. Challenging…nothing seemed challenging to me. 😊

Jalynn: Rewarding…Building relationships with students throughout the 3 weeks. I also really like social studies, so this was one of my favorite placements because of how much I loved the content! Challenges…getting 15 hours of social studies while doing my math and literacy hours at the same time.

Timothy: Rewarding…Working with and creating relationships with both kindergarten and fifth grade students. Helping a 5^th grader understand multiplying decimals. Very rewarding to see students excited about their learning. Overall, my experiences were amazing. Challenging…getting some students to believe in themselves.

Thank you to those teacher candidates who responded to the email request to list your rewards, challenges, and an action shot in the classrooms. Congrats SMSU teacher candidates on a job well done!!! You were immersed in teaching excellence! 🙌👍

Celebrate…you made it! 🎉💪😃

Stay Calm & Teach On!
Profs Dr. Wendy & Dr. V.