RCOE International Student Teaching Fall 08

Hi there,

My name is Reaksmey and I am an Art Education major. During the fall of 2008, I will be student teaching at Vandora Springs Elementary School in Garner, NC for ten weeks. I am very fortunate to be able to participate in the International Student Teaching program for the last five weeks of my student teaching semester in Puebla, Mexico at Instituto D'Amicis through the reputable education department at Appalachian State University.

Most of my education colleagues knew from the start that teaching was their passion, but I wasn't one of them. Art has always been something that I love to explore, create, and learn, but nevertheless, it isn't something that I thought I would have the ability to teach. What had changed my mind?

It took one great teacher to help guide me in revealing my own talent that I never knew I had. And from that day on, I wanted to help all my students explore within them for their own unique talent. I have a believe that anyone can use Art to their benefit regardless if they do not think they have artistic abilities because Art isn't just about being able to draw or paint well. I attained a personal view on how Art can be so much more than a well rendered drawing on the wall through working with people of all ages and abilities.

For the past four years at Appalachian State, I have worked with a variety of people through different workshops in my Art Practicum class at the Turchin Center. The Express Yourself workshop consisted of the mentally challenged locals of all ages coming in and spend an afternoon doing a variety of Art activities. Along the same time, I enjoyed teaching 7th graders from Two Rivers Community Charter School, and I must say, despite the usual shudders from some people's past experiences with middle school students, they are my favorite age group thus far. This past semester, I have worked with children ranging from kindergarden to middle school in the Drawing Club at the Turchin Center. Also, I have some experiences teaching at a college level through Tim Ford's Drawing III class at Appalachian.

Within a few weeks, I will be looking forward to teach in Puebla Mexico. From personal experiences, I truly believe that traveling is the best way to learn about the world and about yourself. I have always wanted to learn Spanish, and through the International Student Teaching program, I will be able to put myself into use, while also learning about a colorful culture and their beautiful language.

As of right now, I look forward to meeting my host family of Señora Margarita R. Ruiz. I can't wait to meet her family, her people and her country.

Until next time,

Reaksmey

Hi!

Hola!

I'm Lila and will be student teaching the third grade at Hardin Park. I cannot believe we are all starting tomorrow! Good luck to everyone!

I have been at ASU for over five years now! I started as a music education major. During my years of music I worked with high school band students and also worked with a kindergarten class. After four years I decided it was not for me. The aural skills classes were a major challenge. To pass Aural Skills, you must be able to recognize chords, along with rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic dictation. I took both Aural Skills I and II twice, and still was not getting it! Any time we had a test I would get all stressed out, and not be able to hear anything the professor played on the piano. I went to the professors for extra help, but still I felt as if everyone was getting it except for me. Soon, the love of music I had, and the desire to teach it left me. I cannot really explain what happened. I stopped practicing, and was miserable.

It was then that I decided to switch to elementary education. During Block I I worked with a third grade class, and in Block II I worked with a kindergarten class. I did have to stay here a little longer, but switching was definitely the right move for me. Now I am much happier, and am finally starting to pick up my instrument (the clarinet) again. I continue to play and give clarinet lessons at the Harper School in Lenoir.

I think teaching in Costa Rica will provide an opportunity for me to work with children who speak Spanish, and hopefully learn more about the language myself! I feel that so many Spanish speaking children in our education system are pushed to the side, and that teachers do not know of effective ways to work with them. I think that by traveling to Costa Rica, not only will I learn to speak the language more, but I will also learn how to help these children speak English. I also want to learn all I that I can about the culture! What better way to do this than to live with a host family!

What first attracted me to Costa Rica is that it is so different from anything else I have ever experienced. I knew that that by signing up for this trip, I would really be going outside of my box of comfort. After doing some research on Costa Rica, I have to say...and this may sound a bit cheesy, but I am going to type it anyway....I am drawn to everything about it! The close knit families, the laid back lifestyle, the celebrations, and of course the land.

I have always wanted to visit a rain-forest, and now I finally have the chance! I am also extremely excited about the opportunity to work with the children there. As most of you know, I met Karla Jimenez at a dinner at Dr. Angel's house last night, and she is amazing. As she spoke to us about the children who live in Costa Rica she began to cry, explaining that many of the children come from very poor families and learning a second language is their one opportunity to make something of themselves. It is easy to see that she is very passionate about what she does, and really wants to make a difference in each of these children's lives. I am thankful that we have been given the opportunity to help her.