Active Learning

Student Teacher

Stephanie Bauer
Bessemer, Mich.
Elementary Education major
Special Education minor

One of the strengths of UW-Superior's Teacher Education program is that students get many opportunities to gain experience by working directly with children. Students usually start out observing classroom teachers, then advance to giving small-group lessons on campus, then move into schools around the region to act as a tutor, student teacher or teaching intern.

Stephanie Bauer, a senior from Bessemer, Mich., is teaching a first-grade class at Great Lakes Elementary School in Superior. The teacher is in the room, but Stephanie's running the class today. She pauses to talk about what she's learned from student teaching.

"It makes you realize how much work teaching is," she says. "I'm here from a quarter to 8, and last night I didn't leave until 6. I'm here doing my activities plan, getting lessons ready."

"I'm learning classroom management. I have 17 kids and I have to make sure everyone learns," Stephanie says. "The reality is that you're standing up in front of 17 kids depending on you to learn so they can go onto second grade."

"It's scary. But the kids love you," she adds with a beaming smile. "At the end of the day I feel good. I feel like I've done something."