The Pekin Professional Development School is a partnership with Illinois State University which allows education majors the opportunity to participate in a year long internship program. It is through this program where interns see the beginning of the school year through the end, and everything in between. Having been in the program, I am confident that I will be able to plan and implement standards-based lessons which are appropriate to grade levels in any school setting.

 

The program allowed me to work with a diverse group of students, collaborate with colleagues, learn how to be flexible, and work with different forms of technology.  Throughout my whole year, I participated in school district retreats, meet the teacher night, parent-teacher conferences, school improvement days, grade level meetings, at risk meetings, and working with an amazing group of teachers and other staff members.  The program consists of four phases.

 

Phase 1: I worked in a third grade classroom at Willow Primary School two days a week.  The other three days a week I was finishing up my final methods courses.  I worked side by side my mentor teacher.  At this stage, I wasn’t planning my own lessons, but I was able to assist my teacher in many ways.  I gave spelling tests, helped students one on one, and graded papers.

 

Phase 2: While still taking my ISU courses, I moved into a sixth grade classroom in which I gained experience working with middle school aged children.  I worked side by side my mentor teacher.  I still wasn’t planning my own lessons, but I gave spelling tests, worked one on one with students, taught a grammar lesson on different types of sentences, and graded papers.

 

Phases 3 and 4: When January arrived, I went back to my third grade classroom to start my actual student teaching experience.  I planned and instructed standard-based lessons while also collaborating with my mentor and other colleagues.  I was also constantly learning how to become the best teacher possible.  As opposed to the traditional one semester of student teaching, I began taking over subjects from day one.  I was able to quickly immerse myself in all the aspects of teaching.

 

The Pekin PDS has given me the confidence to be an effective classroom teacher, and I am well-prepared for my own classroom!