Pekin PDS is a year long internship program partnered by Illinois State University and Pekin School District 108. This internship values technology, standards-based education, complete submersion in the district, and collaboration among staff. Through this it is possible for interns to see how a school year looks from start to finish.

One of the most valuable experiences that this program offers is exposure to more than one level of education. By completing different phases interns are placed in multiple levels. During Phase I interns are placed in their student teaching classroom. As an intern, I spent about three months in a first grade classroom in my Phase I. Here I spent time aiding the classroom teacher with instruction, teaching small group lessons, and becoming familiar with the students that I would be student teaching in the upcoming semester.

From mid October until December I spent my Phase II in a fifth grade classroom. Here my responsibilities were similar to the ones in Phase I. However, I would not be returning to this class to student teach in the spring. The purpose of this phase is to expose the interns to more than one level of elementary education. In addition to being in a classroom during Phases I and II interns are also taking university coursework. Twice a week professors from Illinois State University would teach coursework on location in Pekin.

Finally, in January I returned to my Phase I placement, in the first grade, and began my student teaching experience. During this time I created and implemented grade appropriate lessons to meet curriculum goals, district goals, and Illinois State Learning Standards. Also, I produced and put into practice a comprehensive interdisciplinary unit aligned with numerous standards.