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Elaine Mast – Education Internship
My name is Lainey Mast and I have been offered the invaluable opportunity to intern right here at Garden Spot High School during my senior year. I spend my days with Mrs. Geib, the current principles of science and forensics teacher in the high school. My internship has prepared me for my future in many ways. I would like to enter a career in Psychology, and getting to observe the behavior of students from a teacher’s perspective has given me a lot of insight into their cognitive processes. Although my internship may not directly tie into my future career, it has still taught me many valuable lessons that be applied later in life.
A typical day at my internship begins at 7:45. Once I arrive, Mrs. Geib presents me with a list of tasks to complete. These things typically include grading tests or quizzes, preparing, organizing and/or finalizing activities, and setting up labs. These, of course, only account for the “paperwork” aspect of the internship. Throughout my day, I also assist students with any questions they may have about their reviews, worksheets, homework, etc. On less typical days, in which the students participate in a science lab or an interactive activity, I will monitor their work. I ensure they use equipment in a safe manner, answer questions, explain procedures, and make sure they stay on task. Currently, Mrs. Geib and I are discussing options for my first lesson plan that is set to take place within the next couple of weeks. I am planning on having a hands-on activity involved considered that I have observed that they enjoy and learn from these types of activities.
As one would expect with any teaching career, I have run into my fair share of challenges, and have had to come up with creative solutions. One of the greatest difficulties I have run into is encouraging students to try their best even when they aren’t particularly interested in the topic or are frustrated over not understanding. The best way I have found to combat this is to be patient with students and remind them that it is okay, in fact, beneficial, to make mistakes. In the case of uninterested students, Mrs. Geib and I have strived to find activities that cater to their needs. Many of which involve getting up out of seats, mingling with other students, and completing hands-on activities. Labs and demonstrations have been the main source of said activities. In the case of successes, I have had, I would say that labs have made up the vast majority of my achievements. Labs are usually when students have the most questions so I can help students one-on-one and in group settings. The results of labs are one of the main ways that these students can remember and apply what they have learned because it gives them something tangible to link the concepts to. Thus, being there to help them complete procedures safely and correctly, as well as aid them in interpreting their results have been a huge help in their learning process and a huge success for me personally. Although my internship comes with many challenges, it is so rewarding to see students learn and understand concepts that they will use for the rest of their academic career.
This internship has forced me out of my comfort zone by allowing me to work with individuals who may not be on the same page as me, the teacher, or even the rest of the class. Trying to get them caught up to speed has sometimes been difficult, especially when they are unwilling to put in the work to get to the point of understanding. This process has taught me so much about the motivation behind certain actions and how to handle challenging and uncomfortable confrontations with individuals, both of which will be extremely valuable to my future career. If anything, this internship has only cemented the career goals that I had set for myself. Furthermore, my internship has taught me a lot about time management. I have to find a balance between completing the tasks that Mrs. Geib has for me and helping students. This internship has taught me many things and helped me develop some skills that I already possessed. All in all, I am proud of the work I have done during my internship and am extremely grateful for the experience.