Published: April 23, 2008 11:04 am            

EXPERIENCE: Future Teachers offering a glimpse of what the profession is about

Future Teachers

• SCHOOL: Royalton-Hartland High School

• ADVISER: John Reith

• WHAT THEY’RE ABOUT: Students who are learning about a career in teaching

• WHAT THEY DO: Prepare lessons and learn how to interact with students



Roy-Hart’s aspiring teachers learning the trade



MIDDLEPORT — Students at Royalton-Hartland High School who want to be teachers now have an activity that helps them achieve that goal.

Future Teachers is a student club that gives exposure and advice to students who one day may become educators. Students can learn more about teaching as a career and have a more realistic understanding of what the profession may entail. One thing is for sure, Roy Hart students in Future Teachers know exactly what they’re going to college for.

“They know theyíre going to be teachers,” said club adviser John Reith.

One of the things the club does is have every member present and teach a lesson plan about a lesson of their choice. Their fellow members and Reith critique each lesson plan and how it was taught. Reith even occasionally acts up in class like a normal student might, just to see how the aspiring teachers might handle it.

“You learn how to deal with a classroom setting, and how to present a lesson,” said senior Stephanie Lee. “And how to deal with students.”

“It’s on purpose, I’m just enough of a trouble maker,” Reith said in response to the members who said he was a handful as a student.

“It teaches you to make a difference, you could be a role model that they never had,” said senior Audra Veihdeffer.

Sophomore Juan Broyles said Future Teachers introduces students to basic skills of teaching, some of which may not have been available to teachers just starting out years ago.

Besides lesson plans and mock teaching, the club would like to get back to doing community service too. Two years ago Roy-Hart students in Future Teachers did some charity work around Christmas time.

Reith said the members were serious about becoming teachers, especially Broyles who went around and interviewed faculty members about what makes a good teacher. Broyles asked them about what they have learned, and asked some great questions he added.

This past year was Reith’s first as the adviser of the club. He has been in schools in the past that have had a Future Teachers club, but he has never had the opportunity to advise one until this year. He said he has some plans for the club.

“It didn’t do much last year, but I would love to do a couple of field trips maybe a research project,” he said. “I would like to formalize tutoring, and not just have them helping their friends.”

Broyles added that Future Teachers didn’t just show students how to become teachers, but rather how to connect with students.

“You learn that you’re more than just a teacher, you’re a friend someone they can trust,” he said. “It’s rewarding.”

Contact reporter Joe Olenick

at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

        

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