Advice for Beginning Senior I

by Betsy Edwards (senior)

Hello all! My name is Betsy Edwards. I am a senior Teaching Fellow, currently in my Senior I semester. I am an elementary education major and intern in a second grade classroom. Senior I is the first semester of the Senior Year Experience here at ECU. Senior I interns report to their clinical school one full day per week. Interns observe teacher hours, not student hours. The purpose of the senior I semester is to get acclimated to the classroom and the duties of the classroom teacher. I am required to teach three whole group lessons. I am also completing a case study and other requirements for the READ 3210 course in my classroom. The Senior I semester is known for being the most difficult of all. The work load is definitely challenging, but manageable if you keep your goals in mind. Good luck to all of you.

I leave you now with a bit of pre-Senior I advice:

When you receive your clinical placement on OneStop, call your teacher! Offer to help him/her organize the classroom for the coming year. It looks really good!

Attend open house or any other opening of school events. I did not attend my school's open house and did not have the opportunity to meet any parents.

Don't be late! Teachers are required to be at school ridiculously early, but press on! You will get used to it eventually.

Generate a list of questions to bring with you on the first day. Think about any questions you may have about the schedule, curriculum, school, students, other teachers, etc