Principles of Teaching is a new class offered by Seymour High School this 2024-2025 school year. The class is a three-year, dual-credit pathway that introduces the main concepts of teaching. In the class, Mrs. Halterman teaches topics like understanding the curriculum, incorporating different learning styles, and creating a positive classroom environment. However, the students also get field experience at Redding Elementary School. Each group is assigned a different teacher each visit, exposing them to a diverse set of classrooms. For example, different grade levels, special education classrooms, teaching styles, and topics. This allows them to think about teaching areas for their future. Macie Hankins Rawls realized this on her first visit, “I absolutely LOVED being able to see all of the kids and spend some time with them. Taking trips to Redding Elementary helps me to better understand what grade I would like to teach in the future. I enjoy being around the environment where all the kids are so nice and loving. I love that they look up to us and we motivate them for who they want to be in their future as well.”

When interacting with the students, they observe how kids learn and understand new concepts. Izabel Shipley enjoyed this part of her exchange, “It was a new experience and very fun! Observing the kids sharing their narratives and how they interacted with each other during lunch was very interesting. Overall, it was a very fun experience!” Principal of Teaching students also get to feel like a kid again, like Lucero Martinez Mendez, “Entering these welcoming classrooms with awesome teachers made me remember the times when I was a kid as well. I loved that every kid was eager to tell you everything about themselves,” or on the playground like Patty Todd, “One really funny part was when I was at recess with the third grade I was playing tag and my face planted into the mulch. It was really funny to me and the kids laughed about it.”

The students aren’t the only ones having fun at Redding; Mrs. Halterman is enjoying seeing her future teachers at work, “I have enjoyed seeing the passion for education in my cadet teachers. They are excited for the opportunity to play at recess and lead group games, help during math block, and lead fluency stations. Redding teachers and administrators have been so helpful and welcoming.” This experience allows the inspiring teachers to break out of their comfort zones and get in front of a class. Knowing the content to become a teacher is helpful, but exposing them to an everyday lifestyle better influences their future career.

Going to Redding allowed Madison Kemp to reflect on how some topics are harder for students to learn,” It’s [was] really interesting to see how the kids learn these topics like spelling or counting. Yes, as a freshman these topics are easy for me, but for a first grader, it is not so easy because they are learning it for the first time in their lives.” Many students, not just Madison, realized this element, too. Teaching is more than decorating a classroom or making worksheets, it’s helping students understand challenging concepts and life skills, and that you’re a positive person in their lives.

All the teachers are very welcoming, allowing the students to help with group activities and stations. Chester Quillen enjoyed her time in Mrs. Castetter’s class, “Compliments to 4th grade, Mrs. Castetter’s class for being so kind and well behaved during my group[s] duration in her class. They were very fun to be around, and I am excited to be in that class again. Mrs. Castetter was very kind [,] as well as the staff members that helped us.”

When Principles of Teaching Students leave Redding, they feel inspired to be a motivator for kids, grateful for their experience, and maybe a little tired, but in a good, happy way!

Thank you, Mrs. Halterman, for teaching and organizing Principles of Teaching! Your care and attitude for each one of your students is an inspiration to all! Your students love you!

Also, a special thank you to the administrators and teachers at Redding for opening their doors with a warm welcome for the Principles of Teaching Class! The class looks forward to seeing and observing your kind and well-behaved students every visit!