As I write this latest blog post, I am deeply immersed in the world of student teaching! Unlike interning, which is when you work in all aspects of the school wherever you are needed (subbing, assisting teachers and students, helping out the nurse), student teaching consists of fifty consecutive school days in the same classroom. Gradually, you assume the role of classroom teacher, taking over all components of the day, including lesson planning.

In my last post, I mentioned I would be student teaching in fourth grade; this has changed, however, and my placement is in Kindergarten! The students are so intelligent, funny, and eager to learn. They are excited about everything, and they are so filled with energy and zest. This past week was an exciting one- we got to celebrate Valentine's Day and the 100th day of school (which was a very big deal!)

Although they are learning from me, I am learning so much from them. They teach me daily about the uniqueness and individuality of all students, and about their various learning styles and strengths. I work closely with my cooperating teacher, and she guides me as I plan out lessons. Taking over the teaching happens gradually. So far, I am running morning meeting, phonics, and read aloud time. This upcoming week, I will be gaining more responsibilities in the classroom. As I get to know these kindergarteners better, I realize that they really do have their priorities straight! The things they care about most are their families, their friends, learning about the world, and being happy.

All of my master's classes are complete, but I still visit campus for seminars. Their was recently a screening of the new film “Race to Nowhere,” which is about the stresses experienced by many American students. A very knowledgeable and well spoken group of educators and school administrators held a panel discussion following the film. This past week, a former elementary school principal and recent QU MAT graduates came to speak about applying for teaching jobs post- Quinnipiac. They offered tips about the job application and interview processes.

I will be sure to keep you posted with my latest student teaching adventures, as well as with information about Quinnipiac's MAT program!

Best,

Melanie Lubin

Melanie graduated in 2008 from Smith College with undergraduate degrees in film studies and anthropology. Subscribe to our feed for more posts from Melanie.

This week has been bittersweet, as it is my very last week of graduate school classes! In retrospect, this master's program went by very fast, and I am going to miss going to classes. Wonderful professors, fascinating topics, a relaxed atmosphere,  and good friends have made the class experience, overall, a  very enjoyable one! Because every class consists of the same cohort of peers, our group has bonded, and I have looked forward to seeing them each night and debriefing about our internships.

Although the class portion of this master's program is coming to an end, there are some very important components coming up that I am eager to embark on. Most significantly, I am beginning student teaching next month! I will be student teaching in a fourth grade class at the school in which I am currently an intern. I have been spending time lately getting to know the students in this room, as well as my cooperating teacher, and I am so excited to work with this wonderful group daily. Student teaching lasts for ten weeks, during which I will be in the same classroom every day, gradually taking over for the teacher and running the day. The students in this class are very curious about working with a student teacher, and sometimes when I pass the students from this class in the hallway, I hear them whisper to each other, “That's her! Our student teacher!” I have so many ideas, lessons, and activities that I am planning to do with this group, and I know already that this experience will be intense, educational, and fun!

Aside from getting ready for student teaching, I am also working on my master's thesis, which is another important component of this master's program. My topic is about the use of educational, multicultural film in an urban fourth grade classroom, and I will soon begin my research within my internship school.

The master's of art in education (elementary ed.) is one that is so intensive and yet so enjoyable and worthwhile. My own teaching has progressed so much through this program.  By working in elementary schools for two years, I have gained so many skills that I believe are contributing to my efforts to be the best possible educator and mentor. I will be sure to keep you posted on my student teaching experiences and the weeks leading up to it!

Best,
Melanie Lubin

Melanie graduated in 2008 from Smith College with undergraduate degrees in film studies and anthropology. Subscribe to our feed for more posts from Melanie.

Hello potential QU grad students! My name is Melanie Lubin, and I am currently in my final year of graduate school, pursuing my Master's of Art in Teaching, Elementary Education. I am from Massachusetts, and I received my bachelor's degree at Smith College in 2008, where I majored in film studies and anthropology. The following year, I pursued my love of working with children, and got a job at Boston Children's Museum as an exhibit interpreter. It was through this job that my passion for education solidified, and I realized that my dream was to teach elementary school. It was during my year at Boston Children's Museum that I began researching graduate programs in elementary education.

I knew that I wanted to go to graduate school in Connecticut, since my boyfriend (now fiancée) was there, working on his degree. I researched several different graduate programs in the New Haven area, and all the while, Quinnipiac began to emerge as the most perfect choice. I researched the program online quite a bit, and then I attended a graduate information session. The two women who spoke (who were both, at the time, in the MAT program) were informative and enthusiastic. When I came to Quinnipiac for my interview, I was an awe of the beauty of the campus, and the kindness of the MAT faculty and staff with whom I met.

My day, as a Quinnipiac MAT student, is a busy one! Every weekday, I go to my internship school, where some days I am a substitute teacher, and other days I am helping teachers and students in a variety of different grades and subjects. The internship program is such an important aspect of the QU MAT program, and this was a large part of why I chose QU. For the two years that we MAT students are working on our Master's degrees, we are also set up with placement at an elementary school. Last year, I worked in North Haven, CT, and this year, my internship is in New Haven. The differences between these two schools are vast, and I have learned so much about the suburban versus urban elementary  school experience. Through the internship program, I have been provided with real world knowledge and skills, ones that I am eager to apply to my own future classrooms.

After working at my internship school, I go to class at QU. I find the academics at QU to be rigorous, fascinating, and engaging. I have formed close bonds with certain professors, and I intend to seek their support, advice, and feedback (about my own classrooms), long after I finish the program! The best part of class for me, though, is connecting with my friends and debriefing with them about their days and mine. In the MAT program, the same cohort of people take each class together, so the fifteen of us in my cohort have gotten very close. I am constantly going to these friends for ideas and guidance about education. Through the MAT program, I have made some best friends.

I look forward to keeping all of you potential MAT students updated during your graduate school search! Please feel free to contact me with any questions! mclubin@quinnipiac.edu

--Melanie Lubin

Melanie graduated in 2008 from Smith College with undergraduate degrees in film studies and anthropology. Subscribe to our feed for more posts from Melanie.