The closest thing I saw to a real school was the kids walking to the "high school", which was across from an orphanage we were painting. The youngest children at this orphanage stayed there all day and were taught what I guess could be equivalent to Pre-K/Kindergarten. The main location I worked at was Westhaven Children's Home for the Disabled. The children here were a wide range of ages, but due to their various disabilities they weren't taught very much. Behind this property was a boys' home called COPSE Place of Safety, where boys who were unruly or in trouble with the law were sent. Depending on how long the boys were there determined if they were able to go to school at all throughout the year.
I could write forever about my experience in Jamaica! I was highly disappointed in the lack of education, but I realized that there are so little funds and so much crime that it makes it complicated. Feel free to ask me about Jamaica any time and I'll be happy to tell you what I know!
I lived in Ft. Lauderdale, but I didn't live there for too long and can't remember much about it. Just remember loving the pool and the beach!!
I think my biggest challenge will be figuring out how to organize time better. I was a big procrastinator the past four years, and in this June class I'm learning that is not possible anymore!
It was great getting to know you a little better through your biography, Kaitlin. I guess, my question would be what are you most looking forward to learning this year?
I think I'm most looking forward to learning how to work with students. I've always wanted to teach high school, but I think it will be interesting to work with middle school as well. I wonder if I'll change my mind on which ages I would want to teach! I'm also looking forward to the entire learning process, especially learning from each other. June has been a lot of fun and I can't wait to see what the next year has in store!
Cool autobiography! Random coincidence- my parents also called me "Scoot" it was just because I refused to walk until my first birthday.
You mentioned the passion you have for teaching the children who often need an extra push to get where they have the potential to be, and that often you feel their teachers are holding them back. So, my question is: have you ever considered working with special needs children? From what I read it seems like something you would be good at. I have often considered looking into the field but I'm not sure I am tough enough to work with them and not let it upset me.
Yes! I have definitely thought about that a lot. I think that I want to get a few years of teaching under my belt and see how it goes. I know people who work in special education and they say it's so rewarding, so I'm just gonna see how things work out and maybe one day I'll get into that.
There is a painter at Georgia College who I chat with all the time. Either of us knows the other's name, and now we've known each other so long it would be weird to ask. He calls me "scooter" since I often ride a scooter to work. Haven't been able to ride it much this year though because every day there is a big chance of rain. Sucks, cause that scooter gets 110 mph!
hi kaitlin! i'm jess. after reading your autobio, i'm super excited to meet you. i haven't submitted mine yet because i'm in the process of moving, but i, too was on a swim team, fell in love with the GCSU campus, & enjoy being outdoors. those are just some commonalities i noticed as i was reading. AND, i would absolutely LOVE to hear more about jamaica as well. i just returned home from haiti & the need for clothes & shoes there is ridiculous! so, i'm trying to get a shoes drive set up at my church before another team heads down in august. any information or ideas concerning that would be appreciated. aww...i can't wait to meet you next week! Ooh & as for my question, can we please kayak together? :)
Definitely looking forward to sharing stories, and I'll gladly give you any information on how I set up my clothes drive! I've been trying to find people to go kayaking with, so yes! We'll have to go together!!
I just got mine for graduation and have only been a couple times, but not here in Milledgeville yet! You're more than welcome to come with! The more the merrier, yay!!
In your autobiography you mention what seem to be many very positive experiences working with younger children, but you also say that you would never consider working in early childhood. What is it that draws you so strongly towards teaching high schoolers? Is teaching high school a goal you have had for a long time?
I like working with younger children, in a more relaxed setting. My high school teachers were so great & they are the ones that made me want to teach secondary education. I still keep in touch with my senior lit teacher, even though she's retired now, and it's so great. I think that high schoolers are old enough to know what they're supposed to do, and that it's not like you're babysitting them. I've just never been interested in teaching the basics of elementary school, I want to show students how to enjoy literature and I think high school is the best place for that. But I'm not opposed to middle school and think that would be rewarding as well.
If you were only able to teach one single work of literature (excluding religious texts such as the Bible, the Koran etc, and compilations- Complete works of *insert author here*) to your students your first year of teaching, what text would you select and why?
Oh gosh, this is such a hard question! I'm a big fan of southern literature and definitely love To Kill a Mockingbird. But that's taught so frequently. I read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers, my junior year of college but I think high school students would be able to relate to most of the themes in the text. So I guess I wouldn't mind only teaching that novel, if I had to only choose one text!
Hey Kaitlin! Wow, I did not know your parents were divorced. I'm glad though that your dad is a great figure in your life. Do you still see your mom at all? How has she been doing with her life?
Yep, and everything happens for a reason. Now I have a wonderful "stepmother" in my life and three amazing "stepsiblings"! I very rarely see my mom. She was never one for work, and currently works at a restaurant doing whatever. She's made some poor decisions (like marrying her current husband) and although I don't resent her for her choices, we just don't see eye-to-eye on much. So I don't feel obligated to drive up to see her and she's busy trying to have a little income and doesn't get many days off to come to Georgia. We talk about once a week, but nothing substantial.
I got ya. Sorry to hear that. But I'm glad your step siblings have been great people in your life. :) It's too bad that your mom made so many bad choices. I've got a cousin that made and still is making a lot of terrible choices in life but what can you do right?
Kaitlin- I enjoyed your story. You said you tutored some kids at Baldwin High School. What is one of the things you learned about getting through to these kids?
PS- I love the river and lake, too! We'll have to have a group outing one day. :)
I think the most important thing I learned is to show the students that you care, and that you want to see them do well. The boys I tutored would tell me how their teachers wouldn't give them much extra help if they were falling behind and that they would get kicked out of class for nothing. It was really hard to hear that their teachers didn't have the time to care. I know not all the teachers were like that, but it was definitely disheartening to hear this kind of thing. It takes a lot of patience, but it's so rewarding to see them smile when they get a good grade! And that's how I know I'm on the right path and that this is what I want to do with my life! Yay!
Yes, but I say more than just one day! I'm hoping to go whenever possible haha!
The closest thing I saw to a real school was the kids walking to the "high school", which was across from an orphanage we were painting. The youngest children at this orphanage stayed there all day and were taught what I guess could be equivalent to Pre-K/Kindergarten. The main location I worked at was Westhaven Children's Home for the Disabled. The children here were a wide range of ages, but due to their various disabilities they weren't taught very much. Behind this property was a boys' home called COPSE Place of Safety, where boys who were unruly or in trouble with the law were sent. Depending on how long the boys were there determined if they were able to go to school at all throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteI could write forever about my experience in Jamaica! I was highly disappointed in the lack of education, but I realized that there are so little funds and so much crime that it makes it complicated.
Feel free to ask me about Jamaica any time and I'll be happy to tell you what I know!
I enjoyed reading your bio! Where did you live in Florida?
ReplyDeleteMy question for you is this: what do you think will be your biggest challenge this upcoming year?
I lived in Ft. Lauderdale, but I didn't live there for too long and can't remember much about it. Just remember loving the pool and the beach!!
DeleteI think my biggest challenge will be figuring out how to organize time better. I was a big procrastinator the past four years, and in this June class I'm learning that is not possible anymore!
It was great getting to know you a little better through your biography, Kaitlin. I guess, my question would be what are you most looking forward to learning this year?
ReplyDeleteI think I'm most looking forward to learning how to work with students. I've always wanted to teach high school, but I think it will be interesting to work with middle school as well. I wonder if I'll change my mind on which ages I would want to teach! I'm also looking forward to the entire learning process, especially learning from each other. June has been a lot of fun and I can't wait to see what the next year has in store!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCool autobiography! Random coincidence- my parents also called me "Scoot" it was just because I refused to walk until my first birthday.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the passion you have for teaching the children who often need an extra push to get where they have the potential to be, and that often you feel their teachers are holding them back. So, my question is: have you ever considered working with special needs children? From what I read it seems like something you would be good at. I have often considered looking into the field but I'm not sure I am tough enough to work with them and not let it upset me.
Yes! I have definitely thought about that a lot. I think that I want to get a few years of teaching under my belt and see how it goes. I know people who work in special education and they say it's so rewarding, so I'm just gonna see how things work out and maybe one day I'll get into that.
DeleteThere is a painter at Georgia College who I chat with all the time. Either of us knows the other's name, and now we've known each other so long it would be weird to ask. He calls me "scooter" since I often ride a scooter to work. Haven't been able to ride it much this year though because every day there is a big chance of rain. Sucks, cause that scooter gets 110 mph!
Deletehi kaitlin! i'm jess. after reading your autobio, i'm super excited to meet you. i haven't submitted mine yet because i'm in the process of moving, but i, too was on a swim team, fell in love with the GCSU campus, & enjoy being outdoors. those are just some commonalities i noticed as i was reading. AND, i would absolutely LOVE to hear more about jamaica as well. i just returned home from haiti & the need for clothes & shoes there is ridiculous! so, i'm trying to get a shoes drive set up at my church before another team heads down in august. any information or ideas concerning that would be appreciated. aww...i can't wait to meet you next week! Ooh & as for my question, can we please kayak together? :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely looking forward to sharing stories, and I'll gladly give you any information on how I set up my clothes drive! I've been trying to find people to go kayaking with, so yes! We'll have to go together!!
DeleteI don't have my own kayak, but I love it! I would love to go!
DeleteI just got mine for graduation and have only been a couple times, but not here in Milledgeville yet! You're more than welcome to come with! The more the merrier, yay!!
DeleteI have two kayaks if anyone ever wants to borrow them. They are flat bottomed and easy to use, not the slim kind you can do rolls in.
DeleteIn your autobiography you mention what seem to be many very positive experiences working with younger children, but you also say that you would never consider working in early childhood. What is it that draws you so strongly towards teaching high schoolers? Is teaching high school a goal you have had for a long time?
ReplyDeleteI like working with younger children, in a more relaxed setting. My high school teachers were so great & they are the ones that made me want to teach secondary education. I still keep in touch with my senior lit teacher, even though she's retired now, and it's so great. I think that high schoolers are old enough to know what they're supposed to do, and that it's not like you're babysitting them. I've just never been interested in teaching the basics of elementary school, I want to show students how to enjoy literature and I think high school is the best place for that. But I'm not opposed to middle school and think that would be rewarding as well.
DeleteIf you were only able to teach one single work of literature (excluding religious texts such as the Bible, the Koran etc, and compilations- Complete works of *insert author here*) to your students your first year of teaching, what text would you select and why?
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, this is such a hard question! I'm a big fan of southern literature and definitely love To Kill a Mockingbird. But that's taught so frequently. I read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers, my junior year of college but I think high school students would be able to relate to most of the themes in the text. So I guess I wouldn't mind only teaching that novel, if I had to only choose one text!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Kaitlin! Wow, I did not know your parents were divorced. I'm glad though that your dad is a great figure in your life. Do you still see your mom at all? How has she been doing with her life?
ReplyDeleteYep, and everything happens for a reason. Now I have a wonderful "stepmother" in my life and three amazing "stepsiblings"! I very rarely see my mom. She was never one for work, and currently works at a restaurant doing whatever. She's made some poor decisions (like marrying her current husband) and although I don't resent her for her choices, we just don't see eye-to-eye on much. So I don't feel obligated to drive up to see her and she's busy trying to have a little income and doesn't get many days off to come to Georgia. We talk about once a week, but nothing substantial.
DeleteI got ya. Sorry to hear that. But I'm glad your step siblings have been great people in your life. :) It's too bad that your mom made so many bad choices. I've got a cousin that made and still is making a lot of terrible choices in life but what can you do right?
DeleteKaitlin- I enjoyed your story. You said you tutored some kids at Baldwin High School. What is one of the things you learned about getting through to these kids?
ReplyDeletePS- I love the river and lake, too! We'll have to have a group outing one day. :)
I think the most important thing I learned is to show the students that you care, and that you want to see them do well. The boys I tutored would tell me how their teachers wouldn't give them much extra help if they were falling behind and that they would get kicked out of class for nothing. It was really hard to hear that their teachers didn't have the time to care. I know not all the teachers were like that, but it was definitely disheartening to hear this kind of thing. It takes a lot of patience, but it's so rewarding to see them smile when they get a good grade! And that's how I know I'm on the right path and that this is what I want to do with my life! Yay!
ReplyDeleteYes, but I say more than just one day! I'm hoping to go whenever possible haha!