During the fall semester, 19 students from Mrs. Bulla's Exploring Teaching As A Profession class observed educators and students in action in both Monroe-Woodbury High School and Monroe-Woodbury Middle School. During these observations, students identified components of teaching and learning and student engagement.
At the HS level, students approached an educator to observe and they took notes on various qualities of the lesson, environment and the humans in action in those spaces. At the MS level, 15 faculty members volunteered to host student observers.
Following their observations, Mrs. Bulla and the students talked in general terms about student energy, teacher lesson design, the environment created as a result of these, and how the age of the students and the teacher's passion influences the learning that takes place in the room.
"Thank you SO MUCH to my MS colleagues for their willingness to host our HS Exploring Teaching As A Profession students as they contemplate the idea of becoming an educator in some capacity. They LOVED being with there, and they had so much to say about witnessing life at the MS level as someone who can both remember it and see it from a distance.
"Perhaps most importantly - they noted students' enthusiasm for learning and teachers' passion for their work and their content and their students. 'It's so obvious how much they care,' and 'Everyone was clearly enjoying themselves, including the teacher,' and 'The students were so engaged and focused!' are just a few of their observations from being there.
"Previous to this trip, these students observed educators at the HS, where they also had a great experience. Being able to observe educators first hand gives us an opportunity to dive into both the teenage brain as well as the relationship between teaching and learning and engagement in a way that's more meaningful because of their experience witnessing the work and the learning in action," said Michelle Bulla, HS 9-12 English teacher and department chair.