Teaching for the love of math
A fellowship with Uncommon Schools offers pre-teaching experience that counts
Author: Amanda Guy
A fellowship with Uncommon Schools offers pre-teaching experience that counts
Author: Amanda Guy
Imagine being in your third year of high school, sitting in an Algebra 2 & Trigonometry class. As the year progresses, you notice the inconsistent attendance of your teacher. Now, end-of-the-year exams and the SAT arrive, yet you’ve barely learned anything because you had uncertified substitutes in the classroom.
Fast forward. You are now a senior in high school. All the pressures of seniority are dawning on you—classes, college applications and prom—and while you’ve moved on to Pre-Calculus, an inconsistent approach to teaching has made it difficult for you to absorb the subject matter. Chances are you won’t be prepared or interested in pursuing math education after high school.
But, what if your school had a more dedicated math department, made up of committed teachers?
My name is Amanda Guy, and I am a senior majoring in Mathematics Secondary Education at Virginia Union University. I want to be part of that vision.
I want to be an effective high school mathematics teacher to minority and low-income students. Currently, there are K-12 students who are being “passed along,” moving from one grade to the next without necessarily mastering the curriculum. These students are capable of learning. However, when their parents can’t afford a private tutor, or don’t have the skills to fill in the gaps, student comprehension suffers, creating an achievement gap.
Because colleges value high school performance above all else in admissions criteria, I want to make sure minority and low-income students get the mathematics instruction that allows them to enter higher education, no matter their background.
As an undergraduate student, I knew I wanted to teach; and although I went through many teaching internships, none gave me a real feel for the profession—for what helping students learn every single day feels like. Uncommon Schools gave me that opportunity.
This past summer, as a summer teaching fellow at Uncommon Charter High School, I taught Algebra 2 Summer Academy. The first two weeks of the program consisted of training: email etiquette, classroom management, professionalism and development. This foundation was helpful, though it still took me time to get into the groove.
Nevertheless, I found my teacher self. I was an actual teacher.
Lessons were provided, so I spent my nights internalizing the material. I taught for three hours, received feedback, and implemented constructive criticism the next day. My mentor and associate fellows helped me along the way.
One lesson I learned, The “Teach Like a Champion” (TLAC) technique, significantly informed my approach in the classroom. Uncommon Schools established a culture where students recognize the privilege of receiving an education, while being held accountable to their actions. Practicing the TLAC technique ensured my students truly learned the curriculum, which is huge part of being an effective teacher.
I learned that the classroom is not a utopia every day. You are going to have students who talk and play. It is up to you, as the teacher, to incorporate activities that enable these personalities to put their energy to good use. I also learned forgiveness. When your students walk into the classroom, their slates are wiped clean.
They are still learning, growing and trying figure out who they are, and where they fit in. Your students will look up to you for guidance.
This past summer, I was able to get to know my students. They all were smart, and those who weren’t able to pass the course felt they would be able to pass during the school year—that they would not be in Summer Academy again next year. I will definitely check.
These students need us. Marian Wright Edelman, a children’s rights activist, once said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” I can help these students see, but I can’t do it alone. As a summer teaching fellow with Uncommon Schools, your colleagues, mentor, fellow teachers, even the principal, will have your back every step of the way. Together, we can help students reach their full potential.
Uncommon Schools accepts rising college seniors to its Summer Teaching Fellowship each year.
Are you like Amanda? Could teaching help you or someone you know make a difference and grow an invaluable life skillset? Take or share our roadmap quiz to see if the teaching profession is a good fit.