Applied Work-Based Learning
My Applied Work-Based Learning Experience
Course Description: Internship in school. Available for pass/fail grading only. Offers prospective teacher candidates a culminating experience that provides them with the tools needed for their first teaching jobs. Students are immersed in a local secondary school for 10 consecutive weeks and experience the expectations, processes, and rewards of teaching. As part of their Apprentice Teaching experience, candidates will be required to attend a one hour weekly seminar that will bring them together with master teachers to share experiences and to explore issues, problems, concerns, and processes related to their teaching experiences and to entering the profession of teaching.
Final Grade:
A
Semester:
Spr 2025
STEM 485: Apprentice Teaching
Reflection for STEM 485
STEM 485 was the most meaningful experience of my teacher preparation journey. For ten weeks, I taught full-time at a local middle school, stepping into the daily life of a teacher. This experience helped me grow in every way, professionally, personally, and emotionally. I planned and taught lessons, adapted to challenges, and learned how to support all kinds of learners in real time.
Submitting lesson plans and receiving feedback from my cooperating teacher and MonarchTeach instructors taught me how important it is to reflect and adapt. I learned to adjust my instruction based on what students needed, not just what I had planned. Building strong relationships with students was one of the most rewarding parts. I focused on creating a respectful and supportive classroom where students felt comfortable asking questions and trying new things.
The weekly seminars with other apprentice teachers and master educators were also incredibly helpful. It was reassuring to hear that others were facing similar challenges, and I learned a lot from their advice and shared experiences. These conversations helped me think more deeply about the profession and what it means to grow as an educator.
STEM 485 confirmed that I’ve chosen the right path. It gave me confidence in my ability to lead a classroom and reminded me that teaching is about more than delivering content, it’s about connecting with students and helping them believe in themselves.