Walking a llama after school, being chased by seagulls, exploring Madrid, and adjusting to a seven-hour time difference when you want to talk to your mom, aren’t typical student teacher experiences.
But they are when you student teach in England or Spain.
In Eastbourne, England, student teacher Elise Delihant ’24 put on her “wellies’” and walked llamas in an afterschool program. She talked to her “host mum” into the late hours, and explored places she’d only read about in storybooks.
Olivia Williams ’24, taught outside of Madrid and was surprised how eco-friendly the country is. It was common to see clothes hanging outside to dry. Waiting until the end of the day to speak to family and friends because of the time difference was an adjustment.
When school started in August, Hannah McMurray ’24 was nervous. But her confidence grew after spending the entire school year in a third-grade classroom as a Professional Development School (PDS) student.
These recently graduated education majors took advantage of the PDS and Study Abroad programs offered by the School of Teaching and Learning. The PDS program gives senior education students a year-long experience in a public school that replaces the 16-week student-teaching semester. The Study Abroad student teaching program is an eight-week experience.
Following are their stories in their own words.
Olivia Williams ’24, Elementary Education, Study Abroad
Where did you teach?
For study abroad, I taught in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, about 30 minutes outside of Madrid. I spent 8 weeks there.
What surprised you about the experience?
I was surprised by how eco-friendly the country is. The public transit system was impressive, and it was common for people to use it. I was also surprised that dryers are not a norm in people’s homes, so they hang their clothes to dry. It was pretty cool to see.
What will you never forget?
I will never forget the sense of community I felt in the school and in Madrid. I really admired how people come together and genuinely enjoy one another’s company.
What did you learn about yourself?
I learned a lot about myself. This was a huge new experience for me, and being away from family and dealing with the time difference taught me how resilient I am. I also realized that it’s something I would do again.
What will you take from this experience into the classroom, or into your life?
I will remember that children are way more capable than we think. I will hold students to a higher standard because I believe in their capabilities.
What would you tell a student considering study abroad?
I would advise them to be prepared for the effects of the time difference. Waiting until the end of the day to speak to family and friends back home was the hardest part.
Elise Delihant, Elementary Education, Study Abroad
Where did you teach?
I taught second grade at Metcalf Elementary for the first six weeks, and moved to Eastbourne, England for the remaining 10 weeks.
In the UK, I was fortunate to teach Year 4 (3rd Grade) at Parkland Junior School, which is a school serving Year 2-6 (1st Grade-5th Grade. A bit confusing, I know!) and is conjoined to an Infant School with the early childhood students. Although I was placed in Year 4, I also offered to fill in to teach Year 6 and to assist as needed with 1:1 instruction in the Rainbow Room, which is akin to a special education resource room!
What surprised you about the experience?
There were so many surprising aspects of this experience. There were new surprises around the corner with each day. England operates on a national curriculum which essentially means the entire country abides by the same standards, content, curriculum, etc. The learning trajectory is almost identical for each school, and there are specific protocols such as using designated workbooks and grading student work that each classroom enforces.
Of course, there are statewide standards in the states; however, I was surprised by how uniform (no pun intended as the students all wear uniforms!) the education system is. Another aspect I found to be surprising was the roles of personnel. Each classroom is referred to, at least at my school, by an author’s last name (i.e. Seuss) and has a general classroom teacher as well as a teacher’s assistant, like a co-teacher.
The idea is for the instructors to collaborate as a team, and while this ideology is actualized more in some classrooms than others, the TA is one of the most invaluable adults in the room. In England, the general classroom teacher fills in for P.E. instruction, which is held once a week, and the TA provides first aid, specialized support for students, and pull-out resources for literacy, math(s), and other subjects.
There are “specials” teachers such as the football coaches from Brighton Hove who instruct the students once a week as well as an ICT, technology, teacher who does the same, but the roles and responsibilities of each adult in the building are quite different!
What will you never forget?
There are two memories I hold very dear, each for differing reasons. One of the fondest memories I have was during one of the times I volunteered with the Animal Care Club. Each of the teachers run an after-school club, varying from Disney, times tables, phonics, etc. but I would happily say I chose the most fun club!
The school has chickens, ducks, bees, and llamas for the students to care for, and the idea was to build school camaraderie, instill responsibility, and teach children how to care for living things. My favorite memory was a hilarious moment when one of my students got spat on by a llama while we were walking them around the school, and we could not control our laughter as this student was blinded by a splurge of a grassy surprise!
I absolutely loved putting on our “wellies” to feed the ducks, walk the llamas, and grow to know students from all different classrooms on a more personal level, for these quiet, and sometimes silly moments, were ones I immediately recall when I look back on this experience.
The second memory I will never forget was the very last day. There comes the inevitable time when you have to say goodbye as a teacher, but this was especially difficult. I truly connected on such a deep level with this group of students, and I felt so loved by each and every child.
During morning assembly, the staff at Parkland dedicated a moment to thank us for our time, and I promised I was not going to cry until I looked at our students wearing their hearts on their sleeves. To be abroad, in an entirely new place, can be challenging at times, but these students, and the Parkland community, were exceptionally welcoming to our cohort.
There are times as a teacher when you have to put on a brave face, and others when you can show your authentic self, and I remember coming back into the classroom, seeing the kids crying, and saying that it was okay to cry because I felt it too, for my face matched theirs.
I instinctively told the kids to stand up, and taught them to do a little “happy dance” I always do before each and every swim race. This moment may seem small, but to me, it was the very reason why I chose to become a teacher: to connect on a human level and learn from one another.
What did you learn about yourself?
Throughout this experience, there were so many things I learned that it feels to be a disservice to compartmentalize them into one sole thing. I learned how to be adaptable as many of the practices were strikingly different from what I knew. I learned how to advocate for myself, for there were instances when I felt, in my heart, I needed to stay true to who I am. I learned how to be confident in what I can contribute to a classroom.
I learned how to learn from other student teachers. I learned how to work together with those who may have divergent beliefs. I learned how critical it is to always welcome curiosity, and to preserve the mindset of a lifelong learner. However, with the greatest importance, I learned how to love an entirely new place and consider it to be a home.
What will you take from this experience into the classroom, or into your life?
Quite frankly, everything. I feel cliche by proclaiming this experience to be one of the most wonderful experiences of my life, but the statement is entirely true. Moving forward, I want to carry the love I felt by the Parkland community, and especially the love I felt from my host mum, affectionately referred to as Mrs. Boss.
Throughout this experience, my entire perspective shifted from my strengths as a teacher to that of a human being who is also a teacher. The first half of student teaching was focused on coursework, requirements, and takeover, but in England, I was truly able to discover who I am, and who I wish to be, even in situations when I was tested to remain true to myself. Both facets of the experience are instrumental in varying ways.
My cooperating teacher at Metcalf was remarkable in teaching me the practices, resources, and the intricacies of education. In England, I was able to transfer these skills and take a moment to explore my persona as an educator. What do I adamantly wish to emulate as a teacher, even in a new setting? What beliefs do I stand for? How can I advocate for those core values?
When I return to Eastbourne in my heart, I’ll remember greeting the students each morning, talking with my host mum into the late hours of a time change, dancing on Royal Parade near the seaside, being chased by seagulls, tripping over the same cobblestone, exploring places I had only read in storybooks, and feeling more myself than I have in a very long time.
What would you tell a student considering study abroad?
I cannot endorse the program more. Though taking the step can be frightening at first, do it! Take that leap! I assure you, the experience is one you will cherish for years to come. Apply for those scholarships, ask questions, and especially research the weather! I love England, but the rain is not an easy feat!
Do you have a teaching job, and if so, do you think this experience contributed to you landing that job?
I am interviewing with schools, so not quite yet, but I do feel excited to share the experience I have learned with my first classroom!
Anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to thank everyone who helped make the experience as lovely as it was. To the Parkland community, the Metcalf community, Mary, the University of Brighton programme, the ISU study abroad program, my loved ones across the pond who encouraged me to take this step, the cohort of student teachers, my steadfast travel companion, Abby, Pippa the dog, and Mrs. Boss, who made Penhale a new street on the roadmap in my heart.
Hannah McMurray, Elementary Education, Professional Development School
Where did you teach?
I taught at Pepper Ridge Elementary School in third grade. I was lucky enough to begin the school year with the students. I have spent the entire school year in the same classroom.
How did you feel at the start of the school year versus the end?
At the beginning of my experience, I remember feeling nervous. I wanted to make a lasting impression on the students, but I felt a lot of my focus was on getting comfortable in the classroom environment. You spend so many hours of coursework outside of the classroom learning such meaningful content, but you really have to adapt to the environment of the classroom, the students, and your cooperating teacher before you can implement those practices.
I found myself working a lot on my confidence through the entirety of the school year. By the end of the year, I can confidently say I am ready for my own classroom. I feel confident in behavior and classroom management. I credit all of that confidence to Jennifer Corbly, my cooperating teacher.
What surprised you about the experience?
Something that surprised me the most about my experience is how much I grew emotionally, and professionally. I truly never knew that there is a balance between loving your students and having some really hard conversations with them. I learned that loving your students can look so different than I originally thought. Loving my students to me means creating a safe, welcoming environment where all students are going to learn — even if that means having those tough conversations.
What did you learn about yourself?
The most important thing I learned about myself is that I am worthy of being a teacher. If you had asked me a year ago, I would have told you that I am not sure this profession is for me. Now that does not mean I haven’t had to overcome some of the most challenging obstacles, but I have been able to see how important each student is to me, that it makes me want to work even harder.
I learned that I could love a group of students so much that I will do anything for them. I think that has been the most eye-opening for me. I can reflect back and think I really did everything I could for my students because I love them so much.
How prepared do you feel for your first teaching job?
I feel incredibly prepared. I am lucky to have had a full year. You really don’t realize how much growth happens in nine months until you reflect back to a year ago, even August. I can confidently say that I learned some of the most important things in the field. I know that no matter what I have a great experience under my belt, and I can always reflect on what I learned.
Do you have a teaching job, and if so, where?
I do have a teaching job! I accepted a fourth-grade position at Dunlap Grade School.
Do you feel like the PDS experience helped you get a teaching job?
I believe PDS helped me get a job because I was prepared to discuss the interview questions. I had truly experienced everything we talked about.
What would you tell a student considering PDS?
I highly recommend it. In PDS you can become acclimated with your students, the school environment, and classroom environment before you have to begin teaching. You can spend the entire first semester building relationships with the students, which will greatly improve your classroom management when you begin teaching.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I am very lucky to have had this opportunity in the PDS program. I could not have gotten to where I am today without the guidance and support from Bruce Weldy, my supervisor, and Jennifer Corbly, my cooperating teacher. These are people who truly care about your success and will do anything to guide you. PDS is a program I will always be grateful for.
