Aislinn Burns is a student teacher, who is teaching three US History I classes while working with social studies teachers Kimberly Sears and Heather Carney. Burns aims to share her passion with kids about what it means to learn about the past. She is attending college at UMass Lowell in hopes of becoming a teacher here at WA.
Q: How is your college experience going so far? How does it compare to your high school experience?
A: My time at UMass Lowell has been wonderful. I have been able to meet lifelong friends and was able to build relationships with many of my professors outside of the classroom, which definitely made for a better college experience. While I did enjoy my years of high school, I definitely liked college more. I felt like I had more control of my life, especially since I was able to choose classes that I would enjoy.
Q: Is there anything specific that drew you to work at WA?
A: When it came to deciding where to do my student teaching, WA was one of my top picks. Not only is it a short commute from my home in Tyngsboro, but the work environment and the school’s atmosphere are amazing. During my student observations last year, I noticed how many of the teachers at WA worked together and discussed different ways of teaching content, as well as meeting the needs of their students. That definitely had a sway in my decision since I didn’t see that sense of community at the other schools I went to.
Q: How are you settling in at WA?
A: I think I’m settling in pretty well. I was nervous at the beginning of the year because I have never worked in a school before and I didn’t really know what to expect, but luckily I wasn’t thrown into the deep end. I have only been teaching one class, to ease into things, but by the end of this week I will be teaching three U.S. History I classes. Everyone has been extremely welcoming and the teachers that I am working with are great. Having [Sears] and [Carney] as mentors has really been a blessing. They have gone out of their way to help me adjust to my new role, answering any questions I have, giving advice, and collaborating with me on lesson plans. It’s nice having a support system.
Q: What is your favorite part about being a student teacher?
A: My favorite part about being a student teacher is the different connections I have been able to make with my students. Every class and every student has something different to offer, which allows me to teach material in different ways. If they don’t understand the first time I explain something, I get to try something new. And when they have that “aha” moment, and I can see that they understand what I am talking about, or are able to make connections on their own, it’s extremely rewarding.
Q: What was your high school experience like? How does it compare to students today at WA?
A: I’m kind of jealous of the experience students at WA have. They are exposed to such a wide range of courses that my high school didn’t even offer. The only language course that was provided at my high school was Spanish, so coming to WA and seeing the plethora of world languages that are being offered is amazing. Even within the Social Studies department, there are so many different courses for students to take. My only options [at my high school] were US History I, US History II, World History, and Street Law. I wish I had the option to take American Government, Criminal Minds, Economics, Sociology, or Psychology.
Q: What drew you to teach social studies?
A: The reason I chose to pursue a career as a social studies teacher was because learning about the past offers so much insight into our lives today. I love being able to see how things that have happened in the past have shaped the present and I find it interesting to see how it will influence the future. Also, one of my favorite quotes is “teach the change you wish to see,” and to do that, we must first reflect on the past.
Q: Why do you want to become a teacher?
A: I have always enjoyed helping others and wanted to be able to make a difference in people’s lives. So naturally, I felt the best way of doing this was by being a positive role model to others. Being a teacher not only allows me to help my students academically, but also through developing life skills that they will be able to use beyond the classroom.
Q: What are some challenges you’ve faced at WA?
A: One of the challenges I’m facing at WA is adjusting to the block schedule. Sometimes it throws my lesson plans off because what I think we will get covered in a class period, doesn’t always happen. And then I don’t see those kids for another two days, while my other classes are now 2 lessons ahead. At my high school, you went to the same 5 classes everyday throughout a trimester. So, it’s definitely a curveball only seeing students 3-4 times a week.
Q: Do you have any goals you’d like to achieve this year?
A: During my time at WA I hope to foster a positive, inclusive classroom environment where all of my students feel safe, valued, and respected. So I think my goal for this year would be to build relationships with the students so that they feel comfortable coming to me with any problems or questions they may have.
