Dixon Gerber
McKay Student Ambassador
Elementary Education
When it comes to teaching, the best source of learning is experience. As a BYU student, Emily Jensen understands what it is like to go through the elementary education program and work her way to be an intern (learn more about what it means to be an intern). She is currently an intern at Westridge Elementary School, so we asked her to share a little bit about herself and her experience as a teacher in hopes that we can learn from her experience.
Can You Tell Us About Yourself?
I’m from Provo, Utah. I majored in Elementary Education at BYU. I played tennis in high school and sang in BYU Women’s Chorus for 3 years. I am a huge fan of Taylor Swift and can associate one of her songs with just about any life situation. Currently, I am interning in 1st Grade at Westridge Elementary in the Provo City School District. I plan to continue teaching and hope to stay in the lower grades.
What is Your Favorite Part of Teaching?
My favorite part about teaching is being able to watch the kids grow. Young kids are so full of the light of Christ and very open to learning. Watching them grow and progress each day and helping to move them towards their greatest potential can be a very sacred beautiful experience for a teacher.
What is the Biggest Lesson You've Learned From Teaching?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned as I’ve taught is to always be willing to learn. As a teacher, if you are open to it, you can learn just as much as the students each day. The best teachers are the ones who approach teaching with a humble attitude and a willingness to learn from others in order to improve their practice. Whether that’s improving your methods, management, or the way you open your heart towards certain kids, there is always more to learn as a teacher.
How Do You Feel Like A BYU Education Prepared You To Be Where You Are Now?
The education I received at BYU helped me to see that each student is an individual learner. All too often, we fall into patterns of teaching “a class” when who we are really teaching are individual children of God with individual needs and abilities. When we approach teaching with the goal of helping each individual to progress, rather than simply getting through the curriculum, we are enabled to help our students to reach their fullest potential.
Conclusion
Emily is a prime example of success in the BYU Elementary Education program. She enjoys seeing growth in her students and has learned that there is always more to learn as a teach. We often learn more as we teach. The Elementary Education program at BYU taught her to view the class as a group of individual students with different needs and abilities. After all, the mission statement for the McKay School of Education is, "We strive to model the attributes of Jesus Christ, the Master Teacher, as we prepare professionals who educate with an eternal perspective."
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