Spring Break
Graduating Senior Profile: School of Education
Jason Hand
Issue date: 4/14/06 Section: News
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Athena Michaelidis, a senior majoring in teacher education, will graduate at the School of Education commencement ceremony June 17.
Drexel's urban setting and ethnic diversity were factors in attracting her to the University. A resident of suburban New Jersey, Michaelidis looked at several schools in Philadelphia and New York.
Michaelidis chose to study teacher education because she wanted to work with children and found teacher education to be the best major to prepare her for her desired career. Prior to being enrolled at the University, she had secured several jobs where she worked with children.
The best and most memorable experiences Michaelidis will take away with her are of student teaching. She explained that the real-life experience portion of the teacher education program has two dimensions: student teaching that takes place in a public school for a full day and pre-student teaching, which is only a half-day session.
She taught at Greenfield Elementary School, a school for kindergarten through eighth grade, on 22nd and Chestnut Streets. Michaelidis praised the teachers for their compassion toward the students and experience in their fields. The curriculum was well-organized and clearly communicated to the students.
Michaelidis noted, however, that she did not always agree with the approaches that the teachers used when dealing with students who were misbehaving in class or had a hard time understanding the material. Because the educational curriculum in Philadelphia operates by standards that cannot be violated and cannot be adjusted for any students, all of the students had to be at a certain level in their education by a given date. Michaelidis' experience taught her that this approach was not ultimateley beneficial to the students.
She recalled having to teach different topics and being supposed to connect them in students' minds whether or not a connection actually existed.
Michaelidis described the teacher education curriculum as one where students learn all the content that they need to succeed in the classroom. Because students use the methods they learn in class on real elementary school students, the program teaches more than just the theory behind education. This education in the practical application of teaching is expanded to schools outside of the Philadelphia area, as teacher education students learn the various lesson plan formats used in different areas.
Drexel's urban setting and ethnic diversity were factors in attracting her to the University. A resident of suburban New Jersey, Michaelidis looked at several schools in Philadelphia and New York.
Michaelidis chose to study teacher education because she wanted to work with children and found teacher education to be the best major to prepare her for her desired career. Prior to being enrolled at the University, she had secured several jobs where she worked with children.
The best and most memorable experiences Michaelidis will take away with her are of student teaching. She explained that the real-life experience portion of the teacher education program has two dimensions: student teaching that takes place in a public school for a full day and pre-student teaching, which is only a half-day session.
She taught at Greenfield Elementary School, a school for kindergarten through eighth grade, on 22nd and Chestnut Streets. Michaelidis praised the teachers for their compassion toward the students and experience in their fields. The curriculum was well-organized and clearly communicated to the students.
Michaelidis noted, however, that she did not always agree with the approaches that the teachers used when dealing with students who were misbehaving in class or had a hard time understanding the material. Because the educational curriculum in Philadelphia operates by standards that cannot be violated and cannot be adjusted for any students, all of the students had to be at a certain level in their education by a given date. Michaelidis' experience taught her that this approach was not ultimateley beneficial to the students.
She recalled having to teach different topics and being supposed to connect them in students' minds whether or not a connection actually existed.
Michaelidis described the teacher education curriculum as one where students learn all the content that they need to succeed in the classroom. Because students use the methods they learn in class on real elementary school students, the program teaches more than just the theory behind education. This education in the practical application of teaching is expanded to schools outside of the Philadelphia area, as teacher education students learn the various lesson plan formats used in different areas.
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