Aspiring teachers who are interested in earning a degree in education can start the program early by taking child development classes at NH.
Working with Children I and II, Learning About Children, and Independent Family Living are all classes where students can work in the Lil’ Hawks preschool. These classes are taught by Family and Consumer Science teachers Ms. Amy Berman and Mrs. Judith Knisely. The program focuses on students who would like to teach early childhood and elementary education up until grade three.
Senior Megan Bocek has taken all four of the classes and enjoys working with the children in the preschool. Her career aspiration is to become a nurse in a children’s hospital and the preschool has given her experience working with children.
“My favorite part is just messing around with the kids,” said Bocek. “It’s a serious class but it’s so much fun. I signed up for the class because I love kids and after Working With [Children] I, I couldn’t not take [Working With Children] II.”
According to Bocek, Knisely pushes the students to make the preschool the best that it can be because parents are sending their children to receive an education that builds for the future.
“At first it was really stressful, like last year. But this year, I’m used to it and I know what my group of kids likes to do,” said Bocek. “Planning lessons does get stressful because we have to plan four lessons in about 45 minutes, but Mrs. Knisely helps a lot so I do not stress that much.”
In addition, the high school students teach math, reading, writing, art, computer, science, social studies, and gym.
The Working With Children classes are extremely popular with about 45 students just alone in the Working With Children II classes.
In addition, the second teacher based program at NH only has about 11 students who fully completed the program. It is the Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM) program and is for students who are interested in teaching third grade and up until twelfth grade.
The students must take the classes Human Growth and Development, Teaching as a Profession, Foundations of Curriculum, and the TAM Internship in order to complete the program. They are also taught by Berman and Knisely.
“It’s a great program that allows high school students to get a glimpse into the life of a teacher,” said senior Carmen Huneke.
According to Huneke who is in the process of completing the program, these classes focus primarily on how to become an effective, professional teacher.
In the Internship class, senior year students are able to teach and plan lessons at an elementary, middle, or high school level for an entire block.
Huneke’s internship is presently in seventh grade English at NHMS. She loves being able to work with the students and they are all extremely supportive of her teaching the class. She hopes to major in Secondary Education/ English in the future.
“They are fun kids who always put a smile on my face and show me why I want to become a teacher,” said Huneke.
Secondary education teachers are always in need so students who complete the TAM program and attend Towson University are eligible to receive a 4,000 dollar scholarship to major in Education. In addition, the credits from the TAM program are transferable to HCC, Stevenson, and Towson University.
The seniors in the program this year will be the third graduating class from NH.
“I love teaching science because I get to explain to freshman how and why things work,” said senior Caroline Hershfeld. “It’s really rewarding teaching a lesson and then next class seeing them repeat that information back to me.”
Any student interested in becoming involved in the TAM program or Working With Children, see Knisely in room D101.