Senior Marissa Lynch walks into Ms. Green’s 3rd grade class at Acton Elementary and says, “Good morning class.”
Marissa then takes control of the classroom as if it were her own. Today they are reviewing for a spelling test. They go over the words as the students spell the word she writes them on the board.
“Okay class we will take a restroom break and when we come back we will switch from spelling to math.”
The class gets upset because they are not really interested in math as much as spelling.
This is what every Ready, Set, Teach junior or senior who walks into their field site at the elementary or intermediate schools experiences.
““My students make me think twice about becoming a teacher,” Lynch said. “I start to think if I will be able to handle this later on in my life, but overall I love my students because I can watch them grow.”
Ready, Set, Teach coordinator Tyra Walker said the program is here for the students who are interested in entering the education world later in life.
“I feel this two year course is helping students really make a decision about whether or not they want to get into education as a teacher, administrator or other jobs within a school district,” Walker said.
As mentors the elementary teachers make it their goal to prepare the students for the future in the classroom.
“Students that enter the Ready, Set, Teach! Program impact my life by allowing me to show them examples and also real on the job experiences,” Acton third grade teacher Natalie Chase said.
Students in the program look to the students they teach at times to help them improve their craft.
“My students tell me the truth if I’m doing something wrong,” Junior Patience Elliott said. ” They will correct me and it teaches me how to take criticism.”
Acton third grade teacher Candy Green said she sees herself in the students who work with her classes for their Ready, Set, Teach program.
“These students impact my life in a positive way,” Green said. “It reminds me of the determination and vision I had in high school and college.”
