Choate Rosemary Hall

Teaching Assistant Intern

June - July 2023 • Wallingford, CT

What I liked

There is a lot of support built into the intern experience. In addition to the guidance I received from both of my teacher mentors, we had weekly professional development meetings through which I learned a lot about working in educational settings. I left Choate with a clearer understanding of what it means to work in independent schools and to be an educator, extremely valuable information as I think about possible career paths for my future.

What I wish was different

A sentiment that was echoed by many of the interns was that field trips could have used a little more planning and organization. I think this was their first-year post-Covid taking students out of campus during the weekends, so I understand the lack of structure. Nonetheless, during field trips, it turned out to be somewhat difficult to keep track of 6+ middle schoolers while adhering to all the protocols set in place by Choate.

Advice

I wish I had stepped into the "teacher" role in the classroom earlier and more often than I actually did. I learned a lot from observing my teaching mentors and other teachers in action, but I wish I had had the courage to lead lessons on my own from the get-go.

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Teaching Intern

June - July 2018 • Wallingford, CT

What I liked

As an aspiring educator, this internship allowed me to gain experience as a teacher. I was assigned two teaching mentors which helped the process of learning to be a teacher. You also are surrounded by other young college age interns who you can talk to about the experience. The relationships you build with the other interns make the challenge of being a boarding school teacher even more enjoyable.

What I wish was different

Overall, I had a very positive experience. The one difference may be that I wish I had the opportunity to teach high school students. With the internship you are assigned to teach either middle or high school students and I was placed with middle school. Although a fun and fulfilling experience, it would have been interesting to teach a high school class to see the differences. I did get the chance to live with high schoolers and observe their classes, so I did have opportunities to interact with the older students.

Advice

It is okay to be afraid of standing up in front of younger students. In the end, you will find your own voice and gain the confidence to run a whole 80 minute class. It really is a growing experience that forces you to step into a leadership role in the classroom.

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