What I did: During the summers of 2014 and 2015, I had the opportunity to work at St. John’s Child Development Center in Seward, NE. Here, I got to help lead children ages 5 to 12 in field trips, collaborative play, and devotions.
What I learned: Classroom management, behavior modification, and discipline– and I mean this in the best way possible. I learned so much valuable information in how to motivate and help direct students in behavior issues. I also learned what can make children at this age excited and motivated.
What I did: I have been playing soccer ever since I was little, and in the 2014 season Concordia women’s soccer team was able to go to Nationals for the first time ever in its program. This final year of my soccer career I have the honor of being a captain of my team. I also have had the opportunity to ref and coach for Seward Recreational Soccer from kindergarten through sixth grade.
What I learned: I love all of the life lessons that can be learned from sports. Soccer has shown to me the importance of “atmosphere” in a classroom, and has shown me how I can translate what I do on the soccer field into classroom. I also have learned that coaching is something that I am very interested in doing when I graduate from Concordia.
What I did: For the class “Young Adolescent Psychology”, I had the opportunity to lead two sessions at the Seward Youth Center. I had students create skits that were spin-offs of Disney movies, which was a learning experience for both me and for them!
What I learned: Students are motivated when they have control of their learning and get to make choices! They had a lot of fun taking over their skits.
What I did: For the class “Middle Level Seminar,” I got to co-lead a sessions focusing on how to create a shelter out in the wilderness for survival at Camp Luther. The students had to focus on what elements they needed to focus on, what resources they could use, and they also got to reflect on what they would do differently if they could do it again. Here is a picture of us huddled underneath one of the shelters.
What I learned: Middle school students would die pretty fast if lost in the wilderness, honestly… but on a serious note, they were very interested in trying to create a shelter that would work. They were just in need of a lot of scaffolding to make it possible.
