Despite all of her research, trainig, and studies, senior Haley Allen still felt uneasy about taking over a classroom of her own. That is, until her mentors in the College of Education taught her a very valuable lesson; you will always be learning along the way. Haley says, "Because of my instructors, I now feel prepared for the many unknowns that come with teaching young children."
A little bit about Haley
Q: Where is home for you?
A: I'm from Lincoln, Illinois.
Q: What is your major?
A: I'm a senior in Early Childhood Education/Psychology.
Q: What do you enjoy about your campus experience, so far?
A: I love the community of the House that I live in, it’s provided me with a great support system and many lifelong friends.
Q: How did you know you wanted to go into the field of education?
A: I am constantly inspired by young children and I wanted to pursue a career where I was able to foster their imaginations.
Q: What do you enjoy about the College of Education?
A: I love all my cohort members and the unity that my program has given to us through our experiences in becoming teachers.
Q: Do you have a favorite professor, or course? Why?
A: I loved my Language and Literacy classes because I was introduced to the vast array of children’s literature and the many ways that it can be incorporated into children’s lives. My favorite part about teaching is reading the children books.
Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I have a twin sister who also attends UIUC in the field of education, looking to become a high school biology teacher.
Q: Tell us about any research you’ve done and the mentorship you’ve received from your instructors!
A: I have done research in Psychology, but in regard to education, all of my instructors have been extremely helpful in guiding me through the program of becoming a teacher. They’ve been flexible and reminded me that it’s okay to make mistakes, but have also encouraged me to always do my best and strive to improve. They have both encouraged my desire for an ideal classroom environment, but also reassured me that a classroom is ever-changing. Through all of my classes, I have learned that no matter how much I learn about teaching young children, I will still learn many new things through my years in the classroom. This used scare me and made feel unprepared, but because of my instructors, I now feel prepared for the many unknowns that come with teaching young children.
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