Madison Ehlert Shares Her Student Teaching Experience in Denver

There is nothing quite like being able to spend a semester in Denver, Colorado. I am pleased and happy with my decision to complete my student teaching out here. For my first seven weeks I was placed at Place Bridge Academy where I was student teaching in a Spanish classroom for both first and second grade. I wouldn’t have traded my experience for the world. One big lure that drew me out to Denver was being able to teacher a diverse population. I definitely got a chance to do that by completing part of my student teaching at Place Bridge Academy. At just this school alone over 80 languages were spoken, and for 93% of the students English is a second language. It was such an amazing experience to be able to work with students that were so different from each other but yet so alike at the same time.

Currently, I am completing the other seven weeks of my student teaching at Lincoln Elementary. This school has a completely different atmosphere than Place Bridge Academy. The majority of the students come from very affluent families, and are white. There is not nearly as many behavior issues at the school, and the students complete their assigned homework. I think it is such a great opportunity for me to be placed at two schools that are such polar opposites. I look forward to seeing what else is in store for me at Lincoln Elementary as my time continues there.

In addition to student teaching, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here in Denver. I believe I have taken advantage of the urban environment through a number of activities that I would not have been able to do if I were spending the semester back home at Wartburg. I look forward to doing as much as I can in my last six weeks in Denver to make the most of the experience. 

Heidi Burgeson Shares Her Student Teaching Experiences!

I am here in Denver to complete my student teaching. Right now, I am at Knapp Elementary in a 1^st grade classroom. I came out West because I wanted a more urban and diverse environment in which to complete my student teaching. My wish has been granted.

In my time here at Knapp, I have gained a new outlook on teaching to such a diverse group of students. There has been so much I have learned in just these short seven weeks. I have some students who still do not know the alphabet and cannot write their names, but I also have students who can write five or more sentences without any assistance. I have one boy in particular, Izaiah, who had not been in school before this year. Since he is six years old, they could not start him out in Kindergarten, so he jumped straight into 1^st grade. It has been a challenge working with him, but I have learned a lot throughout it. One strategy that I learned from my cooperating teacher is to write in highlighter or yellow marker the sentence that he needs to write, and then he is able to trace the words. This has been such an effective strategy to use for him since he does not know how to write letters correctly. Once he is finished with tracing his sentences, he is so proud of his work, and the smile on his face is what makes this job worth it throughout all of the hardships.

I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything else. I have grown not only in my teaching, but also in my confidence to be away from home and in a completely new setting on my own. The friendships that I have made with other Wartburg West students along with me through this journey will be something I have for the rest of my life. I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to come out here to Denver to learn and grow professionally and personally.

Colorado Native Returns Home Through Wartburg West!

Hi, I’m Melissa- a Colorado native who has been able to dive into so many wonderful Colorado opportunities now that I am a part of Wartburg West.  I am student teaching at Mortensen Elementary School for both my elementary education and special education placements.  Being able to student teach in Colorado has offered so many opportunities for me already.  I have made connections with students and teachers that will last a lifetime.  The relationships I make now will hopefully aid me in finding a job somewhere in Colorado after college.  I have recently finished my first placement in my first grade classroom.  I was skeptical to be in a first grade classroom initially; I thought I would like older students more.  To my surprise, I fell in love with first grade, and I fell even more in love with the students.

I learned a lot about behavior management that will be beneficial in any classroom.  I am thankful for the opportunity to be in first grade and to have made many awesome relationships and memories.  I am truly blessed to be in such an awesome environment, and super thankful that Wartburg West exists! 

I am just starting my second placement with an autism program at my school.  I can tell already that I will be learning so much.  Right now, I am working with two boys who were in the first grade class that I had my first placement.  They are both wonderful and I can’t wait to learn more from them!

Another awesome experience I have had with the Wartburg West program is our trip to Leadville.  I climbed my first 14er ever! You would think a CO native would have done that already, but not until my Wartburg West experience! I had an awesome time in Leadville and I felt as though I grew a lot closer to my Wartburg West peers!

Overall, I am having an awesome time in Colorado! It is so nice to be with family, friends, and my Wartburg West friends. To have a part of my Wartburg “home” in my Colorado home is something truly special.  I am looking forward to more memories, lessons, and cherishing every moment.