Experience Summary
In Maine (spring 2008) I worked as a substitute teacher for Cumberland County School District. I have also worked as a mentor (Big Brothers/Big Sisters 2004). I am a scholarly person. At Bowdoin College, I was Russian Club President, won the school's Russian Department Prize in 2009, and maintained a 3.8 GPA within the Russian department.I found my experience working as a substitute teacher incredibly rewarding. The student-teacher relationship naturally appeals to me. It is in my opinion a symbiotic relationship. I personally learn by teaching, it helps me to process information. Ultimately, I want to teach Russian or Russian history on a college level. I think that tutoring in Russian or in history would be very helpful for me.
Teaching Style
I believe that it is most important for a teacher to be firm, patient, and clear. What worked best for me as a substitute teacher was to first establish a very clear system of expectations, then a set of rewards and consequences. The next most important thing is to be firm and fair. A teacher must always play by the rules he himself has established. Once kids can clearly understand the purpose and goals of the day's activities and how their behavior fits within that framework, I believe children are smart enough to guide their own learning. I think kids learn better when they are forced to think for themselves anyway. At this point the teacher should play a patient, supporting role.