As a Denton ISD/UNT intern, I had many opportunities I am very thankful for. I not only was given excellent instruction, modeling, and time to practice my teaching skills, but I had the opportunity to research with Dr. Tunks and get a paper published. At the beginning of the year Dr. Tunks told us about how she would be asking certain people to research and write a paper for honors day and to hopefully get published in the Eagle Feather. As soon as I heard this I thought "NO WAY, I will never have time for that". When Dr. Tunks asked me to do it, I couldn't say no. It sounded like such a great opportunity and I didn't know if I would ever have one like this again. When she was presenting ideas to me I selected one I thought would not only be an interest to me, but that would also help me in my teaching career. I chose Action Research; we then came up with a plan. There was an opportunity to get a scholarship from the college for $2500 for being a research assistant to a professor. Dr. Tunks and I put together our paper about what we were doing and how I would be able to help her as a teaching assistant. We didn't think I would get the scholarship, but I did. After spending an entire semester researching, analyzing, and writing I presented at Honors Day and my paper was published in the Eagle Feather. Dr. Tunks and UNT also nominated me for the Quest for Quality Exceptional Teacher Candidate Award and I was honored to be selected. Together Dr. Tunks and I have put together multiple papers about what I researched for her and in my own Action Research I did during student teaching. Dr. Ray, Ms. Sanders, Dr. Tunks, and I also presented at the AATC conference this year about our combined research we all did over the Action of Action Research. During my internship I was honored to be apart of so many things. I also know that I am not done. By taking the opportunities during the year of internship, I have discovered that I love to research and analyze. I am now a Special Education Teacher and I am using everything I learned in order to meet the needs of all of my students. I am also continuing Action Research in my own classroom. I hope that whomever is given opportunities this year will take them and enjoy every minute of this year, it goes by way too fast!
A Day in the Life of an Intern
Denton Cadre Interns blogging about their experiences during their one-year internship in the UNT Professional Development School (PDS).