When I decided I aspired to become a teacher, attending Michigan State University was an easy decision. As one of the top ranked universities in the country for education I knew MSU was going to be a good fit for me. Through MSU I had many great opportunities to prepare me to become a teacher. I worked one on one with a first grade student administering reading assessments and using the results to plan lessons. I spent time in a second grade classroom Holt, Michigan observing, assisting and implementing a science and social studies lesson. I graduated in May 2015 with a Bachelors of Arts in Education. 

At MSU I had the opportunity to join the Global Educators Cohort Program or GECP. This cohort would be the focus of some of my teaching courses. We focused on teaching a globally conscious and diverse classroom. ​Through GECP I was given the opportunity to go to China on a study trip. In China, we toured schools, learned about the Chinese education system, learned about their culture and taught a lesson. I co-taught a lesson about Brazil to middle schoolers. 

Through MSU, I student taught at Mt. Hope STEAM School in Lansing Michigan. My mentor teacher had more that 25 years of teaching experiences and guided me through my year long internship. This was my first time teaching fifth grade students. The student population was very diverse. Students came from homes of local representatives and other students were homeless. Some students' parents didn't speak English. This was also my first experience with a STEAM school. I saw the integration of technology and engineering lessons. One of the highlights was students participating in a Cardboard Challenge. 

When I graduated from MSU with my BA in Education I always knew I would eventually earn my Masters of Arts in Education from MSU. I decided to focus my studies on Literacy Education. When the state of Michigan passed a Third Grade Reading Law, I knew that it was important for me to learn more about literacy and how to support my students. To learn more about my experiences earning my MAED, please see the tabs called Showcase and Essays.