|
|
|
Dalton State College student wins
New Teacher Grant |
|
Release Date: Nov. 15, 2006
|
Jason Hall credits a “sub” for “pegging” his career
choice before he even considered it.
A substitute teacher, who filled in for one of Hall’s
high school teachers and “predicted” what he and his
classmates would become, pointed at each student,
“nailing” their career paths.
“When he got to me, he said ‘you’ll be a teacher,’” says
Hall, 24, who was a junior at Northwest High School at
the time.
“And he was right.”
As a recent graduate of Dalton State College’s first
class of education graduates, Hall was hired this fall
to teach at Antioch Elementary School in Whitfield
County.
At age 24, Hall feels like he’s the perfect age to teach
second graders, as he finds it fun to get down on their
level, teaching lessons on the floor. And he enjoys
their “ah ha” moments, when a concept becomes real to
them.
“I thought about teaching middle school or even high
school, but I don’t feel ‘old’ enough yet to teach those
age groups,” he says. “Maybe one day. But for now, I’m
enjoying the second grade.”
|
|
|
Hall has found that much of what he was taught while at
Dalton State has already come in handy.
“My professors at Dalton really stressed the importance
of classroom management,” he recalls. “They said that
the first two weeks mean everything to the success of
the school year, that you need to have your procedures
in place and be able to manage the students well from
the very beginning. They said that you need to treat all
students equally from the start because they notice
everything.
“I found that they were right. The first two weeks were
a real challenge, but I felt like I was well prepared
because I knew what to expect.”
He has discovered that his professors were also right
when they stressed that “learning cannot happen without
structure” because many students actually “test” their
teachers at the beginning of the year, trying to find
out where the limits are.
“At the beginning you can’t give in, because they’re
testing you. And you have to give them constant
reminders. But after a few weeks, you find that being
proactive and positive role playing has really paid
off.”
Hall feels fortunate that he had experience last spring
student teaching second graders at the very school where
he landed his first full-time job.
“The faculty and staff there are great. They’re always
helpful,” he says, noting that they made him feel right
at home this fall. “They viewed me as one of them.”
His days as a teacher begin about 7:00 am and usually
end between 4:30 and 5:00, as he stays after school to
prepare for the next day. Hall has found that having
strong technology skills, which he developed in his
youth, has been helpful for the staff at Antioch.
“I’m helping out with their web site. That’s been a lot
of fun as well.”
This fall, Hall learned that he was chosen to receive a
$1000 New Teacher Grant, sponsored by Georgia Power.
The fifteen colleges and universities in Georgia that
have education divisions nominated students for the New
Teacher Grant, and one student from each institution was
selected by Georgia Power to receive the funds, which
are earmarked for supplies for the classroom.
“The money can be used for anything as long as it goes
toward supplies or teaching tools that a new teacher
would need in his or her first classroom,” Hall notes.
“I was really happy to find out that I received it,” he
says. “I’m keeping a list of things that I think I will
need in my room.”
A self-proclaimed “penny pincher,” Hall sees his
frugality is a plus. “I really think the fact that I am
careful with that money will help me make the right
choices for the classroom. I plan to figure out just
what I really need, and order it as I go along.”
|
|
|
|
 |
|
