KATHERINE WALTER dot COM

A MidWestern transgender woman trying to survive in the real life.

Tag: teaching

Reflections on My Upcoming Semester at Elgin High School

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On December 11, 2024

In teaching

Next semester marks an exciting and pivotal chapter in my journey to becoming a teacher. I’ll be student teaching at Elgin High School, focusing on two distinct yet equally fascinating subjects: U.S. History and International Baccalaureate (IB) Social and Cultural Anthropology. As I prepare to step into these roles, I feel a mixture of excitement, gratitude, and a strong sense of purpose.

Teaching U.S. History will give me the chance to delve into a subject that helps students connect past events to the world they live in today. History is more than dates and names; it’s a tool for critical thinking and understanding how the threads of time have shaped our society. I look forward to engaging students in dynamic discussions, connecting historical events to current issues, and sparking their curiosity about the complexities of the past.

The opportunity to teach IB Social and Cultural Anthropology, however, feels particularly special. Anthropology has been a cornerstone of my academic and personal life, and this will likely be the only chance I have to bring my passion for the subject into a high school classroom. Anthropology encourages students to explore human diversity, question cultural assumptions, and see the world through new lenses. I am thrilled to share this perspective with the next generation, helping them navigate our increasingly interconnected and complex global society.

Looking beyond the upcoming semester, I am cautiously optimistic about securing a teaching position for the 2025-26 school year. While I feel confident in my skills and passion for teaching, I can’t help but wonder if having two master’s degrees—an MA in anthropology and an MAT in secondary education—might make me seem overqualified in some districts. It’s a concern I’ve reflected on as I consider how to best position myself as a candidate who is eager to make a meaningful impact in the classroom.

For now, I’m focused on making the most of this upcoming semester. I know it will be a period of growth, challenges, and incredible opportunities. With the support of my mentors and the vibrant community at Elgin High School, I’m ready to embrace every moment and step confidently into this next phase of my teaching career—hopeful that it will lead to a fulfilling role in education for years to come.

First Term at National-Louis University

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On August 28, 2023

In National Louis University

I just completed my final course for the summer quarter at National Louis University (NLU). I took two classes this quarter and got an “A” in both classes. I’m working on getting my Master at Teaching in Secondary Schools with a concentration in social sciences. I mentioned I was going to start this with a post that I made on May 19, 2023. I never did a post when I started. I’m really terrible at trying to keep up on this blog.

The coursework so far is easier then the graduate study I did at Northern Illinois University (NIU). The textbooks that NLU is assigning us to read is more geared towards an undergraduate student than a graduate student, in my opinion. When I was getting my Master of Arts in Anthropology at NIU we use to read articles from scholarly journals. The textbooks for NLU are not research or anything that in depth. It just glosses over the subject and is written in more layman’s terms.

This was also my first time doing online courses. It seemed odd not to sit in on a lecture in a classroom environment. We didn’t even have video conference calls at all. It was all done a web-based application where you would upload assignments and post in an open forum. It was hard for me to get use to. I still don’t know how I feel about it.

The fall quarter doesn’t start for me until late September, so I have some time to do other things. I’m substitute teaching secondary schools within my district. I think I might be able to substitute teach and take courses at the same time. From what I understand from other people that just recently graduated from the program, it is doable.

Going Into Teaching Secondary School

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On May 19, 2023

In teaching

I usually never discuss anything about my employer publicly over the internet. Yet, I thought I would share that I’m going to have a career change.

I have mentioned in a post about my agoraphobia and how it caused me to lose my job at the United States Department of Agriculture. It is a long story on how I was eventually let go by my employer, so I won’t get into it. Ultimately, I managed to get on disability retirement. It is enough to pay the bills and live comfortably. I am very grateful for it.

Back in about September of 2022, I decided that I would start working as a substitute teacher for the local school district. I would be able to pick and choose the days that I wanted to work, and I could ease into it. I got all of the required paperwork completed and started early December 2022.

I eventually thought that I would try to obtain a license to become a secondary education teacher. I looked around at a number of universities and eventually decided to attend National Louis University (NLU) to obtain a Master at Teaching (MAT) degree along with my teaching license. It was just two more courses to take to get my MAT, so I thought I would work towards that to spruce up my resume.

I was required by NLU to take two under graduate courses prior to admission.  I enrolled at Elgin Community College to take courses in economics and human geography. I completed these requirements on Tuesday.

I was also required to take a content area test in either history or geography. I elected to take the geography exam. I took in in late March and passed it.

If everything works out as planned, I will start at NLU on July 3, 2022.  I’ll start to student teach in January 2025 and obtain my degree in about May 2025.

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