Today we speak with Jennifer Fagan, a senior elementary education and liberal studies major from Kenilworth (Union County), New Jersey, who rents a townhouse off campus. Jennifer will share her #PROFspective with us on what it’s like to be a Rowan University student who is completing her student teaching this semester.
Name: Jennifer Fagan
Major: Elementary Education and Liberal Studies
Year: Senior
Hometown and County: Kenilworth, NJ (Union County)
Off-Campus resident: Yes, a townhouse off campus
Academic clubs: NJEA Preservice– Social Media Chair, Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society-Student Government Association representative
Do you have an off-campus job? Yes, I sub in Gloucester County schools
Why did you choose your major? I chose my major because I wanted to help students and become an outstanding teacher and mentor.
One reason why you chose Rowan? I chose Rowan because of our great education program.
My Typical Day as a Rowan Student:
A typical day in the life of a Rowan student for me is waking up at about 6:40 am every day to get ready for student teaching 5th grade in Deptford (about 20 minutes away from Rowan) at about 7:55 am. The day for the students starts at about 8:25 but they all stroll in between 8:15 and 8:25. I start out by teaching science which involves hands-on activities and even experiments sometimes. The kids are eager to earn DOJO points throughout the day by being a good student and making good choices. The kids love these points because they can get prizes with these dollars at the end of this week.
The day follows with sarcastic jokes from my students while I am diligently working with them during their ELA centers in the morning and their math centers in the afternoon. They have indoor recess very often and the kids love to come, talk, and play with me during this time. There is usually a lot of comments on “thinking that they are my favorite” and jokes about my iPhone 5s.
There is never a dull moment in fifth grade and I love every second of my day with these fifth graders. They make me want to be a better teacher not only for my professional development into my field but for the betterment of them as students. When I am not student teaching in the classroom, I am usually on campus eating my dinner with some of my friends or attending meetings at Rowan.
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Story organized and photography by:
Vanessa Vause, junior public relations major and advertising minor
