New Ulm High School students take the trip down to Jefferson Elementary School every day to experience what it’s like being a teacher. Apprentice isn’t your traditional class where you sit down and take notes. Instead, it is an interactive class where students can work alongside elementary students. The class aims to build special connections between high school students and young kids.
One of the many benefits of Apprentice is that high school students can get a chance to see if they want to pursue a career in education. Students can work anywhere from the classroom to the gym as Phy-Ed teachers. Student apprentice Brecken Neuman decided to work as a gym teacher instead of in the classroom. ¨I thought that working as a gym teacher would be more fun for me because I enjoy being active and sports,¨ Neuman said.
While Apprentice doesn’t take place in a traditional high school classroom, it still comes with a bit of work for the students. ¨The weekly reflections are by far the hardest part of the class,¨ Neuman said.
Every week, students are expected to write a one-page reflection of their week. The requirements for this paper vary from week to week. Students may be asked what they did with their class, things they can improve on, or things they struggled with.
Every week, your final question is to talk about one special connection they made with a student throughout the week. ¨The special connections are kinda fun because you get to try and remember a time you and a kid had a fun moment that could’ve made their day better,¨ First-grade apprentice Elier Garza said.
Apprentice is a program where students not only make their students’ days but also make their own. ¨The class is overall really fun. I get to play games, laugh, and joke with the kids and try to make their days better,¨ Phy-Ed apprentice Preston Holberg said.
Mrs. Logtin runs the class and thinks that Apprentice is an excellent experience for the students. ¨Apprentice is a great class, and I think that everyone should sign up for it and give it a try,¨ she said.
