Mia Chu, a sophomore studying Chemistry and Biology on the pre-med track, is currently enrolled in GWTeach’s Classroom Interactions course. Being her third GWTeach course, Chu says that Classroom Interactions allows for more fluidity and opportunities to optimize individual student learning – and builds upon skills learned from being a part of the introductory Step 1 and 2 courses.
“It was amazing,” Chu said about teaching chemistry in-person for the first time at Woodrow Wilson High School as a part of the GWTeach program. Compared to teaching online – which made up all of Chu’s prior experiences with DCPS – Mia says that being in the classroom allows for developing more confidence while teaching and enables you to better monitor student understanding.
Chu added that having opportunities to be physically present in the classroom affirmed her confidence in pursuing teaching as a career.
Mia says her most memorable moment from the Classroom Interactions course was her first day of teaching after a successful engagement activity, “I decided to incorporate a movement activity called the "Atomic Shuffle," Chu says.
“I assigned everyone a subatomic particle and told them to imagine the room as the atom. I then started a countdown and told them to quickly find where their subatomic particle would be found. It was a hit.”
Chu shared that her Mentor Teacher, Ms. Hallie Eichen, even incorporated the activity into her other class periods.
When asked what advice she would offer to prospective GWTeach students, Chu says, “I think you have to love the subject as well,” about being in the program.
Chu described her growth as a student and teacher since being a part of the program: “I see a stark difference between me as a teacher my freshman year and me as a teacher now. When I was a freshman, I always wanted to obtain adaptability as a teacher. Now, I feel like . . . I have learned how to ask the right questions that help me engage and guide the student through the content to the right answer.”
“I found that my love for the sciences came first and teaching them came as complementary to that passion. Both grew and I think that passion for the subject is what makes a great teacher,” Chu said.
While Chu intends to continue pursuing coursework in healthcare and medicine, she plans on staying committed to education and hopes to earn teacher licensure in DC for Chemistry and Biology.