I wish I had learned more about...

An EDYS degree is already a huge time commitment and between classes, tests, and student teaching, it's hard to fit everything in. But, despite the time crunch, there are still some areas for which alumni say they wish they would have taken a particular interest in or researched more before stepping foot into a classroom, whether that had been through an official class or on their own studies. 

1. Sign Language

I was able to take a sign language class one semester, but it was just an intro course and there were no further courses to take. Working in special education, this could have really been an asset in many ways. I wish I could have continued to learn American Sign Language. ~ Sarah Skinner Burk

2. Language Classes Focused on Classroom Vocabulary

(It wish I had studied) language for classroom (business) purposes because knowing how to analyze foreign literature is not helpful when interpreting for parents who want to know about free and reduced lunch. So much school specific vocabulary I did not know. ~ Sara Ackerman 

3. Montessori 

I wish I would have learned more about alternative education approaches such as Montessori and how to pursue a path in getting certified in those special areas. I know I had a class where we visited a view different schools but I wish there was a little more. ~ Anna Blankschien Bernhardt

4. Early Childhood Education

(I would have liked to focus more on) Early Childhood Education, nature-based learning, (and) play-based learning. Also, alternative forms of curriculum development. ~ Cassandra Dara-Abrams

5. Pre-Literacy Teaching

(I wish I had learned) how to teach pre-literate English language learners. When I came back from teaching abroad (business English and college students), my first class was with older refugee women who didn't know how to hold a pencil. I was lost, and learned day by day! ~ Krista Kay Anderson

You can't learn everything in four years, and the beauty of teaching is that it's just as much about learning. Every year, every student is a new experience. But that doesn't mean that we can't be thinking about what would be useful to learn as we prepare to take on the task of teaching. We want to hear from you! What subjects do you want to look into more?