Introductory Post

Hi everyone! My name is Katherine Edmundson. I just completed my second year as a high school Spanish teacher in Illinois. I grew up in Downers Grove in the western suburbs of Chicago. I received my Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State University where I majored in Spanish and minored in Teaching English as a Second Language. One of my fondest memories was attending many exciting football and basketball games. During the summer between sophomore and junior year, I studied abroad in northern Spain. I enjoyed taking classes in Spanish culture, literature, and art history while improving my fluency by living with a host mother. Following graduation, I completed my student teaching internship at Eaton Rapids High School in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. That year was particularly challenging for me as I adjusted to working in a rural school that did not use a textbook. However, my student teaching experience truly prepared me for the rigors of my own classroom. I moved back to Illinois and was employed as a full-year high school Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 long-term substitute. This past year, I worked as a traveling teacher for Spanish 1 and Spanish 3 at two different buildings. I will be returning to a similar position for the upcoming school year. TE 822 is the first class that I am taking for my MATC. Outside of the classroom, I am an avid reader and moviegoer. I am a huge Michigan State Spartan fan, too! I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I especially love traveling to different places throughout the world.

One of my favorite movies that portray teaching is Dead Poets Society. I have seen this movie multiple times, but I take away something different each time I watch it. Now that I have been teaching for a couple of years, I see Robin Williams' character as the teacher who I aspire to be. I appreciate the passion that he has for his subject. He inspires a group of students to take their love for English outside of the classroom. Williams' makes material relevant by connecting it to his students' lives. He uses hands-on methods to help students understand the concepts of poetry. While many of the students wanted to pursue medicine in college, some were so motivated by his class that they changed their plans. Not only does Robin Williams' character teach students about English, but he also teaches them about life. He forms many personal relationships with his students and gets to know each one individually as a person. The students trust him to discuss important questions and challenges that they experienced in their lives. As I continue with my career, I hope to instill a similar passion for Spanish in my students. I aspire to keep students very engaged in my lessons while making them relevant to students' lives. I make a point to learn about each student individually. I want them to feel comfortable approaching me with their concerns. When students leave my class, I would love if they continued taking the next level of Spanish or majoring in the language in college.