STUDENT TEACHING APPLICATION

SPRING 2017

Elizabeth Benally
LICENSE SOUGHT: CO Teaching License
FLC ID: 900359533
EMAIL: eevebenally@gmail.com
PHONE NUMBER: 505.215.8821
CURRENT ADDRESS: 2021 Summit Drive
Farmington, NM 87401
STUDENT BIOGRAPHY:
I have found that I have grown from the smallish college freshman to the woman that I am today. I have been able to practice what I
have learned in education classes I have taken. My first experience with handling a class by myself was not the ideal situation
because I did not have the tools and techniques that I have now. I was a mess in that classroom of 15 little 4th graders and looking
back on it now, that was when I knew that I wanted to teach. It was then that I put myself more into my studies and applied for the
Teacher Education Department. I began to learn things that I wish I had known prior to those few days with the 4th graders. With
those few classes under my belt, I went into field study with more confidence. I worked to build relationships not only with the
students but also with my fellow college students and soon to be colleagues. It was not until I had taken Instructional Equality that I
found how much work it was to be a secondary teacher. There were constant due dates for reflections, discussions, and lesson
planning. It was in that class that I had to teach a class of high schoolers for the first time and it ran more smoothly than it did with
the 4th graders. I was confident at the front of the classroom leading and facilitating a group discussion about managing stress and
then transitioning into a fun activity. After that class, my spirits rose and as did my confidence. These skills developed more when I
took Teaching Language and Math and worked with a group of AVID 10th graders. My confidence wavered a bit when I had to
teach the first time in class but after the lesson was over and I was sitting in my car, something inside me knew that this is truly what
I am supposed to be doing. I have been provided with the resources, tools, and techniques to be a Language Arts teacher from my
education classes as well as my English classes. The amount of work and time that I have put into my classes will be reflected
through the work that I do in the classroom while student teaching. I am not one to give up easy and nothing is more important to
me than having a class care for and be inspired by reading and writing like I do.

PLEASE LIST EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN STUDENT
TEACHING:
I would love to be part of any clubs on the campus, field trips, and anything that would help me gain experience.
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE OUTSIDE INTERESTS THAT MIGHT ENRICH YOUR STUDENT TEACHING/PARTNERSHIP:
As an English Major, I love to read and write more than most things. I have volunteered and DJed at the Fort Lewis College radio
station KDUR for about the past two years. Board games, watercoloring, and cooking are all things that I love to indulge in whenever I
have the time to. Baking is always something that I can turn to and I love trying out new recipes any chance I have.

Benally, Elizabeth

TEACHING
STRENGTHS

TEACHING
GROWTH

900359533

SPRING 2017 STUDENT TEACHING

I have found that I have been most helpful when students are conducting
research in class. With many English classes under my belt I have
conducted research many times and the skills learned are helpful when
students require assistance completing research based assignments. In my
previous field placement, the students are working on a project for
National History Day and it required a lot of MLA based research as
well as the creation of a poster board presentation. I have been able to
assist students in writing annotated bibliographies and their process
papers as well as helping them create their final project. I also consider
myself a tech-savvy person and I look forward to the usage of
SmartBoards and other technology that are available in and outside of
the classroom. I am always open to learning new technology because
there is always something new and improved that can prove to be a vital
resource in the classroom.

Organization is something that I have often struggled with during my

time in my education and English courses and because of that I know
that I will have to work hard to become organized for student teaching
and teaching. There have been times when I do not realize that
something is due or needs to be done until it is almost too late and it is
something that I have been working on to avoid. I do feel that this has
improved since I began the Teacher Education Program because of how
much goes on inside and outside of classes. Another thing that I struggle
with is the workflow of a school and of work in general but it is
something that I have been trying to refine and feel that Ive gotten more
insight from the time spent in schools. This correlates with my struggle
with organization but it is something I know that I can build upon.
Recently, I was able to complete a full day shadow of a cooperating
teacher which showed me how others deal with the amount of work and
other duties that come up on a daily basis. Seeing how others trek
through their struggles gives me the confidence I need to work through on
my own to succeed and anticipate the obstacles and workload that is
thrown my way.