Some students have explored the opportunity to become a teacher assistant (TA). There are a wide range of reasons why students have taken advantage of this opportunity, from filling free time at school, to getting further involved in a subject of interest.
Senior Alyssa Picha is starting her second year as biology teacher Bob Lyon’s TA. She heard about the job from another TA, who emphasized how great the experience is for working with their fellow students. Picha loves that she gets to know more of the students at BSM better while also brushing up on the course’s content. Typically, she grades multiple choice questions and helps with organizing student projects. Picha also noted that it is helpful to have some background knowledge of the class in order to most effectively accomplish her tasks. “I think it’s good to have some sort of leadership and to have some kids look up to you just because they’re trying to learn,” Picha said.
In her third year as a TA, Senior Shelby Loberg’s experience has been slightly different. Although she is technically an assistant for math teacher John Groess, she expressed how she enjoys the opportunity to work side-by-side with numerous teachers from the same department. In doing so, Loberg works the math resource center desk helping tutor students, walk them through the process to solve math problems on daily worksheets, and prepare for upcoming tests. When it gets quiet, she grades tests and even frequently finds time to complete work of her own after. “It’s pretty simple just talking to kids about how to do geometry and that stuff… I love it. It’s so much fun,” Loberg said.
Spanish teacher Bernice Nava, decided this year she was going to invite two students to assist her after observing the benefits from former Spanish teacher, Alison Terrel. Nava determined that her TAs must have at least a Spanish IV comprehension in order to fully understand the coursework they would be reviewing, and must have demonstrated that they are dedicated students as well. Nava appreciates her TAs because the reduced workload has made her own studies more manageable. “I am going for my other masters in St. Thomas so I have used [my extra time] to read a lot for my classes,” Nava said.