For the love of teaching
For the Love of Teaching
The School of Education 2023 student commencement speaker is Michele Helmer, an Elementary Education major and Reading Instruction minor from Minneapolis, MN. This year, she has been a student teacher in a 3rd grade classroom at Wildwood IB World Magnet School. Teaching young children reading and literacy skills has become a passion for her throughout her time at Loyola and is one of the many reasons she pursued an education degree. Upon graduation, she would love to teach first grade.
Tell us about this semester's student teaching experience. What has been the biggest challenge and the most rewarding aspect?
My time at Wildwood IB World Magnet School was a wonderful experience. IB stands for International Baccalaureate, a student-centered curriculum where students ask their own questions, and have more agency and creativity in their learning. It is fun to teach.
I am in an inclusion classroom, which means about a third of my students are considered ESL, a third are considered special education, and the last third are general education students. There is a wide range of students’ reading and math levels. It has been incredibly challenging because when you plan a lesson you must plan to support all the kids in your class while they are at such various levels, but it has been extremely rewarding and given me a ton of experience. In the future, when I have students with all unique needs, personalities, and stories, I can help them to the best of my ability.
I chose Loyola because I wanted to be in a big city, and I wanted a strong education program. Michele Helmer, 2023 School of Education Graduate
Did you always know you wanted to pursue elementary education? Was there a specific experience that solidified that choice for you?
I have always wanted to be a teacher. Growing up I would pretend to be Ms. Honey from Matilda or Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus. I have always loved working with kids.
I really fell in love with teaching through volunteering at the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery in both middle and high school. The Crisis Nursery is a home for children, infants to 6-year-old, who experienced any circumstance at home in which they needed to be removed for a certain amount of time. This was my first experience creating lessons and activities for kids.
Loyola School of Education students are placed within k-12 classrooms right from the start, graduating with the equivalent of a year of full-time teaching experience.
Why did you choose Loyola?
I chose Loyola because I wanted to be in a big city, and I wanted a strong education program. The Jesuit education was appealing, especially going into a profession where you are working with people and serving them to the best of your ability.
What makes Loyola's School of Education special?
One of the School of Education’s biggest appeals was the opportunity for classroom observations every semester of college. At many other universities, you would have to wait a few years, but I was able to go in and watch a teacher teach my second week of college.
Another special aspect of the school is the way that hands-on learning is taught. Your first couple semesters you go to museums, talk to the exhibit creators, and learn more about the learning theories they use to make exhibits effective. Those were cool and unique experiences.
Overall, the community in the SOE has been the best part. I have learned a lot, and many of my close friends are in the program because we have had the same classes over the last four years. Having a tight knit group of people with me through it all has been awesome.
Local museums and other informal learning institutions – including their education staff, collections, programming and pedagogical approaches – have been integrated as mutually beneficial partners in the Teaching and Learning program.
Have you been involved in any Loyola clubs and organizations? If so, tell me about them?
I have worked at Loyola's Writing Center since I was a first-year student. I have been an undergraduate tutor for three years, and I am currently the Mentorship Program Coordinator, where I help train all the new tutors, assign mentors, and oversee their first semester on the job.
I am also in a sorority. My sorority’s philanthropy is the Girl Scouts, and I have been volunteering with them since I joined. We lead four troops at Sacred Heart Elementary School near Loyola. I have been a troop leader, where I coordinate with the school, parents, plan troop meetings and badges for the girls. This year, I founded the Daisy Troop for kindergarten and first graders.
What is your favorite class you have taken at Loyola?
Children's Literature. That class really got me passionate about teaching reading and writing. You learn about current children’s books, written in the last one to two years, and the focus is about moving away from stereotypical children’s books and incorporating new authors into the curriculum. Since taking that class, I have loved researching new children's books, looking to find ones that are current, relevant, and authentic to the students' lives.
How has the Jesuit education impacted your approach to teaching?
Throughout my time here, there has been a continuous emphasis on becoming a teacher for social justice.
My personal goal as a teacher is to create a classroom space that is inclusive, loving and caring for all students. It is easier said than done, but I want to create a space for students of all backgrounds and abilities to feel like they like to learn, whether or not they are the best at learning.
Do they like to be here? Do they like learning? If I can do that, I feel as though I am making education more accessible. Making all kids feel welcome and that their voices, opinions, and perspectives are valid so that in the future, they continue to feel that way and have confidence throughout their lives. The Jesuit education I have received has given the tools to make this a reality.
Teaching and Learning
Undergraduate Degrees
Loyola's education program prepares you to teach students with the only field-based curriculum in the country
Gain experience in school settings right from the start of your freshman year, graduating with the equivalent of a year of full-time teaching. You'll not only be in demand as a teacher, but better prepared to help students and make a positive impact on their lives.
Learn More
The graduating class celebrates during the Senior Toast, which includes the annual commencement walk through the doors of the Cudahy Library and the receiving of the commencement key.
Tell us about this semester's student teaching experience. What has been the biggest challenge and the most rewarding aspect?
My time at Wildwood IB World Magnet School was a wonderful experience. IB stands for International Baccalaureate, a student-centered curriculum where students ask their own questions, and have more agency and creativity in their learning. It is fun to teach.
I am in an inclusion classroom, which means about a third of my students are considered ESL, a third are considered special education, and the last third are general education students. There is a wide range of students’ reading and math levels. It has been incredibly challenging because when you plan a lesson you must plan to support all the kids in your class while they are at such various levels, but it has been extremely rewarding and given me a ton of experience. In the future, when I have students with all unique needs, personalities, and stories, I can help them to the best of my ability.
Did you always know you wanted to pursue elementary education? Was there a specific experience that solidified that choice for you?
I have always wanted to be a teacher. Growing up I would pretend to be Ms. Honey from Matilda or Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus. I have always loved working with kids.
I really fell in love with teaching through volunteering at the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery in both middle and high school. The Crisis Nursery is a home for children, infants to 6-year-old, who experienced any circumstance at home in which they needed to be removed for a certain amount of time. This was my first experience creating lessons and activities for kids.
Why did you choose Loyola?
I chose Loyola because I wanted to be in a big city, and I wanted a strong education program. The Jesuit education was appealing, especially going into a profession where you are working with people and serving them to the best of your ability.
What makes Loyola's School of Education special?
One of the School of Education’s biggest appeals was the opportunity for classroom observations every semester of college. At many other universities, you would have to wait a few years, but I was able to go in and watch a teacher teach my second week of college.
Another special aspect of the school is the way that hands-on learning is taught. Your first couple semesters you go to museums, talk to the exhibit creators, and learn more about the learning theories they use to make exhibits effective. Those were cool and unique experiences.
Overall, the community in the SOE has been the best part. I have learned a lot, and many of my close friends are in the program because we have had the same classes over the last four years. Having a tight knit group of people with me through it all has been awesome.
Have you been involved in any Loyola clubs and organizations? If so, tell me about them?
I have worked at Loyola's Writing Center since I was a first-year student. I have been an undergraduate tutor for three years, and I am currently the Mentorship Program Coordinator, where I help train all the new tutors, assign mentors, and oversee their first semester on the job.
I am also in a sorority. My sorority’s philanthropy is the Girl Scouts, and I have been volunteering with them since I joined. We lead four troops at Sacred Heart Elementary School near Loyola. I have been a troop leader, where I coordinate with the school, parents, plan troop meetings and badges for the girls. This year, I founded the Daisy Troop for kindergarten and first graders.
What is your favorite class you have taken at Loyola?
Children's Literature. That class really got me passionate about teaching reading and writing. You learn about current children’s books, written in the last one to two years, and the focus is about moving away from stereotypical children’s books and incorporating new authors into the curriculum. Since taking that class, I have loved researching new children's books, looking to find ones that are current, relevant, and authentic to the students' lives.
How has the Jesuit education impacted your approach to teaching?
Throughout my time here, there has been a continuous emphasis on becoming a teacher for social justice.
My personal goal as a teacher is to create a classroom space that is inclusive, loving and caring for all students. It is easier said than done, but I want to create a space for students of all backgrounds and abilities to feel like they like to learn, whether or not they are the best at learning.
Do they like to be here? Do they like learning? If I can do that, I feel as though I am making education more accessible. Making all kids feel welcome and that their voices, opinions, and perspectives are valid so that in the future, they continue to feel that way and have confidence throughout their lives. The Jesuit education I have received has given the tools to make this a reality.