Groundbreaking Literacy Course Piloted By Philadelphia Educator
Sarah Sterling is a licensed social worker who made the career switch from public health to education three years ago. She now works at The Shipley School, where she is a health teacher and college counselor and has collaborated with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to pilot the first high school emotional literacy course of its kind in the country.
What is the most challenging aspect of teaching in the classroom environment?
"I find teaching to be like multitasking in the midst of sensory overload, so the biggest challenge is to do so many things simultaneously and to do them well. In any given moment in the classroom I might be speaking, listening to responses, watching for emotional cues from my students, visually assessing for comprehension and thinking about the next thing I'm going to say or do. This, combined with the use of technology, creates an incredibly stimulating environment."
Are continuing education courses beneficial for teachers?
"Not only do continuing education courses help teachers stay updated on current research and new techniques for teaching, but they also force us to remember what it's like to be a student. Taking some time to exist on the learning side of the student-teacher dyad allows us to better empathize with what our students are going through. As someone who is interested in social and emotional education, I think that even the worst continuing education course can be quite the learning experience."
Do you feel a master's level education would be helpful in your day-to-day career?
"I use the skills I learned from my own master's on a daily basis, so I absolutely find that level of education to be helpful in my career. That said, I've met some incredible teachers with bachelor's degrees, and I have a Master of Social Service as opposed to a teaching degree, so I think what works for one person does not necessarily work for everyone."
Do you have any advice for people wanting to enter into the teaching profession?
"Think and work broadly. There is a lot of pressure to jump right into teaching or specialize in a specific content area, and often that has the effect of limiting job possibilities as you move along in your career. My own path into the field of education was curvy and unpredictable: it took a huge shift to move from the world of health care into the classroom, where I teach Shipley's Emotional Literacy course, and I couldn't be happier. While at Shipley, I've collaborated with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to pilot the first high school emotional literacy course of its kind in the country. If you take some risks and follow your passions, your students will notice, and you'll teach them one of the most important skills of all: determination."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.