Future Teachers Gain Classroom Skills at iTeach Conference
About 330 high school juniors and seniors from across the state participated in the sixth annual iTeach Conference for future educators. Mauldin High’s Rachel Turner, coordinator of the conference, said the biggest change this year was the additional of many technology sessions showcasing how teachers are using Kahoot, Quizlet, and other apps in the classroom. “I think it’s great because our teachers are experiencing 21st century instruction, and they’re here to teach the next generation of educators how to implement these strategies into the classroom,” she said.
A variety of sessions was offered, including Virtual Reality in the Classroom, Breaking out of the Classroom, Making Math Fun, and Self Defense for Women.
Wren High seniors Kaylyn and Macy are aspiring elementary school teachers. After attending the Day in the Life of a Kindergartener session, Kaylyn said she learned that teachers have to boost students’ confidence and help them feel like they can do it.
Macy said, “The most important thing I learned is that a kindergartener’s attention span is a lot shorter than ours and you have to keep them moving in the classroom.” Both Kaylyn and Macy plan to continue their studies at Anderson University.
Turner said that the conference included a service project for anyone who wanted to donate money to Townville Elementary in honor of Jacob Hall. “We’ve got a caricature of him and I’ve asked the students to sign it and we’ll give that to the school to let them know we’re thinking of them,” she said.
