This semester, Greenwood welcomed a new dedicated teacher, Ms. Aboah, to help students learn English. In an interview, she talked about her journey, what has inspired her, ways she deals with any problems in her classroom, and her experience so far in our Greenwood community.
When asked about how she was prepared for teaching, Ms. Aboah talked about how WKU helped her gain hands-on experience. She started to really get into the classroom around sophomore year in college, giving her real exposure to working with students. She also talked about how teaching itself has been easy enough, but the most stressful part was getting a job after graduating so soon.
At this moment, Ms. Aboah says she really enjoys teaching at Greenwood. She talked about how she loves the diversity and mentioned how respectful her students have been. She also appreciates how supportive her fellow teachers and administrators have been to her. The big support group and amazing students are some of the reasons she feels that Greenwood is a good fit for her.
When asked about her teaching philosophy, she talked about how it is “student-centered”, not “teacher-driven.” She encourages group work and collaboration, believing students learn best when they are actively involved. To create a positive classroom environment, she gives students things to look forward to, explaining that motivation can help them stay on track. For example, she recently rewarded her class with a Valentine’s Day party.
Ms. Aboah also said that she has wanted to be a teacher since the third grade and loves working with kids. To her, success means growth, not just academically, but personally, and she wants to help students learn important life lessons along the way. If she could change one thing about education, she said it would be funding for teachers since many educators have to spend their own money on classroom supplies, decorations, and materials.
All together, Ms. Aboah is looking forward to growing with her students. With her love for teaching and supportive mindset, she is already making a positive impact and helping her students grow inside and outside the classroom.
