"Teaching is an apprenticeship field," he says."You only learn how it's done by actually spendingtime in the classroom."

Most UTEP students say that student teaching isan integral aspect of their preparation. They saythe interactive nature of classroom managementhelped them see their subject material indifferent ways.

"We learned more through the interactiveclasses and the student-teaching than from any ofour other work," says Kathleen M. Turner '94.

Gajraj agrees. "Kids keep me on my toes," hesays. "I need to look at the material creativelyand think how I can get it across to them."

Life in the Classroom

The first few days in the high school classroomproved the most difficult for Brunner. She saysshe was excited about teaching, but because shewas nervous, she could not hold her students'attention.

"I was so nervous, and when I'm nervous, I tendto talk fast," Brunner says. "The kids seemed likethey didn't understand and started asking a lot ofquestions. I almost felt like I was not deservingto be a teacher."

All student-teachers met in a seminar twiceeach week to discuss their experiences. When theyhad problems like Brunner's, they often turned toTraver for advice.

"Beginning teachers are filled to the brim withexpectations and hopes. Sometimes they haveconflicts with their mentor teachers because theysee things differently," Traver says. "When thathappens, my job is to coach them, to help them getback on track."

Gajraj says Traver proved especially helpfulwith answering questions from UTEP students.

"If it weren't for him, I'd have droppedteaching a long time ago," Gajraj says. "[Traver]is knowledgeable, understanding and resourceful."

Flaws and Improvements

Most students praise UTEP, but some say theprogram has certain flaws. They cited poorcommunication between teaching faculty at theSchool of Education and the schools where theywere assigned to teach.

"I had frustrations with the class that wassupposed to prepare us for teaching," Edward E.Sorola '94 says. "I called the school and the[UTEP] office. They just kept passing the buck."

John P. Ameer, program administrator ofteaching and curriculum instructor in education,at the Graduate School of Education, says hefeels sympathy for Sorola but he does not feel hisexperience is typical for most UTEP students.