BHS Teachers Shadow Students: A “Day in the Life” Experience
On January 30, 2025 seven BHS teachers shadowed students at Berkley High School. Each of the educators selected one student to follow throughout their day. The intention of this learning experience was to gain more insight into a “day in the life” of a student as well as develop greater empathy for our students.
Jennifer Plater, Jacob Charlip, Drew Thomas, Maram HannaKachl, Kate Navarro, Emma Farr and Brittney Vaughn donned their backpacks, navigated the crowded halls during passing time, attended each of their students’ classes, and participated in a variety of classroom activities throughout the day. The educators who participated gained valuable insight and the students who were involved were excited to share a little slice of their lives.
Reflections from teachers
After experiencing vertical whiteboards in math class, new BHS teacher, Jacob Charlip reflected that he, “...wants to find ways to provide more of that [movement] in his classroom.”
First year teacher, Maram HannaKachl shared her realization that, “Going from class to class can be a lot, since there's not much time to decompress in between classes.” She also noticed how, “...the various [classroom] environments play a part in students' mood.”
To that end, new BHS teacher, Jennifer Plater, discovered that, “Group work was both valuable and difficult, especially since it was a part of every class,” and that, “Balancing the academic and social demands of the day was more challenging than expected.”
English teacher Emma Farr summed up the day beautifully, stating, “This was an incredibly valuable experience, one that I believe every teacher should do at least once. A student's day is tiring, fast-paced and sometimes overwhelming. You will learn a lot about your student and about how different classes function. Can't recommend it enough!”
The following day, teachers gathered to reflect upon, debrief and discuss their experiences together, connected this experience to the design of their own classrooms and considered their next steps based on the ups and downs of a day as a BHS student. Secondary Instructional Coach Brittney Vaugh shared, “This was a powerful experience for all who were involved.”
