BY HANNAH THIER, Sophomore
BLYTHEWOOD-- “My favorite thing about Ms. Umsted is the fact that she takes the time to set you up to succeed rather than setting you up to fail,” freshman Robert Thier said.
English teacher Alexandra Umsted is a first year teacher at Blythewood High School.
“My high school English teacher, Kayla Godson, inspired me to become an English teacher. Before her, I didn't really like English. She made reading and writing fun; her approach was much different than the other English teachers I had before her,” said Umsted, reminiscing over the past.
“The way she teaches is just so...understandable,” said freshman Donald Brown. He also said he wouldn’t change a thing about her.
Brown said Umsted's teaching style just about works for everybody, and if it doesn’t, she tries to adapt it so students will be able to understand.
“Ms. Umsted has been a very laid back teacher, but also a very good one,” Thier said.
“She isn’t that much older than some of her students, so she can easily make connections,” sophomore Zander Casarez said.
A little background
Umsted was a teacher’s assistant, or a student teacher at BHS and she got her Bachelor of Art’s in English and Master’s in Teaching at USC.
Umsted said that college can only teach you so much about being a teacher, the real learning experience is when you become one.
One of the differences, she said, was that as a teacher you get to call all the shots, and people take you more seriously whenever you’re a teacher and not a student teacher.
“Being a teaching assistant (or student teacher) is kind of like having a driver's permit. You can teach in a real classroom, but you are constantly being watched and you have to prove that you are capable of being a teacher all on your own. Just like with a driver's permit it's nice being able to drive, but you are really ready to have the car all to yourself,” Umsted said.
“As a teaching assistant, she was really flexible when it came to turning things in if there was a situation,” sophomore Kristen Kilpatrick said.
Is it worth it?
“It is all worth it when a student understand and or appreciates what you are teaching. I also love it when a student who is normally resistant to doing school work or assignments finds it worthwhile to try in my class. I feel like I have reached them. I love making students feel important and valued,” said Umsted smiling.
Both Thier and Brown, both students in Umsted’s class, said that they have fun in Umsted’s class, while still learning and understanding things clearly.
“Ms. Umsted is a very kind teacher she understands that we have very busy schedules,” Brown said.
“She is confident in what she says so it is very clear what she is trying to teach/get you to learn,” Casarez said.
What kind of teacher?
“Ms. Umsted is a great English teacher. She’ll review something as many times as the student(s) need,” Casarez said, showing an example grammar bellringer.
Brown and Thier also said similar things about Umsted, how she helps the students and doesn’t overload them with work.
Kilpatrick says that she was an fantastic teaching assistant, and that she’d love to have her again.
“I don't know if I would change anything about her, she’s amazing,” Brown said.
