# data[].attributes.body
Tanner Slagle
Spring 2016

# data[].attributes.headline
"Your career matters. Your career always matters." - Dr. Helf

# data[].attributes.subject
"Your career matters. Your career always matters." - Dr. Helf

# data[].attributes.headline
"There is nothing more worth fighting for than the future of a young person." - Michelle Rhee

# data[].attributes.subject
"There is nothing more worth fighting for than the future of a young person." - Michelle Rhee

# data[].attributes.body
One of the most rewarding things that I was able to experience was the TEA Fellows program. During the culture poster presentations, gender and society presentations, and in just talking in the hallways, the TEA Fellows showed me what a true lifelong learner is. Many of the Fellows were career classroom teachers and they still came to America to learn and to expand their horizons. As a future educator, I can only hope that I remain curious and that I do not become complacent with the status quo and with what everyone else around me is doing. I hope to be like my "favorite" TEA Fellow from Nigeria; she told me a story one day about how her family escaped Boko Haram by hiding in the mountains for almost two weeks after being chased out of her village. She came to America to become a better teacher so that her students can become smarter and global citizens.

# data[].attributes.body
It's hard to think that less than a year ago, I hadn't even fully committed to Winthrop. Now, I am completing my first year of college and as a South Carolina Teaching Fellow. The opportunities granted to me through the Teaching Fellow program continue to challenge me and to expand my thinking as an individual and as a future teacher.

# data[].attributes.body
My field placement for ELEM 293 was at Sunset Park with 22 fourth graders. After spending so much time in Macfeat and being certain that I didn't want to teach anyone who knew what a chapter book was, I was scared to be with this group of kiddos. However, I had an amazing time and learned so much from my veteran host teacher. I completed my remaining service hours at Sunset Park during the second semester. On a side note... Sunset Park was the first place that I had the chance to teach my first lesson (a whole nerve-wrecking 28 minutes of 44 eyes on me, hanging on my every last word). Sunset Park was also the place where I spent one of our Teaching Fellows meetings after I lost track of time while working with a small group during guided reading. This placement not only provided me with many unforgettable moments and many "firsts," but it showed me that I love my future career and that I can accomplish what I set my mind to.

# data[].attributes.body
Name tags at Winthrop are pretty much a right of passage. Not everyone is lucky enough to have them, but I think it's saying something when you have two by Spring semester of your freshman year (three if you count the one you received for an organization). My second name tag was symbolic of my admission into the Teacher Education Program at Winthrop! This was such an amazing moment that gave me a little push to keep working hard when times get tough!

# data[].attributes.body
Another weekly adventure during the year was the time that we spent in Withers 213 every Tuesday afternoon. Having the opportunity to take a class together as Fellows allowed us to grow closer together and to grow together academically as we enter university life and the teaching profession.

# data[].attributes.body
Our Fall Retreat was spent getting together as a Winthrop Fellows Family in Richardson Ballroom before going bowling at Strikers. I was reminded of how large our Fellows Family is and of how important these relationships and friendships are in the future on a personal and professional level. (I also learned that SOMEONE has an unhealthy love of her new selfie stick.)

# data[].attributes.body
In Fall 2015, my service hours were completed at Macfeat Laboratory School on campus. Being an Elementary Education major, the thought of "little people" scared me. However, I grew to enjoy my visits with three and four year olds. Combined with ECED 300 with Dr. Glover and being offered an Undergraduate Student Assistant position in Macfeat, my perspective of possible future positions has broadened to include working with younger students. Being in Macfeat taught me that sometimes you just need to lay on the floor and play with toys... even if you're nineteen.

# data[].attributes.body
Once we actually made it to the Whitewater Center, we were able to enjoy a day in the woods with the WU Call Me Misters. A lot happened in our few short hours in Charlotte. Catherine tried to push Kaitlyn off the mountain. We almost decapitated our park ranger tour guide with the bridge activity. Said park ranger tour guide decided to get back at us by blindfolding us and making us wander into the woods. And I was (once again) the only one to like "Parks and Rec" during a Connections game.

# data[].attributes.body
I think it is very fitting that the first time that the 2015 Cohort of WU Teaching Fellows got together, half of us got lost. Being a member of Bus 2 with Daniel at the helm was a frightening yet comical way to start our retreat. This is something that I will arguably remember (forever).

# data[].attributes.body
Being at Orientation made me a combination of nervous and excited. On one hand, I was joining a group of amazing teacher candidates. On the other hand, however, I was signing four years of my life away to teach. I might have been the only one who liked "Parks and Rec" and messed up the Connections game, but it was great to have the chance to get to know a few of my fellow Fellows before classes started.

# data[].attributes.body
From the very beginning, I was looking forward to the opportunity to get to be a Teaching Fellow at Winthrop. I knew that the school had an amazing College of Education, so I was more than excited to get the chance to join the COE family as a Teaching Fellow.