Interviewers: Nishtha Patel & Priya Patel
Interviewee: Ms. Metcalfe
What do you teach?
I teach Infinity ELA for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, and S.S. for 6th and 8th grade. Infinity is an advanced learning program for students who are working above grade level.
Why teach infinity rather than any other subject?
I’d rather teach Infinity than any other subject because it has the flexibility to make changes to the curriculum. These changes give the students a chance to do something harder than they are usually given, so it gives them a challenge to help them learn.
What was one of your favorite jobs from the past?
I’ve had many other jobs in the past, but my favorite was working at Disney World. It was a surreal experience.
What would you say is the hardest part about teaching?
The hardest part of teaching is knowing that there are so many things that I want to be able to teach, but there is not enough time in my day. I want to do fun activities with all my classes and teach them at the same time, but there isn’t enough time to do all of that.
What are some of your favorites?
My favorite color is yellow. My favorite book to teach is Animal Farm. My favorite genre is horror because there are always so many surprises as well as suspense. My favorite food is French Toast, and finally, my favorite place I have visited is New York City during the 8th-grade Washington D.C. trips.
Do you have any siblings? And if so, how many?
I have one sister named Lana! She lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
What do you like to do outside of school? Do you have any other hobbies?
I like going to museums because there are so many things you can learn from them. They also have really fun interactive activities there.
How long have you been here at Wredling?
This is my third year here at Wredling, and I have taught Infinity all three years.
Who are your teacher besties?
My two teacher besties are Mrs. Batka and Miss Churney.
How do you motivate students?
I’d like to think I motivate students by listening to them. Just taking some time out of the day to hear how they’re doing. My favorite part of the day is sometimes just hearing silly stories from my students.
Why did you become a teacher?
I became a teacher because I care about making our world a better place. That starts with inspiring great minds and encouraging them to think in and out of the classroom.
What qualities make up a good teacher?
I believe that a quality that makes a good teacher is patience. Patience is needed for teaching because the student will slowly start to open up to you and think you’re a great teacher.
What is your biggest teaching challenge?
My biggest challenge is time management. There are not enough hours in a day, but so many things to do. It’s difficult to keep a balance.
How would others describe you?
My students say that I am entertaining, patient, and caring.
What inspired you to become a teacher?
There isn’t a what that inspired me, but a who. My mom is a teacher, and I saw how much of an impact she made on her students’ lives. I wanted to make my students’ worlds a better place.
If you could teach a different class, what would you teach?
I would teach Biology. I like learning about life forms and also teaching about them. I think it is such an interesting subject.
If you could take one of the Explore Classes offered at Wredling, which one would you choose?
I think I would like to take Medical Detectives because it would be a fun and interesting experience.
If you could learn a language, what would it be?
I would like to learn Mandarin. I think it is such a fascinating and fun language, but it would be very hard to learn.
Who should we interview next?
You should definitely interview Mrs. Amadei! She is an AT ELA teacher, and is such a cool person. She is also so caring and awesome.
I hope you enjoyed learning about Ms. Metcalfe! Stay tuned for the next Hawk Talk by Priya and Nishtha. Thank you for reading!!!
