Friday, May 02, 2008
USI honor student to teach in Southwestern Indiana
 Julie Verkamp will graduate from USI with summa cum laude honors and a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education. The Schnellville native, who also has a math minor, plans to stay in Southwestern Indiana and begin teaching at the elementary or middle school level. She doesn’t have a preference. “I love them both. They are both interesting and unique,” she said. Her career choice is a standard activity for Verkamp. “I have always been the type of person who tries to find exciting and interesting ways to get children to learn,” she said. “I've made up games and activities to help my little sisters, cousins, and the children I watched as a babysitter learn how to do things. It's what I thrive on, and if I do it for fun then why not do it for a career?” Her student teaching experience has helped Verkamp continue to develop and polish her teaching skills. “I spend time working on lesson plans and thinking about how I can meet the needs of my students,” she said. Meeting the needs of her students is something Verkamp takes very seriously. “If a student doesn’t understand something, it’s a matter of figuring out what step he or she is missing,” she said. “Where is the crack in the bridge between what the student understands and doesn’t understand? Then you use what they understand to complete that bridge.” Verkamp also tries to ensure that her students enjoy learning. “I try to make the lessons interesting and show how it applies to their lives,” she said. She takes the same approach with her own study. “I do make things interesting,” said Verkamp. “I try to figure out where formulas and problems come from and how they apply to my life. I use critical thinking.” Verkamp aspires to have the same type of impact on her students that her professors have had on her. “Because upper-level classes are small, you build relationships with your professors,” she said. “They are so caring and so concerned. If I forget to do something or don't do it well, I don't get upset because it could affect my grade, but that it might disappoint my professors.” For someone who gives her best on everything she does, that shouldn’t be a concern for Verkamp. Her perfect grade point average can attest to her work ethic. Verkamp is the daughter of Eugene and Cindy Verkamp of Schnellville, Indiana. |
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