Spring 2003
Contents
Profile of Erica Jenkins
“It’s really been worth it”, says Erica Jenkins. Jenkins arrived at EMU two years ago with a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in Horticulture and a Master’s Degree from Ohio State University in Agronomy.
With a successful career, Jenkins made the decision to pursue a second career as a teacher. “I just knew that I loved teaching”.
It was through the Pesticide Education outreach program at Michigan State University that Jenkins began using her background in science to develop classroom materials, specifically, Exploring Urban Integrated Pest Management: Activities and Resources for Teaching K-6. The goal of the project was to get students excited about being pest detectives. The students took that knowledge home to find safer ways to control or manage urban pests (mice, roaches) in their homes and neighborhoods. Jenkins has trained teachers to use her materials.
“Erica Jenkins is a perfect example of a second career student whose experience and knowledge from her first career will make her an outstanding teacher”, says Dr. Tayeh. Reflecting on her experience at EMU, Jenkins recalls that “she loved how the classes modeled how to teach. As someone who math comes easily for, I learned how to slow down and elicit the mathematics from the children”.
Jenkins most enjoys developing curriculum. “I like to see what my students are interested in and then develop materials and projects that build on their own curiosities. I enjoy incorporating my own hobbies into mathematics from quilting to paper pop up cards to bell ringing.” It was Jenkins experience as a director of a youth hand bell choir that led her to make a musical instrument out of soft plastic tubing from Home Depot which she has incorporated into a science unit for her second grade class. Students learn that the length of the tubes changes the pitch.
Her advice to others that are thinking about returning to college to change careers, “don’t hesitate. Student teaching is wonderful.” Jenkins also encourages others to get to know your professors and let them get to know you.
Jenkins plans to teach mathematics and science at the elementary or middle school level but sees herself in curriculum development and maybe even teaching at the college level one day.