Off the court, into the classroom

These days, Kelly Davenport and Taya Kockelman aren’t performing in front of a cheering crowd. There are no coaches or referees to correct or punish them. Their only audience is a bunch of kindergarten or first-grade students, eager and ready to learn.

For College of Saint Benedict education majors Davenport, Kockelman and Manon Gammon-Deering, student teaching goes hand-in-hand with athletics. They have had to quickly adjust to their elementary school classrooms. While it might be an atmosphere much different than what they are used to, the three student-teachers agree that their collegiate athletic careers have been instrumental in preparing them for their futures in education.

As four-year members of the Blazers’ volleyball team, Kockelman and Davenport secured several honors and awards at the end of their athletic careers. Throughout their athletic careers, the two seniors also developed the insights and skills to help them off the court and in their kindergarten and first grade classrooms.

During Kockelman’s first 10 weeks, she is teaching kindergarten in Avon, Minnesota. For the second half of the semester, she will switch to teaching kindergarten at Pine View Elementary in Sartell, Minnesota. Davenport is teaching first grade in the Sartell School District and Gammon-Deering is teaching kindergarten at Discovery Elementary School in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

After Davenport’s first week of student teaching, she quickly noticed how important teamwork was among teachers.

“Where I’m student teaching, we have a team of first grade teachers,” she said. “Getting along with that team and really working together is crucial. Just like in sports, I am expected to be a leader on my team.”

Kockelman agreed, saying that working with different types of people every day can be challenging.

“Even when I don’t see eye to eye with someone else, I still have to consider their ideas and make those decisions that are best for my students,” she said.

For Kockelman, preparation was a crucial part of teaching that she had to adjust to. Both Kockelman and Davenport’s lesson planning consumes an hour of their time for each subject.

“Prepping for the whole day is really time consuming, especially at the younger grades,” Kockelman said.

“The dedication piece of it is so important,” Kockelman added. “Similar to athletics, I have to thoroughly prepare for the next day and formulate effective lesson plans to get the most out of my students.”

Davenport has learned to take things one day at a time.

“With sports, not everything goes the way it is planned,” she said. “That’s kind of how teaching is. No lesson plan or day goes exactly as planned. I’ve learned to go with the flow and be open to change.”

At first, Davenport was surprised at how much energy she consumed while teaching.

“It’s a lot more work than I ever expected,” she said. “I knew what I was getting into, but not to the extent of how much time and effort I would have to put into it. I’ve already learned so much from my time there.”

However, student teaching is completely worthwhile, Davenport says.

“It’s really rewarding to see how the time and effort I consume in my lesson plans really pay off,” she added. “There is no better feeling than being in front of the class, teaching my students, and watching them really take in and understand what I am teaching.”

While Kockelman and Davenport have already closed the doors on their athletic careers, Gammon-Deering is just beginning her final season on the Blazer track and field team as a distance runner.

“Just like with training, it is important for me to pace myself and take it one step at a time,” Gammon-Deering said. “Taking things day-by-day is extremely important in any profession, especially this one.”

Gammon-Deering has already learned the importance of time management as a track and cross country multi-sport athlete. She has learned to further develop those skills as an in-season athlete who is also student teaching.

“I try to be present wherever I am,” Gammon-Deering said. “If I’m at school, my main focus is to be totally immersed in my students’ lives. When I leave, I start focusing on track, the team and how I can be a good captain today. It’s important for me to segment my day and center my energy on one thing, depending on where I am at that time.”

Kockelman, Davenport and Gammon-Deering recognize CSB and SJU for providing them with the groundwork to succeed in their futures.

“The education department at CSB and SJU as well as the athletic programs have prepared me so thoroughly for my future career,” Gammon-Deering said. “I’ve learned how to look a challenge square in the face and say, ‘I have what it takes to be successful.’ ”