Spotlight: McKay Students' Accomplishments

Nicole Martin

Nicole Martin, of Cincinnati, is a Communication Disorders major in the McKay School of Education. She said she loves how much of an application her learning will have in “real life”. “It will affect how I raise my own kids and how I interact with other children throughout my life,” she said. She has learned from experience how much a parent can influence a child’s learning. “I was homeschooled my whole life before coming to college,” she said. “I learned motivation and flexibility and a love for learning new things.”

She said she enjoys learning about all the stages of development and communication. “I’ve learned signs to look for in potential communication disorders in children,” she said. “It will help me to help the children as they grow and develop.”

Martin originally majored in biology. In October 2005, her junior year of that program, an experience prompted her to change to Communication Disorders. “I just woke up with the words ‘audiology and speech pathology’ in my head,” she said. “That was strange, because I’d never considered it before. I went about my classes as normal that day, but then my mom called and asked if I would consider changing my major to Speech Pathology.” Martin pondered for a while, researched the program and changed her major. She said she is very pleased with her decision.

The Communication Disorders undergraduate degree covers the development of the speech and hearing systems.

Martin plans to attend graduate school in April 2008. Afterward, she will complete a clinical fellowship year, and be certified to work in the school districts, assisting students who possess communication disorders.

Martin said she has enjoyed her time at the McKay School and looks forward to the upcoming years of learning. “You can make any career work as long as you love it,” she said. “Find something you love, work hard at it, and help those around you.”

Martin still pursues her interest in biology through reading. She also enjoys dancing, especially clogging and Irish dance, and the color teal: “like the color of the ocean in the Caribbean.”

30 April 2008

Heidi Higgins

Heidi Higgins, a senior history teaching major in the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences, considers her unique background, multiplicity of interests, and mission experience as major assets for her future teaching career.

“I think I can touch kids that teachers usually don’t get to help,” said Higgins. “I’m kind of an odd ball myself, so I can relate to those kids who think differently than the mainstream.” With a father in the military, she lived in 15 different states during her own education, including California, Kansas, and Massachusetts. “Having so many different experiences as a student makes me more effective in teaching,” she said. “I’ve seen it done every single way.” Higgins currently student teaches at Provo High School.

“I like technology,” said Higgins. “I like Facebook, MySpace, texting, iPods, and so do the kids. We can relate.” Higgins uses mutual interests to bring study materials to life for the students, especially through music. Higgins played trombone in the Cougar Marching Band for four years. She also enjoys listening to music on her iPod. “I love finding new bands,” she said. “I point out the band names that have taken their names from history. I’ll see it in a lesson and say ‘Hey, that’s where such-and-such a band may have gotten their name!’ All of a sudden, the students think it’s cool.”

Heidi also uses the experience of a Spanish-speaking LDS mission to assist in teaching. She served in the Washington Kennewick mission from June 2005 to December 2006. During this time, she often helped English As a Second Language students with schoolwork. “Their parents didn’t speak English, only Spanish. A lot of the kids didn’t speak either language—they spoke Spanglish,” she said. Seeing the frustration of the students, Higgins decided to help. Learning that she enjoyed teaching encouraged her to pursue it as a career.

Higgins originally planned on going to law school. However, she held teaching in the back of her mind. “I had to decide if I really liked kids that much,” she admitted. “I would be around kids every day! Not just ‘poster children,’ but real people, with real problems.” Before her mission, she hesitantly applied for the education program. Even when her application was accepted, she did not know if she would stay. She continued with the program and, with the counsel of part-time teacher education professor Cindy Horrocks, decided she loved teaching enough to stay.

To students considering an education major, Higgins suggested having a back-up plan and obtaining hands-on experience. “This is something you have to love,” she said. “There’s no money, so you can’t be in it for the money—you have to be in it because you love to help people.”

29 February 2008

Kirsten Baltich

Honest, humble, funny, excellent listener, understanding of others--these qualities are only a few of the strengths required of a teacher. Kirsten Baltich, age 19, exemplifies all these qualities and many more, according to her friends, family, and former teachers. Kirsten transferred to BYU at the beginning of Fall Semester 2007 as an English teaching major. She previously earned an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Polk Community College, in her hometown of Lakeland, Florida.

Kirsten’s decision to major in English education, while not a rare choice among BYU students, may seem unexpected to those who know her background. “I was home schooled every year except 8th grade. I went to public school that year,” she said. Such a long history of home schooling prompts one to ask, “Why major in teaching?”

Baltich explained that as she watched the teachers during her year in middle school, as well as the teachers of her brothers, she decided she wanted to make a difference in the field of education. “I wanted to learn how to be a good teacher,” she continued. “That’s something that really sticks out to me when I’m in class—I notice which things are effective and which aren’t.” She constantly searches for alternative ideas to replace less effective teaching methods.

Baltich admits that teaching, by nature, must be a hands-on experience. “You just have to get out there and experience it,” she stated. She added that this semester she enrolled in the BYU course “Exploration of Teaching,” which requires students to go into the surrounding schools and assist teachers four days a week. The experience helped her gain a new perspective. “I was thinking ideally. Now I think realistically,” she said. “They are real kids, with real problems, different personalities, and different ways of learning.”

Baltich’s varied interests and hobbies helped her relate to the various backgrounds of the students. She has a strong music background, having played piano for most of her life and recently taking an organ class at BYU. She also enjoys working with plants, and worked at her family-owned plant nursery all through her high school age years. Baltich also enjoys selling things on eBay. She like to shop, read, and hang out with friends, and she serves as an “FHE Mom” in her BYU Ward. Baltich uses all these opportunities and interests to learn how to interact with others in a kind, loving, and cheerful way. “It’s a total day-brightener to talk to Kirsten,” said Laura Moster, a member of Kirsten’s BYU Ward. “As soon as she sees someone coming her way, she gives them a genuine smile. Her personality will make her a great teacher.”

For students considering a teaching major, Baltich suggested getting involved in the TOPS Program—Tutor Outreach to Provo Schools--which allows students to volunteer as tutors at various Provo schools. Baltich participated in this program fall 2007 as a part of an American Heritage class. Through participating in both the TOPS Program and the Exploration in Teaching course, Baltich actively explores the teaching field. Through her various experiences, Baltich decided she prefered to teach at the middle school grade levels.

“Middle school is a great age,” she explained. “The kids are still sweet and easily teachable, but they have their own, developed personality.” Baltich admits she would not know what she wanted to teach unless she had participated in the various teaching experiences during her time at BYU.

“There are a lot of great opportunities,” she said. “Take advantage of them! Enjoy them! Just have fun!”

29 February 2008