Name: Shriya Nevatia
Breakthrough Program: Breakthrough Cambridge
Subject Teaching: Science
School Attending/Year: Tufts University / 2014

This Orientation week has been a whirlwind of (very) long days, lesson planning, and fun times with my fellow teachers! It's gone by so fast and I have learned so much about education. Two of the particular instructional techniques that I think will be essential in the classroom are VIP's and Say/See/Do cycles. I know that I am definitely a visual learner and the added element of having a picture accompanying new information helps it 'stick'. I also like the greater emphasis on the "Do's" each step of the way as the students learn new information; that makes it much easier to recall all the steps afterwards when you have to do everything on your own. I think both of these techniques make the classroom more interactive and help the students stay attentive and engaged.

I have received valuable tips from my mentor teacher and fellow teachers, and I am amazed at the natural teaching talent that I see in everyone around me each day (particularly in my department, since I have seen them all teach--Go Science!). My mentor teacher has helped me figure out many ways to present information or review information that I hadn't thought of before, and in addition she has given a lot of general advice about teaching Genetics since she has experience with teaching that subject. She has helped our department have a supportive, collaborative environment and I'm so thankful for that because it makes everything a little less stressful!

I am honored to be a part of this wonderful group of teachers, and the Breakthrough spirit makes it easy to wake up at crazy hours of the morning! We just had our teacher talent show yesterday, and we have seen everyone's awesome artistic talent throughout the past few days as we have thrown together decorations for the hallways and classrooms-- this is such an amazing bunch! I can't wait to get in the classroom and use the things I have learned to get to know my students and help them succeed. I am sure there will be many, many challenges but I know that the program directors, mentor teachers, fellow teachers, and the students' adorable faces will help me be the best teacher I can be!