NAME: Madison Constance Kofoed
HOMETOWN: Charlotte, North Carolina
INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT SCHOOL AND GRADE LEVEL: Inskip Elementary School, Third Grade
ABOUT MADISON: Though I love Knoxville and all the fun adventures it holds; I am planning on moving back home to be teacher. I am from Charlotte, North Carolina and the oldest of four kids. I love hiking (really anything outdoors), being with friends, and working with children. I have worked with children in the inner city for years through my family’s ministry and am hoping an opportunity presents itself to carry on this love for those less fortunate in inner city schools.
WHAT MADISON LIKES MOST ABOUT TEACHING AND WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN: Children are such a joy to be around; they make the days interesting, memorable, enjoyable, and constantly new. I have loved being able to see them learn to navigate the world, to see them become excited to learn or to have understood something new, and to be able to create experiences for children that they may otherwise not experience. My personal love for teaching has grown so much over the course of my college career, in truly being able to see an impact I have made by daily loving, putting in effort, and providing experiences to children.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE PREK-3 PROGRAM: My favorite thing about the PreK-3 program at UT is the many opportunities I have gotten to experience through different school environments, the plethora of “doing to learn” opportunities I have been provided with, and the love for teaching my professors have. This program truly forms a family in the fact that you are with many of the same girls and professors for several years. You are able to create a relationship with them on a personal level that I never thought could develop at a major University. The women through their experience, love for teaching, and heart for children has truly impacted my view, abilities, and understanding of what it takes to become a strong, confident, loving, caring, and prepared early childhood educator.