Laura String

ELED Ambassador Spotlight Questions

Laura String
MEd student

Where are you from?

I am from Burke, Virginia

Why did you decide to become an elementary teacher?

I never really thought I would become a teacher while I was growing up. My mom is a teacher and I didn’t think it was for me, but then after majoring in Psychology for my Bachelors’ I realized all of my favorite research and projects had to do with helping children. Then after lockdown in 2020 I took a job at a preschool and fell completely in love with teaching. I now work in a kindergarten class in Fairfax County and even on my most stressful days, these students make me smile. I am passionate about connecting with each student and making sure they feel comfortable enough to take risks in the classroom.

Why did you choose to study Elementary Education at Mason?

I had a family member attend Mason for their Special Education Masters Program, and I learned how supportive the program was for students who work full-time jobs during the day. I also chose Mason because the Elementary Education program works closely with Fairfax County Public Schools. Considering I grew up here, I know how dedicated these teachers are and I wanted to work closer with them and learn from them.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time I enjoy running and reading. On the most stressful days, I love to go to a nearby park and go on a long run to de-stress. I also love to sit down with a cup of coffee and read. I sometimes like to sit on the couch and binge watch a reality tv show when I have the time.

What’s your favorite ELED class you’ve taken so far? Why?

My favorite class I have taken so far is ELED 544 (Introduction to Elementary Methods and Management). I enjoyed learning new ways of managing a classroom and getting into the details of lesson planning. I loved how Professor Bean gave us multiple chances to reflect on our teaching experiences in our field work, this helped me learn how to use more effective forms of communicating with my students. We were given the opportunity to work on and look at lesson plans for all different grade levels which led me to think about what grade levels I may like to work with in my future teaching experiences.