Bluffton University

Mission and education

08/21/2024

Paige Smith ’26 put classroom management learnings into practice during her summer internship.

Adapting content to meet student needs

Paige Smith ’26, a primary P-5 education and intervention specialist double major, spent her summer in a classroom through an internship with Christian EduCare in Springfield, Ohio. 

Through this internship Smith learned to have a better understanding of what kids need. Additionally, she also learned not everything she plans in a classroom will work how you intended. Smith learned to be flexible and adjust her content to meet the needs of her students. 

Smith said the most impactful thing offered to her through this internship was the ability to minister to kids. Through a program called Summer Kids, she was able to spend time with children reading the Bible, praying and building sensory skills.

“You’re teaching the kids about Jesus while also making sure they feel included,” said Smith. “I want to make sure that students are included and aren’t treated any differently because of a disability.”

With a passion to help students, Smith has a goal of becoming a high school intervention specialist.

Through Bluffton’s courses such as Introduction to Teaching and early field experience, Smith says she found her passion for helping students and learned classroom management skills. Smith said these courses, along with many others, prepared her for this internship. 

Smith is thankful for Bluffton’s education department for allowing her to get experience in the classroom early. Gaining experience early, Smith said, allowed her to feel more comfortable in the classroom. The faculty and staff at Bluffton are another reason Smith feels she has seen growth in becoming an educator.

“At Bluffton, it’s very personal,” said Smith. “The professors really get to know you and want to know you. They are very willing to help you grow and progress forward. The education department here has been great to me.”

On campus, Smith is a resident advisor in Hirschy Hall, a member of Bluffton Education Organization and competes on the track and field team.

“The track team is really close and my coaches are great,” said Smith. “They really give you the time and energy required to improve. Even over the summer months.”