Lessons in Learning - Jungbluth
By Rachel Mergen
Katarina Jungbluth defines herself as “sort of a kid-at-heart.” She has been a teacher within the Wauzeka-Steuben Elementary School for the past 33 years, having taught all grades in the school except for first. Currently, she finds enjoyment in teaching fourth grade children.
As a youngster, Jungbluth found herself babysitting constantly. “I love working with kids,” she said.
Jungbluth attended the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, Minn. She stated that she loved studying there and “would recommend anyone to go there.”
After graduation, she discovered the job market was quite tight for teachers. She noted, “It was not unusual to have applied for a teaching job that more than 50 other people had also applied for.”
When she found employment in the Wauzeka-Steuben School District, she knew nothing about the area, except that it was on a “beautiful side of the state.”
Presently, her average day includes science, math, language arts and social studies.
The students are focusing on rocks and fossils in science.
For math—Jungbluth’s favorite subject to teach—the children are learning about multiplication, division and line plots. The students and Jungbluth are doing their best to take it one day at a time.
Math is her preferred subject, because “kids get it” and “you can see the light bulb go off.” According to Jungbluth, if someone can understand the patterns, they can apply them other places also. Jungbluth enjoys all the possibilities that are available in the use of numbers.
Language arts lessons include both reading and writing. A common activity for the students is to memorize a quote and information about the speaker. They then have to be recorded as they rattle off their parts. The students are learning about drawing conclusions, different genres and a variety of literary terms. Each evening, the students are tasked with independent and assigned reading. In addition to these lessons, the children learn cursive and typing.
In social studies, the youngsters are being educated on economics.
The students participate in nutrition classes, the Legion Essay Contest, physical education, art and guidance.
Jungbluth loves the hugs and notes from students that come with her job. She finds amusement in the children sneaking to the white board to grab a marker and write her little messages in the corners.
She savors “seeing [the students] come in happy every day.” She enjoys witnessing the high expectations they have for themselves and the delight they experience when they are able to understand something new.
One of Jungbluth’s favorite memories comes from her time as a kindergarten teacher. She remembered finding one little boy, who had been trying to reach a paper towel, fallen in a recycling bin. Instead of seeming concerned about his fall, he popped up and exclaimed, “I’ve been recycled.”
Furthermore, she found delight in her entire class not having any idea who Oscar the Grouch, a character on the television program “Sesame Street,” was.
She looked back to earlier this year, when the students were given the opportunity to watch the Disney film “Swiss Family Robinson.” She walked past the rooms it was playing in and listened happily to the children laughing.
Jungbluth recalled “dog sled racing” also. Two children would pull one other around on a sled during a snowy day. She remembered that no matter what the instructors would do to try to avoid it, the children were bound to get wrapped up around the swing sets.
She recalled being one of the first teachers in the school to receive a computer and printer. She noted how technology has changed her teaching over the years.
Jungbluth said the hardest part is “just some of the stresses in kids’ lives. It’s hard to know what is going on in a student’s life.” She mentioned it is tough seeing some children who need a little more help and support.
Through teaching, she has learned how much of a wonderful inspiration children are and how they are able to keep her young. She hopes that all teachers “have fun and enjoy. You have little minds who are curious and want to learn.”
Other responsibilities at the Wauzeka-Steuben school include being the coordinator for the 21st Century Learning Grant and the Ski Club and participating in summer school teaching. Formerly, she was the head volleyball coach, along with a coach for both cheer and pom and the dance team.
When she retires down the road, she plans to continue working with kids, possibly as a volunteer or part-time. She hopes to travel more and to visit family and friends. She may be interested in hosting foreign exchange students, as she took part in doing so last year.
