First Semester Highlights as a Middle and High School MAT Student

Hi there! I’m Khadija Binte Nasir, a current graduate student in the Middle and High School Education Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at Tufts University, and I’m excited to give you a peek into what my first semester was like—trust me, it’s been an amazing ride!

In my first semester, I took two incredible courses at Tufts: ED101: Intro to Teaching and ENG167: What the Novel Knows. Both classes were hands-on, engaging, and really pushed me to think deeply about what it means to be an educator and how literature shapes our world. The professors were super supportive and fostered an environment where we could all explore new ideas, make connections, and challenge ourselves in ways I didn’t expect.

Alongside the Tufts courses, I took EN701: Teaching Contemporary Texts at Boston University, thanks to Tufts' cross-registration option through the consortium. It’s been great to broaden my horizons and experience different academic environments while staying rooted in my core program at Tufts.

But the real magic happened outside the classroom! As part of the MAT program, each of us is placed in a local middle or high school based on our interests—something that really sets this program apart. I was lucky enough to do my field placement at Somerville Middle School, and it was the perfect fit for me. Twice a week, I’d head there to work under my mentor teacher, and honestly, those days became the highlight of my week. My mentor is incredible—so knowledgeable and supportive. I’ve learned so much from her, not just about teaching strategies but also about how to create a classroom environment where students feel safe and excited to learn.

At the school, I mainly observed the classes, interacted with students, and started building relationships with them—this was especially rewarding. Twice during the semester, I was formally observed by an external supervisor, and those moments were a great opportunity to put what I’d learned into practice. I created and delivered lesson plans for those observations, which helped me really sharpen my teaching skills. But most of the time, I was soaking up the experience—watching how the classroom functioned, understanding the student-teacher dynamics, and getting a sense of what it means to be an educator on the ground.

What I love about the MAT program is how seamlessly it connects theory to practice. Everything I learned in my Tufts courses came alive in my field placement, and that hands-on experience is invaluable. It’s been an incredible learning curve, but one that I wouldn’t trade for anything. The sense of community, the supportive faculty, and the chance to work in a real school from day one have made this semester unforgettable. If you’re considering joining this program, I can tell you—you’re in for an exciting, eye-opening journey!