How Do Conjoined Twins Teach A Class? | Abby and Brittany

Summary

The video follows Abby and Brittany Hensel, conjoined twins, during their final semester of college as student teachers. Despite their unique situation, they navigate life and teaching with determination and teamwork. The twins' bond, their interactions with students, and their dynamic as co-teachers are highlighted. The script also touches on their friendships, graduation preparations, and concerns about the future after school. As they look forward to starting their careers, the twins demonstrate resilience and an optimistic approach to the challenges ahead.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Abby and Brittany Hensel are conjoined twins who have just finished their senior year of college.
• 👩‍🏫 Both have been working as student teachers, with Abby focusing more on math and science, and Brittany on language arts.
• 🧑‍🏫 They teach collaboratively and have adapted well to their unique situation, functioning as a teaching team in the classroom.
• 👩‍🏫 Their students and supervisors have accepted them as highly qualified teachers, and the initial concerns about how students would respond were resolved quickly.
• 🤝 The twins have developed a deep connection with their friends, particularly Josiah, who has become a close and protective friend.
• 🎉 They are approaching graduation, feeling both excitement and nervousness about this new phase of their lives.
• 👔 The twins face some unique challenges in the job market, including questions about how contracts will work for conjoined individuals, but they remain optimistic.
• 🏠 They and their roommates are uncertain about their post-graduation plans, but they plan to stay together through the summer.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Abby and Brittany have strong bonds with their family, particularly their brother Cody, with whom they share a typical sibling relationship.
• 🌟 Despite the challenges of being conjoined, they maintain a positive outlook on life, focusing on their goals and what’s ahead.

Q & A

Who are Abby and Brittany Hensel?

Abby and Brittany Hensel are 22-year-old conjoined twins who are also teachers. They are known for their unique situation but live a normal life, overcoming challenges together.

What is the focus of Abby and Brittany's current life stage in the transcript?

Abby and Brittany are student teachers in their last semester of college, preparing for graduation while balancing their teaching duties and spending time with friends.

How do Abby and Brittany's teaching styles differ?

Abby is more focused on math and science, while Brittany prefers language arts and reading. Abby tends to be stricter in the classroom, while Brittany allows for a bit more chatter.

How do the students in their classroom react to having conjoined teachers?

Initially, the students were curious, but after an open Q&A session, they accepted Abby and Brittany as part of the classroom and no longer saw their uniqueness as an issue.

How do Abby and Brittany divide tasks in the classroom?

They teach collaboratively, often using a team approach. For example, they clap in rhythm to get the students' attention, and both focus on different strengths—Abby on math and Brittany on language arts.

What concerns did people have about Abby and Brittany becoming teachers?

There were concerns about how students would react to them, but these were quickly resolved once students got used to them. There were also practical concerns about contracts, as they physically occupy the same space but are considered two separate individuals.

What challenges did Abby and Brittany face in college?

It was initially difficult for them to decide whether to pursue separate majors, as they physically couldn’t take twice as many classes. They ended up pursuing the same major in education with different focus areas.

How does their friend Josiah describe his relationship with Abby and Brittany?

Josiah, one of their close friends from Bethel, describes their bond as special, noting that he’s protective of them. He also highlights that they allow him to be a protective friend, which they don’t usually allow others to do.

What concerns do Abby and Brittany express about graduation?

They express mixed feelings about graduation, feeling bittersweet. They’re excited for the future but sad about leaving their friends and the familiar routine of school behind.

How do Abby and Brittany handle challenges, according to their family and friends?

Their family and friends believe that Abby and Brittany are determined individuals who don’t let challenges stop them. If they want to do something, they find a way to achieve it, regardless of obstacles.

Outlines

00:00

🌅 Morning Routine and Student Teaching

The video begins with Abby and Brittany Hensel discussing their final semester of college, where they are wrapping up student teaching before graduation. They reflect on their experience as student teachers, noting the challenges of having two teachers in the classroom. The segment introduces their unique bond as conjoined twins and their approach to daily life, highlighting their normalcy despite the curiosity they often evoke from others.

05:00

🎓 Life as Conjoined Twins in the Classroom

Abby and Brittany share their classroom experiences, emphasizing how their students quickly adapted to their presence and teaching style. They discuss their approach to teaching collaboratively and how they handle student engagement. The video illustrates how their students accepted them as part of the normal classroom dynamic after an initial period of curiosity. Both Abby and Brittany have complementary strengths, with Abby excelling in math and science and Brittany focusing on language arts.

10:02

🎤 Graduation and Friends

As graduation approaches, Abby and Brittany express mixed emotions about leaving behind their friends and their shared experiences at college. They mention their close-knit friendships and the bonds they've formed with roommates and classmates. Their friend Josiah reflects on their time together, while Abby and Brittany discuss job interviews, reminiscing about their college journey and the uncertainty of what comes next after graduation.

15:07

🎓 Graduation Day Challenges and Celebrations

The segment details the excitement and chaos of graduation day, with Abby and Brittany rushing to get ready. Despite some last-minute stresses, such as missing tassels, they successfully walk the stage to receive their degrees. The video captures their lighthearted and humorous approach to potential mishaps, like a falling hat, and their sense of accomplishment as they officially graduate. The challenges of being conjoined do not hinder their celebration.

20:09

🍰 Family, Challenges, and Future Plans

In this final segment, Abby and Brittany reflect on their close family ties, particularly with their younger brother Cody and sister Morgan. They share humorous anecdotes about everyday life, such as losing car keys, and express gratitude for their support system. The video concludes with a sense of bittersweet excitement for the future, as they prepare to move on from college life to their next adventure, likely in teaching.

Keywords

💡Student Teaching

Student teaching refers to the period where student teachers apply their academic learning in real classrooms under the supervision of a mentor teacher. In the script, Abby and Brittany, who are student teachers, are seen reflecting on their experiences as they wrap up their final semester before graduation. Their role involves actively teaching and managing a classroom while preparing for their professional careers.

💡Conjoined Twins

Conjoined twins are siblings who are physically connected to each other at birth. In this video, Abby and Brittany Hensel are conjoined twins who have learned to navigate life together, including sharing the responsibilities of teaching. Their unique physical condition is a key aspect of the video, highlighting how they have adapted to live a normal life despite the challenges.

💡Collaboration

Collaboration is the act of working together toward a common goal. Throughout the video, Abby and Brittany demonstrate collaboration as they teach together in the classroom, using each other's strengths in different subjects. This teamwork is a central theme as they combine their individual skills to provide a well-rounded education to their students.

💡Classroom Management

Classroom management involves the strategies teachers use to maintain order and facilitate learning. Abby and Brittany discuss their different approaches to managing the classroom, with Abby being more strict and Brittany being more lenient, illustrating how their unique personalities contribute to their teaching dynamic.

💡Graduation

Graduation marks the completion of an academic program. In the video, Abby and Brittany are in their final semester of college, eagerly preparing for graduation. They reflect on the bittersweet nature of leaving behind their student life and friends while looking forward to the future.

💡Bethel University

Bethel University is the college where Abby and Brittany are completing their education. The institution plays a role in the video as it is the backdrop for much of their academic journey, including their student teaching experience and upcoming graduation.

💡Teaching License

A teaching license is an official certification that allows individuals to teach in schools. In the video, Abby and Brittany are in the process of obtaining their separate teaching licenses, which is a key milestone in their transition from student teachers to professional educators.

💡Team Teaching

Team teaching is a method where two or more teachers work together to plan, teach, and assess the same group of students. Abby and Brittany engage in team teaching, utilizing their different academic strengths to provide a comprehensive learning experience for their students. Their collaboration reflects the benefits of this approach in the classroom.

💡Friendship

Friendship is a central theme as Abby and Brittany reflect on their relationships with their college friends. As they approach graduation, they express sadness about potentially losing contact with their friends, showcasing the importance of social bonds in their lives.

💡Challenges

Challenges refer to the difficulties Abby and Brittany face due to their unique situation as conjoined twins. Despite these challenges, they have embraced a 'normal' life, pursuing a teaching career and graduating from college, which serves as a testament to their resilience and determination.

Highlights

Abby and Brittany Hensel, 22-year-old conjoined twins, introduce themselves and their unique life experiences.

The Hensel twins are student teachers, focusing on teaching fourth-grade students with a collaborative teaching style.

Abby excels in math and science, while Brittany's strengths lie in language arts and writing.

Their teaching supervisor, Jerry Von Gray, mentions that he has worked with Abby and Brittany for three years, observing their dynamic team-teaching approach.

The students initially have questions about Abby and Brittany's conjoined status, but they quickly adapt and treat them as regular teachers.

Abby and Brittany apply different classroom management styles—Abby being stricter, while Brittany is more lenient with student chatter.

The twins are obtaining separate teaching licenses but will need to work in the same physical space for any future job.

Their students provide feedback on having two student teachers, noting that they often receive help from both Abby and Brittany at the same time.

Josiah, one of their best friends from Bethel University, reminisces about their time together as graduation approaches.

Both Abby and Brittany discuss their excitement for graduation, reflecting on their time in college and their future teaching careers.

Graduation day comes, with the twins experiencing small mishaps, such as Abby’s hat falling off, but they recover with humor and excitement.

After graduation, they discuss living together with their college roommates over the summer and the uncertainty of their job prospects in the fall.

Their younger brother Cody shares a typical sibling dynamic with them, with frequent bickering but a strong family bond.

Their parents reflect on how Abby and Brittany approach challenges in life with determination and focus, not letting their conjoined status limit them.

The transcript ends with a hopeful tone, as Abby and Brittany look forward to their future, excited for the next chapter in their lives, whether it be teaching or something new.

Transcripts

good morning you've been student

teaching and wrapping that up before

graduation comes quiet we had concerns

about how the students would respond

what's it like having a student teacher

or two student teachers there's four

eyes watching you right

so Josiah is one of best friends from

Bethel

did you know that I felt like you had

said something I mentioned it but I

thought you said you liked pork loins

sad that we don't get to be with our

friends anymore don't be around you

don't know that for sure

[Music]

Murphy this is so weird

and that ladies and gentlemen is your

class of 2012. my name is Abby Hensel

and I'm Brittany henzel we are 22 years

old people have been curious about us

since we were born for obvious reasons

we're identical twins who are conjoined

but our parents never let us use that as

an excuse while life has a conjoined

twin sometimes has its challenges I like

this but I don't need it we were raised

to believe that we could do anything we

wanted so we do

we like to think that the most amazing

thing about us is we're just like

everyone else we really are normal but

I'm definitely more normal than Brett

whatever anyways this is the story of

our normal regular life well our normal

control in life

this is our life

so since it's the last semester of our

senior year of college we've been

student teaching and wrapping that up

and trying to hang out with our friends

as much as possible just before

graduation comes

[Music]

most school days we try to get up around

6 45 and then we try to leave for school

by 7 50. 7

45 7 45.

we are not morning people and like we

don't talk to each other or anybody here

just do what we got to do and that's it

yep

Regional fourth grade classroom today we

are teaching a review you math and good

lab test tomorrow so it'll be a good day

we are there every day it's five days a

week all day the morning message is just

something to get the kids started um

today we said we've been working with

adjectives and grammar this week what is

an adjective that could describe

yourself

[Music]

my name is Jerry Von gray and I work

with Abby and Brittany as their

supervisor we have worked together for

about three years so we're gonna do a

math review she's there for us to talk

to and she tries to observe at least one

lesson a week and just give us feedback

hello how are you right to the

adjectives down how would you describe

yourself should I do one the question

about them having separate majors are

one major is really common question

initially they were thinking about

having an education major with different

focuses and I think physically it was

really impossible for them to take twice

as many classes as the average college

student and then try to get the homework

done so how did you write funny yep nice

what did you find what attitude all

right keep doing it for the most part

when we're teaching we definitely teach

in a collaborative team team approach

alrighty

in order to get this kid's attention we

do like clapping rhythms and you have

them follow along with us some people

are still not with me

all right very good job put off your

desks and take out your mouth I'm

definitely more like I have the more

math and science it's kind of my strong

point

um where Britney's more like more

focused on like the language arts and

like writing and the reading and stuff

like that conceited and quiet

my connection with Abby and Brittany

um if I followed through the years

obviously understanding the uniqueness

of their situation as conjoined twins

and the fact that Abby and Brittany are

together they're constantly in a team

teaching mode

comes down the floor we see a difference

in the tolerance

um I'm more strict in the sense of I

want to keep as mostly quiet as we can

and where Brittany can handle a little

bit more chatter

more who can remind me what we don't do

with our markers

what do we don't do with our markers

don't draw on our whiteboards where do

our markers go Adam from the floor on

the floor and we are not writing notes

we had concerns about how the students

would respond because it's such a unique

and special situation let's start out

with factors and multiples it was really

important for us to give the students

that exposure visually and we had an

open question answer for him where Abby

and Brittany took their questions and I

think from then on

they were dismissed after a bit Abby and

Brittany and the teacher asked the

students very candidly now do you have

any other questions now that they're not

here and you're like no that's it like

we're they're just part of our classroom

now the top number is 56. draw an array

for me on your board

56 is the inside yep so you have to give

me two factors I get 56. eight and seven

very good once you arrive to the place

where you just recognize them as very

qualified and dynamic teachers then it

becomes a non-issue really and that that

process for kids I think happens like

that board's upwards up foreign

so we decided that we we're gonna get a

feedback from the students to see what

they had to say about having student

teachers in the classroom what's it like

having a student teacher or two students

or two student teachers like Abby is

talking to one person like and I have a

question I just asking absolutely we've

done that before too haven't shopped I

have to focus a lot harder yeah I have

to focus a lot harder when we're like

when we are doing two different things

because so often I want to be like what

are you doing put or like seeing what

the other one's doing with Miss Brittany

and I what does that mean about how many

eyes we have

Anthony you get to answer this question

because I asked this one to tell you

that a lot what there's four eyes

watching you right hadari uh saying the

same stuff at the same time absolutely

do you like that don't you I would not

hesitate in a minute to put them in the

classroom and hire them group three

you're gonna get three points

some of the uniqueness will be in terms

of

contracts

um is it one contract is it two

contracts for a licensure they applied

us two separate people and they'll both

have their own teaching license but

obviously you know they have to have a

job where they can physically be in the

same space group two you're gonna get

through points and you're also going to

go enjoy recess bye

there's no question in my mind that they

will

his lives

those like myself as one person never

would be able to do

we are winding down with student

teaching so we only have 13 days left

which is so sad

um but we're excited to graduate maybe

we'll be a lot of fun it'll be a good

week

um so Bittersweet but we're excited all

right let's head out Josiah is one of

best friends from Bethel sad that we

don't get to be with our friends anymore

you don't know that for sure how are we

feeling about graduation guys I'm kind

of nervous for tripping I have a record

let's practice okay Brett and Abby

[Applause]

[Music]

foreign

[Music]

like hang out and just catch up on each

other's week and see how things are

going are you guys getting excited for

graduation on Saturday yeah so you yeah

um they were in the same dorm they were

kind of mixing the boys and girls as

awkward as that is right off the bat at

school what service are you graduating

football ceremony I am at the 12 30

ceremony ever since then it's just been

a ton of fun and we've been great

friends and very blessed to have them

what time are you two graduating

both of you yeah okay I feel like maybe

I'll graduate at four but I'm not sure

did you know what we're good no you

knocked that off right now you're what I

was gonna do it did you know that what

does that even mean I don't know I

thought we talked about this before we

just didn't get a hammer down huh

seriously I I was really I felt like you

had said something I mentioned it but I

thought you said you liked pork loins

I probably knew three people at Bethel

at that that first time I met them and

so this was an opportunity just to meet

more people and so

um I don't remember what I thought and

to me that's huge because I think in my

mind I saw the potential for two friends

and I've always kind of joked with them

it's two for the price of one you had an

interview recently didn't you yes you

have a job interview today what kind of

questions did they ask you what was one

of my greatest successes and how I

reflected on it what's one of your

greatest successes I would say one of my

greatest successes in student teaching

speak louder is the point system that we

put together we gave the kids points for

good behavior both of them are very much

sisters to me and I'm I'm very very

protective of them they don't really

allow for their friends to be too

protective and so that's the unique bond

that I have with both of them is they

kind of allow me to do that so are you

excited

reported and just encouraging

usable pomegranate raspberries as usual

I don't try new things

I've done the usual I always get

cheesecake raspberries and strawberries

how are you guys doing good how are you

how are you thank you thank you

um and um always makes us laugh we're

always laughing we play off of each

other's probably stupidity or weirdness

weirdness

hit it with me come on

yeah you do

oh shots I didn't know we play guitar

though I did I did by myself yeah we

were pretty good at Acoustic air guitar

I've never played before in my life

on the flip side we're also able to

really connect connect on a more serious

level like

um we often ask him for advice and he is

super encouraging and supportive I'm

excited to graduate are you scared a

little bit no you just don't know what's

coming you know what's kind of crazy is

the fact that like we don't know when

there's going to be an end to certain

things now true it's very sad

it's so sad oh it's sad that we just get

to start new things but I would like to

just keep continuing our path you always

know we're gonna go to school keep going

to school if you keep messing up on

those tests

you know how I don't like change it's

sad that we don't get to be with our

friends anymore don't be around I'm

pretty sad about that you don't know

that for sure you still got your high

school friends like I know it looks like

so why won't you get your college

friends

it's a good question thank you the way

that they interact with each other is

just totally different than I would with

my own sibling and I think that's just

such a unique bond that no one in this

world could have with anyone else

besides those two with each other

you

bye all right here we go okay

[Music]

[Applause]

so all of our roommates are graduating

Ali's in nursing he's in social work and

carito is also in education education

of college

wait it's pretty when you get out of

your phone for a minute I'm texting

myself none of the roommates have jobs

right now we are all in the process of

interviewing and looking we're living in

our house till August we're all staying

together we're excited great and then

come September we're not sure we'll be

because we haven't figured out where our

job will be yet

I'm nervous for the actual graduation

I'm kind of nervous for tripping I have

a record so do I like prom um

High School graduation okay I actually

should practice let's practice okay you

have to practice with your shoes on

Carrie Joe pinky

red and Abby hello

[Applause]

wait please drop it drop it

yeah I think it'll be really exciting to

just go through this next season

together and living here this summer and

being there for each other when we find

our first jobs and just being able to

celebrate with each other is that's

really awesome to have that guys

it's a foreign

make us sad we're graduating face

I said sad you're sad kitty I don't know

how to look sad just don't

Smiley's doing a good job oh my gosh

it's right into that role do I just had

a new one

we're graduating us to graduation I was

kidding do it do it

[Applause]

we should have woken up earlier

this is so weird you're like oh this is

actually it and that ladies and

gentlemen is your class of 2012.

[Music]

do I want to watch no no are you wearing

earrings oh yes what are you gonna put

on what do you think Sarah pearls or

diamonds diamonds

graduation day by McCain our ceremony

was at nine so Us carry Joe and Katie

um all got ready

um early because we're gonna be there at

eight or the white shoes what do you

think would look better but one of you

chocolate

no I don't think it actually hit us that

we were like graduating just because

there's so much stuff to do like we're

gonna have our robes our tassels our

tickets

[Music]

is the bag still down there no

I've never seen a tassel are you sure I

swear they have to have extra tassels

you didn't even have our tickets or our

entire castles let's just go with they

have extra because and if that was if

they don't then I don't need them that's

what you do oh I do that's part of

graduating oh

[Music]

yeah okay

we should have woken up earlier

[Music]

[Music]

a little stressful but it was more like

oh this is exciting we were just like

let's just get there let's just get

there and get things rolling and started

here we go okay

[Music]

this is so weird this is just stupid

I don't remember oh it looks like on the

right side I think on the right and then

you put it to the left are they not

perfected the graduation look yet it's

been a century not even years

okay

some robes didn't get tassels attached

to them so ours was one of those so

lucky for us

um but they just had extra tassels at

school at school waiting for us

it looks like the right side thank you

thanks thanks

I'm sorry

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

I think we were all like walking in we

all got excited we're like oh this is

actually it

foreign

just knowing that they want to be a

teacher I knew they were going to go to

college I knew they would do well in

college

[Music]

is anybody excited

[Music]

when they were looking at the college as

far as the financial aid part of it

Bethel did approach it as let's let's

try and do a two for one here for the

most part the best they could and now we

get to graduate you and we've been

looking forward to that almost as much

as you've been well they each had to pay

a fee and they each got diplomas but yet

they only took up

one spot in the classroom and in most of

the homework things they only turned in

one assignment so I think it was fair

what they came up with President Barnes

I present them to you for the conferral

of their degrees

you may now move your tassels from right

to left

signifying that you are the proud holder

of a degree from Bethel University

congratulations We Salute You

[Music]

[Applause]

Abigail Lauren Hensel

Brittany Lee Hensel

oh they calling our names and we got up

there and we were like we're not gonna

turn on the trip

but my hat fell off but I recovered

quickly with the fist pump nothing

really embarrasses me

I was scared we were trying not to drop

everything but we weren't embarrassed

about it so

we managed

Carrie Joe Henke

Caitlin Louise nold

that ladies and gentlemen is your class

of 2012.

218. bickering brother sister

relationship you need to say happy

birthday to me and Cody fight more than

Brittany and Cody do

[Music]

to dinner at Dixie's found your keys

girls do you know where they worked at

where they were in

in the car in the car the car was

running for four hours

no way the doors were wide doors were

wide open

car was running yep the whole time who

left the car me I moved yes try not to

say much so it was out of gas then no I

saw the half tank

we were late to lunch because we lost

our keys and they were in our car with

the car still on running and so the car

ran for

8 9 10 11 12. four hours what is what

are you drinking root beer are you 18.

what was everybody are you 18. are you

kidding me

19. oh I don't know Cody's 19 girls he's

gonna be 20. my brother's Cody he's two

years younger than us so we definitely

have that bickering bickering brother

sister relationship but um it's getting

better it's getting a lot better we're

definitely bickering less

use my birthday too

oh yeah that's right how old am I I'm

sorry

me and Cody fight more than Britney and

Cody do Britney's more just like laid

back and doesn't get bothered by like

him picking on us or like and I

definitely fight back oh thank you is it

a horse it's not a horse Brittany

what's my name be on my desk that I

don't get a job

Morgan is 17 and she's gonna go to our

college so that's exciting

um we're gonna love having her in the

cities

she's so excited more Post-its and

stickers

no you just need the job right here but

I won't get it you'll get a job

in Alaska

you have to be at least 100 miles away

from home at least leave them after

Cairo Shut up I didn't try to it still

they are their mother's kids our mom is

a lot like us and like

every aspect basically Britney's a lot

more stubborn just like Dad

um and I'm more like Abby worries a lot

I worry a lot just like Mom so we're

definitely a mix between our prayers and

we're very close to them okay now you

can enjoy your enjoy your meal you run

out and see if your car's running here

okay

[Music]

they've probably had lots of challenges

but they don't consider him so much a

challenge if it's just something

they want to do

they're just gonna do it I'm sure they

look at sometimes situations and think

oh we can never do that but I know that

if they want it

it doesn't matter that it's a challenge

they're going to go after it yeah

oh

[Music]

that's thankful for the cake and

everybody here amen oh amen it's like

Bittersweet or sad because like we love

like living so close together with our

friends all of our friends so we do like

being in class but we are really excited

for like what's next and like what's in

store for us like whether it be teaching

or doing something else all right love

you love you guys

most people say it hits you more in

August when you're like I'm not going

back to school so we'll have to wait and

see all that because we could be going

back to school yeah I don't know you're

a teacher