Student Teaching

After a two month hiatus, I decided it was time to come back and post. I've been so focused on my student teaching and graduate classwork that I haven't had much of an opportunity to post here. So far, my teaching experience has been great. I imagine that I am "normal" in that I have good days and I have better days. Only once have I cried and I think even that was normal. My expectations are too high, I suppose.

What I find most interesting is that it's a moment-by-moment profession where each child requires something and the continual effort by teachers is astounding - to reach each child where they are and lift them higher in their educational pursuits.

Here is the first Journal entry I made as a part of my Student Teaching requirements:

1. The school I am in is more like a family than a school. The principal and assistant principal are so devoted to the students and faculty. I was welcomed immediately. I am student teaching in a first grade classroom that is filled with wonderful, well-planned learning opportunities. My mentor teacher, Courtney Pine, loves to teach. She’s a sweet young lady with a great attitude. I am fortunate to be in such a wonderful environment.

2. During the first few days, I felt most engaged with the education process and teaching when I was reading to the students. I love to see them enjoying learning.

3. I felt most distant while observing the planning session with the first grade teaching team. They all seem to have such a grasp of the process of teaching that I felt like I had SO much to learn.

4. My mentor teacher is always good about helping me keep my perspective within the learning environment. When I was feeling a bit “low” last week due to some classroom management issues in another classroom where I was filling in, she was quick to remind me that I am a student teacher and that I am in the classroom to learn and that what I experienced was a part of the process of learning to be a great teacher.

5. I really do not foresee any problems in the student teaching situation. I am with a wonderful team of teachers who are very willing to help me learn.

6. What surprised me most during this first period of time at school is the students and how they can be so completely unprepared to learn. What pleased me the most is that I was able to learn the students’ names very quickly. What frightened me the most is that some students are not getting the kind of support the need at home. What worried me the most is that I will not be able to apply classroom management techniques as well as I want to.

7. My two goals for the coming week are to start teaching Morning Message each day and ask for more feedback from my mentor teacher.