What am I getting myself in to?!

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

Student Teaching

MEMBERS

4 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Student Teaching Chatboard

What am I getting myself in to?!

by Janelle

Nov 1, 2010

I'm here on the chat boards as an assignment for one of my classes and I have to say I'm a bit disheartened by the student teaching experiences people have had. I won't be doing my student teaching for another year or so, but I'm almost not looking forward to it. I suppose it is helpful in some way to know that student teaching won't always be peaches and cream, but the experiences I have been reading about from ST's and CT's on this board make student teaching sound like it will be a semester of misery.

Not only that, but some of the other teacher boards paint such a dismal picture of the teaching profession as it stands today. Teachers are talking about worsening student behavior, poor parental participation, unsupportive administration, excessive assessment requirements, longer school years/less pay, etc. One discussion thread even had teachers encouraging another teacher to retire early because the minimal rewards of teaching today just aren't worth one's sanity.
...See More

Comment

(7)

report post

view previous comments

Janelle Thanks, Leah. I guess it is important to remember that many of the views expressed here are not necessarily representative of the whole. Like you said, people usually come here when they need help with something whether it's an idea for an activity, advice about a student teaching experience, or just a little motivation. I'm sure there will always ...See More

Nov 1, 2010

report post

Nov 1, 2010

report post

MM You cannot enter a teacher ed program at one of the best universities here without almost 500 hours of experience with youngsters--and many people do it by volunteering in classrooms. That should be a requirement everywhere so that you have a realistic picture before you are in a program. Getting out and into a variety of classrooms is the only way...See More

Nov 3, 2010

report post

Nora Hi Janelle,

Please don't get disappointed! I am into my 4th month of student teaching, and I can honestly say it is the hardest, exhausting, sometimes non-rewarding BEST experience of my lifetime! At the end of the day, I leave exhausted but with a smile on my face. To make things even worse, 2 months ago, my coordinating teacher had to go...See MoreHi Janelle,

Please don't get disappointed! I am into my 4th month of student teaching, and I can honestly say it is the hardest, exhausting, sometimes non-rewarding BEST experience of my lifetime! At the end of the day, I leave exhausted but with a smile on my face. To make things even worse, 2 months ago, my coordinating teacher had to go through surgery. I have been left along with her students. It has been a sink or swim situation, with lesson planning, parent/teacher night, sick kids, crying kids, but I would not have it any other way. For years I wondered about "answering the call" for teaching. I waited too long; now I wish I didn't. I retired from a business career of 25 years. Don't get me wrong, I am still young enough to start a new career. Compare 17 first graders to a board of business men and women; the "I's" have it for the kids!! i.e. I have a boy who has "magic glasses". Every time he puts them on, he behaves better, writes better, and smiles a whole lot. He is truly proud of his glasses! I have love notes at least once a week. I posted them on my refrigerator. I get endless hugs that are truly heartfelt :) Yes, there are parents that do not get involved, students that you know do not get the attention needed at home, but, if for that day, you can give them an awesome experience, respect, and a sense of caring, they will reciprocate with awesome experiences. You will never know how you will do until you spend time in the classroom. Just support your coordinating teacher, keep your eyes and mind open. Teachers have a lot of experience under their belt, and are awesome to see them in action! Good luck to you and keep us posted.

Nora from Texas

On 11/03/10, MM wrote: > You cannot enter a teacher ed program at one of the best universities > here without almost 500 hours of experience with youngsters--and many > people do it by volunteering in classrooms. That should be a > requirement everywhere so that you have a realistic picture before you > are in a program. Getting out and into a variety of classrooms is the > only way to know what your are getting into. > > > > > On 11/01/10, Janelle wrote: >> Thanks, Leah. I guess it is important to remember that many of the >> views expressed here are not necessarily representative of the whole. >> Like you said, people usually come here when they need help with >> something whether it's an idea for an activity, advice about a >> student teaching experience, or just a little motivation. I'm sure >> there will always be good and bad times in a teaching career, or any >> other career, for that matter. I got a little freaked out after >> reading so many horrible experiences. I just have to remember that >> it might not necessarily be like that for me. >> >> Janelle >> >> >> On 11/01/10, Leah wrote: >>> Hi Janelle! My experience is that when things are going well, >>> teachers don't spend time asking for help on T-Net. So, you >>> need to realize that the views expressed here on this chatboard >>> are from those student teachers who did not have a good >>> experience. Hopefully it's not a true sample of all student >>> teachers and teachers. >>> >>> Best wishes! >>> >>> Leah >>> >>> p.s. You may find some of the following articles of interest. >>> >>>

Nov 16, 2010

report post

testing On 11/16/10, Nora wrote: > Hi Janelle, > > Please don't get disappointed! I am into my 4th month of student > teaching, and I can honestly say it is the hardest, exhausting, sometimes > non-rewarding BEST experience of my lifetime! At the end of the day, I > leave exhausted but with a smile on my face. To make things even worse, &...See MoreOn 11/16/10, Nora wrote: > Hi Janelle, > > Please don't get disappointed! I am into my 4th month of student > teaching, and I can honestly say it is the hardest, exhausting, sometimes > non-rewarding BEST experience of my lifetime! At the end of the day, I > leave exhausted but with a smile on my face. To make things even worse, > 2 months ago, my coordinating teacher had to go through surgery. I have > been left along with her students. It has been a sink or swim situation, > with lesson planning, parent/teacher night, sick kids, crying kids, but I > would not have it any other way. For years I wondered about "answering > the call" for teaching. I waited too long; now I wish I didn't. > I retired from a business career of 25 years. Don't get me wrong, I am > still young enough to start a new career. Compare 17 first graders to a > board of business men and women; the "I's" have it for the kids!! i.e. > I have a boy who has "magic glasses". Every time he puts them on, he > behaves better, writes better, and smiles a whole lot. He is truly proud > of his glasses! I have love notes at least once a week. I posted them > on my refrigerator. I get endless hugs that are truly heartfelt :) Yes, > there are parents that do not get involved, students that you know do not > get the attention needed at home, but, if for that day, you can give them > an awesome experience, respect, and a sense of caring, they will > reciprocate with awesome experiences. You will never know how you will > do until you spend time in the classroom. Just support your coordinating > teacher, keep your eyes and mind open. Teachers have a lot of experience > under their belt, and are awesome to see them in action! Good luck to > you and keep us posted. > > Nora from Texas > > > > > > On 11/03/10, MM wrote: >> You cannot enter a teacher ed program at one of the best universities >> here without almost 500 hours of experience with youngsters--and many >> people do it by volunteering in classrooms. That should be a >> requirement everywhere so that you have a realistic picture before you >> are in a program. Getting out and into a variety of classrooms is the >> only way to know what your are getting into. >> >> >> >> >> On 11/01/10, Janelle wrote: >>> Thanks, Leah. I guess it is important to remember that many of the >>> views expressed here are not necessarily representative of the whole. >>> Like you said, people usually come here when they need help with >>> something whether it's an idea for an activity, advice about a >>> student teaching experience, or just a little motivation. I'm sure >>> there will always be good and bad times in a teaching career, or any >>> other career, for that matter. I got a little freaked out after >>> reading so many horrible experiences. I just have to remember that >>> it might not necessarily be like that for me. >>> >>> Janelle >>> >>> >>> On 11/01/10, Leah wrote: >>>> Hi Janelle! My experience is that when things are going well, >>>> teachers don't spend time asking for help on T-Net. So, you >>>> need to realize that the views expressed here on this chatboard >>>> are from those student teachers who did not have a good >>>> experience. Hopefully it's not a true sample of all student >>>> teachers and teachers. >>>> >>>> Best wishes! >>>> >>>> Leah >>>> >>>> p.s. You may find some of the following articles of interest. >>>> >>>>

Nov 24, 2010

report post