My First Quarter in Student Teaching

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

My First Quarter in Student Teaching

by Johnna

Nov 29, 2011

Hello everyone! I am currently in student teaching at National University. I successfully completed one semester of student teaching in one of the school's in Garden Grove Unified School District. My area of specialization is English Language Arts.

Starting from the first day of school to November 16, 2011, I had some positive and some negative experience with my Master Teacher. My Master Teacher will sometimes make comments about my performance, and make suggestions for improvement in front of students. There were several times when a student was in the room, she would talk to me about my performance, which I think is inappropriate. I wanted her to talk to me in private after school. Sometimes she will talk to me about my performance in a polite manner, while other times she will talk to me in a manner that is not professionally appropriate.

I discussed my experience to my university advisor, and my seminar teacher, who is in charge of overseeing everything, both t...See MoreHello everyone! I am currently in student teaching at National University. I successfully completed one semester of student teaching in one of the school's in Garden Grove Unified School District. My area of specialization is English Language Arts.

Starting from the first day of school to November 16, 2011, I had some positive and some negative experience with my Master Teacher. My Master Teacher will sometimes make comments about my performance, and make suggestions for improvement in front of students. There were several times when a student was in the room, she would talk to me about my performance, which I think is inappropriate. I wanted her to talk to me in private after school. Sometimes she will talk to me about my performance in a polite manner, while other times she will talk to me in a manner that is not professionally appropriate.

I discussed my experience to my university advisor, and my seminar teacher, who is in charge of overseeing everything, both tried to communicate with the principal and my Master Teacher to resolve issues between us, however, the problem got worse. I was told that GGUSD requested that I not show up at the school, and that I will be given a Plan B. My advisor, seminar teacher, supervisor, and some other person will be meeting together to discuss a Plan B for me. Plan B means that if you do not meet the requirements, you may be kicked out of the program. My seminar teacher said that the Plan B will be for me to take a few courses in English speaking and grammar, and ESL courses.

Before this all happened, my Master Teacher told me from the beginning that she thinks that I am not prepared to become an English teacher because I lack English speaking, and writing skills. Also, she sent an e-mail to my advisor that she is concerned that I will not become a good role model to the students because I lack English skills. I have spent the majority of my student teaching observing in the classroom, and she has only seen me teach eleven times. There were several of times when she just all of sudden ask me to jump in and teach, expecting that I am prepared and knowledgeable to teach the materials. I was very uncomfortable with the situation, and was afraid that I will make a mistake, which I have made a few minor mistakes. She tells me that I am not knowledgeable of English because of the few minor mistakes that I have made during the times when she had me jump in and teach without preparation on my part.

In addition, I am being criticized by my supervisor that I am not knowledgeable because the e-mails that I have made to my advisor and seminar teacher. He said I made numerous mistakes; however, when I look back at my saved e-mails, there were only a few minor errors in grammar because I was e-mailing them at nights or on days when I am tired. I do not know what will happen to me yet, but I hope that things work out well for me. I have spent close to $28,000 of federal loans, and $5,500 of alternative loans to help pay for my student teaching, and to help with my living expenses during student teaching. I shared my concerns with everyone about my expenses, and how I am going to pay for the few classes that they might require of me to complete Plan B.

I personally am not an perfectionist, but it seems as though people expect me to be a perfectionist because I am going to be an English teacher. I wonder how many English teachers in the world think they have excellent grammar with no errors, and think that they know everything about English? English is a complex subject, and there are too many components to deal with in English besides grammar. In fact, most English teachers do not spend to much time on grammar because the CSTs do not cover too much on grammar. I am so frustrated with the student teaching process, and so is my family.

My mother has been supportive of me since the beginning of student teaching. I know there were multiple days when I came home crying, and explaining to her about my struggles in student teaching. I have told her about my experience with my Master Teacher. When I asked my seminar teacher if my mother can attend the meeting after they have written a Plan B for me, she told me no, and she do not think the other people will allow for her to come. She said it is mainly about me, and explained my mother is extremely concerned about my welfare. She told me that I need to take responsibility of my own education, and that my mother needs to leave me alone. I kind of got a negative view about my seminar teacher after the conversation because any family member will be concerned about what happens to another family member.

Ever since the middle of my student teaching until now, I am currently on anti-depressants. I am increasingly sad every day about the whole situation, and fear for my future. I will wait for the Plan B, or if I will have a Plan B, because they have two choices to kick me out or let my show improvement.

Comment

(1)

report post

Sara On 11/29/11, Johnna wrote:

Why do you want to teach English? I teach English as a Second Language/ESL/ELL and I can say it's very difficult for a non-native speaker to teach English to native speakers. I'd suggest that you consider teaching ESL instead.

It sounds as if you were not well-treated by your mentor teacher. But there i...See MoreOn 11/29/11, Johnna wrote:

Why do you want to teach English? I teach English as a Second Language/ESL/ELL and I can say it's very difficult for a non-native speaker to teach English to native speakers. I'd suggest that you consider teaching ESL instead.

It sounds as if you were not well-treated by your mentor teacher. But there is a problem with your English. Your English is very good but even on this post you make grammatical errors that are common for ESL and these are not minor mistakes. You cannot teach English to native speakers unless your own command of English grammar is strong. You simply won't be given a job as an English teacher and people will certainly expect you to be a perfectionist about English grammar if you're going to be an English teacher!

Choosing to try to become an English teacher to native speakers was not a wise choice but you can certainly get a job teaching ESL.If you can't spend more money, then simply take your degree in English without getting your certification to teach English in public schools. > All languages have their complexities and it's embarrassing to a school if their English teacher makes grammatical mistakes. It's ridiculous to assert that as an English teacher grammar is not important. If however there is a meeting, you can certainly bring your mother along. Bring a lawyer too. All colleges and universities will try to tell you that you can't bring anybody to the meeting. Bring your mother - you don't need their permission - but my advice would be to bring a lawyer too.

And to learn from this experience - never send an e-mail when you are tired and never send an e-mail late at night. If it is an email of importance, always have a native speaker review it for you. > >

>

>

>

> > Ever since the middle of my student teaching until now, I > am currently on anti-depressants. I am increasingly sad > every day about the whole situation, and fear for my > future. I will wait for the Plan B, or if I will have a > Plan B, because they have two choices to kick me out or let > my show improvement.

Dec 6, 2011

report post