It gets better :)

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Student Teaching Chatboard

It gets better :)

by Ms. P.

Apr 16, 2012

Dear Student Teachers,

Four years ago at about this time, I was stuck in the middle of the most challenging & disheartening experience of my life. I was student teaching, with a cooperating teacher who gave zero feedback (other than "give more detentions"), four preps (which were handed to me on my second day), and more stress than I had ever experienced - and I worked full-time during college, while managing straight-As. I had always been an exceptional student, so I was so disheartened to find that teaching was not as "easy" as I thought it would be.

Had I not already signed a teaching contract towards the beginning of my student teaching experience, I can honestly say I would not have become a teacher. I hated it more than I had ever hated anything in my life.

But then, I finished. And the next fall, I was given my own classroom. My first year was difficult, but it was SO much better than student teaching. I judged myself so harshly. I tried to teac...See MoreDear Student Teachers,

Four years ago at about this time, I was stuck in the middle of the most challenging & disheartening experience of my life. I was student teaching, with a cooperating teacher who gave zero feedback (other than "give more detentions"), four preps (which were handed to me on my second day), and more stress than I had ever experienced - and I worked full-time during college, while managing straight-As. I had always been an exceptional student, so I was so disheartened to find that teaching was not as "easy" as I thought it would be.

Had I not already signed a teaching contract towards the beginning of my student teaching experience, I can honestly say I would not have become a teacher. I hated it more than I had ever hated anything in my life.

But then, I finished. And the next fall, I was given my own classroom. My first year was difficult, but it was SO much better than student teaching. I judged myself so harshly. I tried to teach like I saw others teach - rather than honing my own style. By my second year, I realized that I am just not the type of teacher who "yells" at my students; I would rather "kill them with kindness" and prevent discipline problems from arising. I am not uber-strict or uber- professional. I like my students to walk into my classroom, and to feel like they are part of a family - not a dictatorship. This is not to say the strict teachers are not just as effective - I am just not as effective when I try to emulate another teacher's style. This is also not to say that you should be too relaxed. . . due dates are due dates, and rules are rules, and kids need to respect you and your class; do NOT try to be their friend. But you do need to find the teaching style that works best for you.

Now, into my fourth year of teaching, I absolutely LOVE the job. I think back and smile on my student teaching experience. I hated it. I wouldn't have become a teacher because I hated it so much. But I stuck with it, and it got so much better. I could not imagine doing anything else. Yes, it is still difficult at times; there are still frustrations. But, even as a new teacher, there have been those rewarding moments (i.e. a student just last week, who has already graduated said: "Ms. P, I hated your class because I thought it was so much work, but now I want to thank you because I earned the top grade in my class in college.") You will have the moments that make you smile! You will, I hope, eventually start to love what you are doing.

Just get through your student teaching, and get through your first year. After that, it gets so much better. :) Keep your chin up!

(And buy Harry Wong's The First Days of School - my best investment. I wish I would have bought it for my first year!)

Sincerely,

Ms.P.

Comment

(1)

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Leah Great, encouraging post, Ms. P.

Student Teachers all need to read it.

Since classroom management seems to be so difficult for student teachers. The following article, "Elementary Classroom Rules and Management," may be of interest

Apr 20, 2012

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