Student Teaching: Not for the Weary

Dear Student Teacher,

How are you feeling? Nervous? Excited? Anxious? Overwhelmed? As you get ready to set foot on campus—whether elementary, junior high, or high school— chances are you are experiencing a myriad of emotions, which is completely normal. You are a college graduate with years of academic experience, so how hard can student teaching be, right? Wrong. While not difficult per se, this educational internship you are about to embark on comes with a host of challenges you must navigate while determining the type of educator you desire to become. Talk to newer teachers about their own experiences and get some advice on how to maximize your student teaching experience. Before you walk in that classroom door, you should know a few basic things when it comes to learning to teach. Here are a few basic tips of my own I’d like to share with you to make your experience as positive, informative, and beneficial as possible:

1. You Are Not the Teacher

Hence the precursor term student before teacher. This puts you in a delicate situation as you need to have authority within the classroom. However, as most pupils know, you are not the “real teacher,” they may (or most likely will) try to take advantage of this. Therefore, you must command respect and display your authority. Dress, act, and speak like a professional. While of course you want to be kind and compassionate to your learners, you are not aiming to be their friend. You will have to earn your class’s respect by demonstrating your competence, positive attitude, and teaching ability. 

2. Find Your Own Teaching Style

While you need to follow and respect your master teacher’s policies and procedures, you do not need to replicate his/her personality. Find what works for you. Put your own unique character in to your practice. The purpose of this internship is to begin to design your craft of teaching—not to merely copy someone else’s style. Use your time on campus to observe as many different teachers of as many different grades and subject contents as possible. The more variety you witness, the more ideas you will have as you investigate what might work for you in your classroom one day. 

3. Accept Critique

You will be critiqued this year—a lot—by the students, your professors, your mentor teacher, and even yourself. Accept it and embrace it without being too hard on yourself. This is one of the only times in your career when you will be given this amount of feedback on your practice. Soak it in and learn the most you can from it. Ask questions, work to improve, and don’t lose heart. This is your first introduction to teaching and nobody expects you to be the best teacher on campus just yet. Give yourself grace and learn from your mistakes. 

4. Take Notes!

You will be bombarded with a plethora of information and ideas throughout your stint on campus. Between inspiring lessons you observe and random ideas that pop in to your head mid-lecture, have a notebook or other note taking device on hand at all times. Jot down your thoughts, questions and insights daily. This will prove to be a valuable resource as once you begin your first teaching assignment. 

So as you get prepare for the first day of school, what are you most looking forward to? Most nervous about? Do you have any questions you must have answered before you head to campus? Ask your questions and share your thoughts with the Lesson Planet Community.