I agree with all of the insights from Meggie and Julie as well, but here are some other things I have learned as well.
1. Worry Less, Enjoy More: I think if I could go back and tell myself (on day one) some advice it would be worry less and enjoy more. I would tell myself to not feel so overwhelmed. That things will come together, you will be ready to teach, and you will feel successful by the end. Student teaching is so fun and so much is to be enjoyed and learned everyday.
2. During lessons, be flexible and read the students: Have a well planned lesson ahead of time to ensure valuable use of time and that students are meeting objectives, but don't be afraid to change things during the lesson. Read the students, if they are getting restless you may have to move ahead in the lesson plan or change plans. Don't be afraid to stray from the plan or any script you may have had. It will keep students more engaged and they will probably learn more. If you are feeling defeated during a lesson, try to power through the lesson and do the best you can.
3. Don't be afraid to try new things (activities/lessons) and make mistakes: If you have a new idea that may work with the content you are teaching don't be afraid to try it. It may end up being a great lesson or you may make some mistakes and then learn from them for next time. Each time you teach you have an opportunity to reflect on what went well and what did not work. This will make the next lesson better. I have gotten ideas in middle school math that I just wanted to try for the fun of it. I didn't know if things would work out, but the experience was so valuable.
4. Be Organized: Teachers have to deal with so many student papers and materials it really helps to have some organization in the room for supplies and a way to manage all of the student papers. Also, have lesson materials ready ahead of time so they are easily accessible while teaching. Students can get off task if the teacher has to stop and find the materials/supplies.
5. Be flexible with noise in the room under certain circumstances: I have learned that the room does not always have to be completely quiet for it to mean that students are on task. Students can be talking during parts of a lesson and it can still be going well and they can still be on task.
Monday, December 3, 2012
five insights
Well, Julie you set the bar so high with your catchy taglines, I hope I can keep up! Here goes...
1. Come with a plan, and plan to change it. I have been constantly amazed over the last few months by the number of interruptions a classroom teacher must juggle. A well planned day always makes me feel at ease (and I think the students as well) but I have also learned not to be too tied to the plan, because inevitably, it will have to change.
2. Trust the students to lead the learning. Some of the most interesting and successful lessons are the ones where I really relinquish control of the lesson to the students. I allow their questions and curiosity to drive the lesson and ask more questions than I answer. While it sometimes feels scary to put the control in the students' hands, I think this allows them agency over their own learning and gives them the opportunity to experience the joy of learning/discovering something new. These always seem to be the lessons with the most "lightbulb" moments.
3. Be energized by the kids. In a classroom of 30 noisy fourth graders, it is easy to be overwhelmed and exhausted by the children. I have learned that I can either feed off their energy and let it build mine up, or I can be annoyed by their energy and become exhausted trying to calm it down. Obviously, the students' energy sometimes has to be channeled into an academic task, but the days where I can match their level are always the most successful and more enjoyable.
4. Grading, record keeping and form filling out isn't always fun, but it is worth it. I haven't had the best model of record keeping and grading in my mentor teacher, but when I took the initiative to grade the assessments and homework myself, I got a much better idea of where my students were meeting our learning goals and where more work was needed. I hope in my future classroom, to take this a step further and build targeted small groups to address specific needs.
5. To quote Diane, "if the teacher ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." One thing I have learned from Diane is that it really is important to take care of yourself, and keep the duty free lunch holy. You have to give yourself time to relax or you won't make it through the long haul. Taking care of yourself really does make you a better teacher, because it means you are ready to give the kids the time and energy they need.
1. Come with a plan, and plan to change it. I have been constantly amazed over the last few months by the number of interruptions a classroom teacher must juggle. A well planned day always makes me feel at ease (and I think the students as well) but I have also learned not to be too tied to the plan, because inevitably, it will have to change.
2. Trust the students to lead the learning. Some of the most interesting and successful lessons are the ones where I really relinquish control of the lesson to the students. I allow their questions and curiosity to drive the lesson and ask more questions than I answer. While it sometimes feels scary to put the control in the students' hands, I think this allows them agency over their own learning and gives them the opportunity to experience the joy of learning/discovering something new. These always seem to be the lessons with the most "lightbulb" moments.
3. Be energized by the kids. In a classroom of 30 noisy fourth graders, it is easy to be overwhelmed and exhausted by the children. I have learned that I can either feed off their energy and let it build mine up, or I can be annoyed by their energy and become exhausted trying to calm it down. Obviously, the students' energy sometimes has to be channeled into an academic task, but the days where I can match their level are always the most successful and more enjoyable.
4. Grading, record keeping and form filling out isn't always fun, but it is worth it. I haven't had the best model of record keeping and grading in my mentor teacher, but when I took the initiative to grade the assessments and homework myself, I got a much better idea of where my students were meeting our learning goals and where more work was needed. I hope in my future classroom, to take this a step further and build targeted small groups to address specific needs.
5. To quote Diane, "if the teacher ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." One thing I have learned from Diane is that it really is important to take care of yourself, and keep the duty free lunch holy. You have to give yourself time to relax or you won't make it through the long haul. Taking care of yourself really does make you a better teacher, because it means you are ready to give the kids the time and energy they need.
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