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This blog isn't about having a bad experience with my current student teacher, Mr. Joyce. It is about how I don't envy being a student teacher as I remember what it was like.
Mr. Joyce, with his Boston accent, has adapted well to all Northview has thrown at him. The English 10, sophomore students seem to be responding to him well. What I don't envy is how he has to deal with our very quick schedule of 41 minute classes. Pacing is an issue every teacher has to deal with here, so I feel his pain when it comes to getting this done correctly. On a daily basis we tie on our rollerskates and glide through the day very quickly. I am constantly made aware that our students often struggle with this schedule also.
Remembering back to my student teaching I remember feeling the overwhelming reality that I am just being thrown to the wolves. I felt that with every lesson plan I was writing my performance for the day/week.
I also realized the following things that have made the burdens much easier to carry:
1. Not every day can be a super-lesson that the university mentors and teachers make them out to be.
2. Plan, plan, plan, your lessons your first year and continue to tweek as the years go on. For the first three years of your teaching you will be living teaching. If you aren't having constant dreams about your next day's lessons and horribly wrong they may go, you aren't doing it right.
3. Don't just teach, perform. Be animated...be overwhelmingly animated, and have fun. Don't be afraid to be goofy. Create a personae for yourself, BUT at the same time be yourself. I am still developing mine after nine years. Students really think/believe I'm a sweatervested, over-enunciating, maniacal workaholic who is impossible to read emotionally. I'm not...I only wear sweatervests at work! I love to keep them guessing.
4. Let the students get to know you...but not too much.
5. Keep in touch with parents. It saves a lot of headaches.
6. Get to know the secretary of the school. He or she is really running the place.
7. Save time for yourself. Allow yourself SOME time to breath.
There are many more...Feel free to comment.
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3 comments:
So is the real Mr. Ackerman hiding somewhere deep inside the sweatervested one we see everyday in class? That's an interesting thought!
Although I'm not a teacher, these seem to be really good points/tips because you are a really nice and entertaining teacher and I know a lot of people, myself included, that enjoy your class. Learning about English at 7:45 in the morning is definitely not on everyone's to do list, but it really is enjoyable.
And tell Mr. Joyce to not worry TOO much. We're not ALL wolves. :)
It's nice to hear there is a prospering student teacher around here. I only have to deal with two this year. And the one guy is extremely frustrating!
In class he contradicts himself, gets lost in notes, asks US for help (shouldn't it be the other way around?), gives us assignments that we never go over, and makes absolutely no sense what so ever. We can't understand him, and visa-versa. It is really hard in that class to no where were we're going if even he doesn't.
But, Mr.Joyce, though not a teacher of mine, seems nice and confident at least. Which is a key if he wants a students' attention and respect. Otherwise it'll be an exhausting uphill battle. So, "Good Luck Mr. Joyce!"
And your an awsome teacher Mr. A. I wish I actually had one of your classes. I really miss creative writing...ALOT!
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