I have had a terrific time observing student teachers for Pittsburg State University, this semester, and while I have made many observations and responded to the needs of students in their professional semester, I have also tried to create a list of suggestions for them and for others who may just be beginning their careers in education. I have three more items to add to the list.
Godspeed in you endeavors! You have proven that you are ready to begin. May you also have the dexterity and the stamina to stay with it and make it into a very special career. Find joy and help your students to also discover the joy of learning. Remember, this is about more than standards and test scores.
- Keep up with your assignments. I am a procrastinator, especially with tasks I don't want to do, but don't be like me. There is a lot of "busy work" that student teachers have to be aware of during their final senior semester, and they can make or break your ability to finish and graduate on time. This class is it for the semester, so if you fail to turn in the work (in spite of all of your regular responsibilities in the classroom and the personal issues that may arise), your future could be altered or delayed. I am the first to recognize that the work you do in the classroom is the most meaningful and helpful for your growth from a seedling into a fully grown tree, but the system that is currently in place and mandated by the state and the university also requires written work and scavenger hunts. Please do it on time, or you will find yourself suddenly overwhelmed by the mountain before you.
- Dress professionally. This one kind of bugged me, this semester, but it's not your fault. I see teachers all over the place who continue to dress down. And yet, they want to be treated as professionals. Granted, there are times when you need to be comfortable and rugged, but for the most part, you need to take the lead and dress more professionally. Change the status quo. What I saw from some "professional" cooperating teachers, this semester, might be considered unacceptable. Torn jeans and t-shirts are simply not the image that education needs. If you want to read of my complaining about this subject and others, please read my previous babbles on the Professional Pet Peeves page.
- Visit other grade levels. Some of you are simply stuck on the grade level you currently serve, but you just may find yourself responsible for a different grade level at some point in your career. For me, it happened the first year. I conditioned myself to the thought that most men in elementary positions would be placed in the intermediate grades. Indeed, I was hired to be a fifth grade teacher...but in a couple of weeks, I was forced to transfer to a different school where I was suddenly responsible for second graders. Second graders! I had no idea what I was doing, but I quickly became respected for my efforts there, and I also taught first graders during my first five years in the biz. After those years, I had a few qualms about securing a position in fourth grade (where I spent the last 27 years of my career). The point is, you need to be ready and open to the possibility of teaching in different levels. You might just find that some of those different levels are not as bad as you thought, and that you might actually end up preferring them. You may even excel more at a different level. So visit other grades when you're practicing, so you may have a better idea of what you have missed. It will also provide you with the opportunity to see the continuity of instruction (where kids will be after they are finished with your level or where kids came from who feed into your level).
Godspeed in you endeavors! You have proven that you are ready to begin. May you also have the dexterity and the stamina to stay with it and make it into a very special career. Find joy and help your students to also discover the joy of learning. Remember, this is about more than standards and test scores.
What's that? You need to catch up on the Takeaways series of articles for student teachers?
You don't have to go far to find them: they're right here:
Takeaways from Observing Student Teachers I
Takeaways from Observing Student Teachers II
Takeaways from Observing Student Teachers III
Takeaways from Observing Student Teachers IV
Takeaways from Observing Student Teachers V
You don't have to go far to find them: they're right here:
Takeaways from Observing Student Teachers I
Takeaways from Observing Student Teachers II
Takeaways from Observing Student Teachers III
Takeaways from Observing Student Teachers IV
Takeaways from Observing Student Teachers V
