Yes, it's time for another round of advice for student teachers. You're sitting at the end of your stint in college, and you're about to enter the world of education officially. I'd like to tell you that all of those things that you've learned in your education classes are going to jump any hurdles that get placed in your path, but we all know that simply is not true. There are certain things that just are not taught in college but that you will run into in your first days on the job. That's right: they just didn't teach you some of the most important parts. Obviously, I have some important notes that could be of service to you at this crucial juncture in your life.
We should probably say more about the adults, and we may just do so in another posting. Until then, please don't neglect to think about these issues. Professionalism is very important in any job that deals with such a precious commodity as you will.
- Act and react. People have different personalities, demeanors, and resting faces, and you need to be tolerant of these things. I, for example, am a person who does just fine in front of a crowd, but I do not operate very smoothly one-on-one (I know that's backwards from most of you.). In the past, that awkward quietness has been taken as me being stuck up, but that's not the case at all. People may think that I'm mad when I'm not, simply because I inherited what we lovingly call the Hoggatt frown (Thankfully, it has become less and less pronounced in later generations.). I know individuals who are perceived as loud and mean, when they may simply be trying to be heard over noise in the room. Their tone can be grating, but their tone does not always indicate their mood - in spite of what you may think. So what I'm saying is this: give people the benefit of the doubt. Don't assume they are trying to attack you and boss you around. The fact is, they may struggle to navigate around your personality, as well - and you may not be a walk in the park yourself. You see, that's just the nature of humanity: we're all different. Sometimes we need to be patient with each other, not because the other person is slow, but because the other person processes things and responds differently than we do. Step back and reevaluate how you react to them, and give them a break. With any luck, they will do the same for you.
- Learn how to run the stuff. Do you know how to run the electronic equipment in your classroom and in your school? Can you use the laminator? Do you know how to effectively tear the butcher paper from that big roll they keep in the hallway? Do you know the process for making copies? Are you aware of the best medium for sticking posters to the painted cinderblock wall? We could include computer tech in that list, as well. It's best to figure those things out before class starts in the fall. You need to know how to make clean cuts, how to leave a proper edge on the laminating film, and how to safely wrap an extension cord. They should have taught all of this in a college class, but they didn't. They figured these are below them to teach, but they shouldn't have. They should know that these basic operations in a teacher's life are essential to getting you through a basic day.
- The adults are people, too. As much as you've gotten ready to teach kids, you may forget that there are also adults in the school. While you undoubtedly realize that personal relationships with the children are important, these other adults are also important to your professional comfort and safety. Most of you haven't been adults for very long and these relationships can be pretty tough. Those older men and women may not be ready to except a whippersnapper like you are an equal peer. Some of them taught your parents, and your young age can be taken in many different ways. They might resent your energy. They may be envious of your ability to connect with kids. They may see you as lazy and problematic - entitled to special treatment because you are new. For them, you may have come late in the race. When you burst out of the starting blocks, you came with a bunch of pie-in-the-sky ideas and ideals. They don't want you trying to take over their castle. Then, there are administrators and parents, coming at you from every possible angle. if you're not prepared to talk to them like an adult - with poise and dignity - you're stay in the educational world may be short indeed.
We should probably say more about the adults, and we may just do so in another posting. Until then, please don't neglect to think about these issues. Professionalism is very important in any job that deals with such a precious commodity as you will.
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:
You don't have to go far to find them: they're right here:
