Well, I made it. I finished student teaching. There was a point last week in which I wasn’t sure how I was going to, but I did. The first nine weeks of student teaching were all I ever dreamed of: supportive, marvelous, mentoring, excellent in every way cooperating teacher; welcoming school community; boundless feedback; stupendous, engaged kids; and so many opportunities to feel challenged, appreciated and successful. Then came placement number two. I could go on and on about all of the negative aspects of it, but I want to forget those. I have to take from this experience what I learned about schools, teachers and teaching. Mostly I learned what NOT to do in my classroom. But that is reflecting negatively again, so, I will tell you what I AM going to do in my classroom.
I will:
- Provide a reason and a guide for learning no matter how small the lesson or activity may be.
- Be consistent and respectful in my discipline strategies.
- Follow all school rules.
- Know the school building and available resources.
- Keep my personal political beliefs and activities private.
- Use my natural energy and love of learning (I know, cliché and cheesy) to engage my students in the content.
- Use only respectful language when talking about my students with other teachers or staff.
- Strive to be a role model and an open door to my students in order to form relationships instead of trying to be “cool” by using bribery or relaxed discipline.
- Use my classroom time appropriately.
- Update my lessons and units each time I use them.
- Find my voice.
- Be a mentor to others.
- Attend, be on time and participate, where appropriate, in staff and school-community events.
- Respond to emails from parents and colleagues.
- Hold high expectations for my students and myself.
I am sure the list could go on. I will keep this list and make sure I check in with it every once and awhile when I am a “real” teacher. I need to hold myself to these guidelines for myself because if I don’t, then I could become the kind of teacher I don’t want to be.
