After studying hard, and having great enthusiasm for a
teaching job, it can come as a shock to your system to trial
your skills as a student teacher. It's most likely that
you'll find it tiring, hard work, and at times challenging.
And it's a new way of seeing the classroom and being a part
of it from your own time as a classroom pupil. All the same,
being a good student teacher begins with the will to succeed
and the readiness to continue learning; the suggestions in
this article are aimed at helping you to become a good
student teacher able to make the most of your experience
toward becoming a fantastic teacher for the future!
!! Steps !!
Student teaching is hard but rewarding Read all the materials you've
been given about student teaching prior to entering the classroom.
Trying to wing it, or to catch up on unread portions as you're going
won't help you when you're actually in the classroom. Do your
background research to find out about the school in advance. Learn
its rules and regulations, including any dress code information (all
of this will help you if students test you, trying to find out how
much or little you're aware of). Find out what areas are considered
"out of bounds" to students, find out where staff hang out, and even
whether it's possible for you to get a car park. Every small thing
matters for a smooth experience.
* Learn about the school district, school boards (if relevant),
parent teacher associations, and all acronyms accompanying these
things.
* Know where forms are for student permissions, etc.
* Ask if there are any legal issues or restrictions that you need to
be aware of if you haven't already been taught these as part of
your teacher training.
* Search online for resources to help new teachers. There are sites
with information suited to student and new teachers, and you might
also be able to find forums to connect with others in your
position, to share stories and support.
* Have your basic classroom rules sorted _before_ you stand in front
of your class for the first time (for example, raise hands when
you want to communicate, respect others, be prepared to listen,
etc.). You are then able to discuss these with students from the
outset.
* Talk with the teacher who is responsible for overseeing what
you're doing. Ask what his or her teaching philosophy or
expectations are, along with learning about the expected teaching
program for the duration of your time working with him or her. Be
sure to find out if you have free rein or restrictions on teaching
methods, topics, and other relevant issues. Also aim to have a
regular meet-up time for debriefing or asking questions as you
work through your student teacher time.
* You're new but don't be afraid to seek help Expect to be
nervous. When you first enter the classroom, it's probable that
your head will be filled with all the things you've been taught
about teaching. While all of that is important, set aside the need
for perfection and concentrate on quelling your nerves and fears.
The students will be expecting you to appear confident, relaxed
and at ease. As such, fake it till you make it! And approach the
entire experience with a positive attitude – expect to find the
experience a good one, and you're more likely to find this as a
result.
* Stay natural. It's important to simply be yourself and not try to
emulate what you think a teacher should be. Acknowledge that
you're still a student yourself, and realize how silly it must
look for a student pretending to be a teacher comes across! The
students will cut you some slack if you're friendly, affable, and
approachable.
Don't overdo anything. It's important not to produce a caricature
of a teacher. Your real task is to convey information to students,
with you as the conduit. It is not to convince students that you're
a model teacher. However, there is nothing wrong with sharing your
passion for teaching with them! Things to consider include:
* Avoid coming across as too scary or too strict. You're still a
student, remember! Would you have liked it if your teachers had
done that to you?
* Show the students that you know how they feel, and that you're on
their wavelength. Accept the newness of the situation for both of
you.
Trust in your knowledge Earn respect. While you may
feel that this contradicts the previous step, it is
possible to earn respect without being scary, strict, or
too chummy with the students. Do this through a
confident demeanor, and by conveying that you expect
compliance with simple rules or boundaries. In addition,
if something does happen requiring discipline, make it
clear that you're not beyond reporting poor behavior to
those in the chain of command who have authority to deal
with it by actually doing so. It will only need to
happen once for students to understand that you're not a
pushover.
* Try hard not to sound nervous. If you fear this, it's more likely
to happen. Make the most of pauses, and taking deep breaths to
recover your composure before speaking. There is no need to rush.
* Do not fear being disliked. Some students will always push
boundaries and make it seem they dislike you. The reality,
however, is that most students will respond far more respectfully
to a student teacher sticking to well-defined boundaries than
giving in, or acting disappointed that you're not liked. Remember
too, that some students will present a tough front but are
covering up many complex emotions in the process. Just try your
best to connect with rather than deflate antagonistic class
members.
Respect the students in turn. Respect earned is respect best
returned. Avoid using your authority as a power trip that causes
you to forget that students are people too. Go back to the roots
of why you took up teaching if you feel you're losing any sense of
perspective about the students.
* Be genuine. Show real interest in your student's efforts and
praise their work when you have the opportunity.
Be organized and be prepared. Always come to the lesson prepared.
All professional teachers are expected to be prepared, so it would
be a mistake if you as a student teacher didn't ensure this too.
This is training for your future career; make the most of it.
* Schedule a timetable for marking and preparing work. This is your
first chance to experience firsthand the intensity involved in
teaching, in which you need to be present mentally the entire time
you're teaching, and then find a second wind for marking and
preparation. This is a fantastic time to develop time management
and personal organization skills that will set you in good stead
for the rest of your teaching career.
* Keep your promises. If you tell your students you will have the
quizzes, special projects, or homework checked by next week,
always do as you've promised. Set an example for them to see and
respond to; otherwise you can't expect them to do what they're
supposed to!
Enjoy it! Set out to enjoy your student teaching experience. Being a
student teacher can, and should, be really fun. It is a chance to
meet new people (usually only a few years younger than you), earn
some money or credits, and to find your rhythm. Use your sense of
humor to its best advantage to engage others and to make light of
some of the more challenging aspects; in that way, you're set to
enjoy your experience a great deal more.
* Socialize with the other teachers. They will be a great source of
information, support, ideas, and future contacts. Do your best to
develop good relationships with faculty members.
* Make good friends with parents. Keeping in touch with parents
regularly will establish an excellent rapport and it helps to pass
on something positive that their child has done now and then.
* If it's permissible, after lessons socialize with your students by
having a coffee or a chat together. This will depend on the age
and type of school you're teaching at; it might not be
appropriate. At the very least, attend social functions held for
the students during the term, such as dances and sports events.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Dress appropriately. This includes not wearing anything too
revealing, too dowdy or overly casual. Check out the dress
standards of other teachers when you visit the school first and
take your cue from these observations.
* Expect to be tired. This isn't an easy role and if you're also
studying or working in addition to the role as a student teacher,
you'll have very little (if any) time to yourself for the duration
of the student teacher experience.
* Read up on teaching. While your teacher training will have
introduced you to many good things, there is always more to learn.
Some helpful books for student teachers include: _The First Days
of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher_, _A First Year
Teacher's Guidebook_, _First-Class Teacher: Success Strategies for
New Teachers_, _Learning to Teach: Not Just for Beginners_,
_Teaching with Love and Logic: Taking Control of the Classroom_,
etc. Do a search online for suitable books and materials.
* Be prepared to be flexible! Things can and will go wrong; have
back-up plans for lessons, and be ready to make fast changes if
something suddenly happens such as a fire drill.
* Don't hold back on sharing your ideas and resources you think will
help; fresh ideas are good in education! Equally, don't be
unrealistic about the possibility for some teachers to view you as
an upstart for doing so; be sure to give them space and respect
their concerns. This is no different from any other workplace when
new, fresh people enter and existing staff feel somewhat
sidelined; be diplomatic and caring in your approach and ask for
_their_ help and ideas in turn!
* Find a good friend to cry to or vent to when you feel that
something has happened that's too much for you; there will be
frustrating and upsetting moments, and occasionally your
exhaustion will affect how you view things. Talking to someone
neutral will help you to work out whether it's a real issue or
you're just tired or misperceiving things. Avoid taking out your
frustrations on students, parents, or fellow teachers. Your first
year of teaching is hard work, so be gentle on yourself!
* Always be polite to support staff; without fail! They can be your
best allies, or someone you'll wish you never crossed. Think kind
and be kind.
!! Warnings !!
* Sometimes you'll be at the receiving end of parental anger. Be
gentle on them and yourself; stay polite, calm, and respectful and
try your best to hear them out. Many times, the best thing you can
do is to listen to their concerns. If you can also find a
resolution, so much the better, but at least listen.
* Take care not to let your personal intensity at doing really well
cross over to demands on parents to improve their children's
performance. Always double check where _your_ expectations are
stemming from before upsetting a parent about a child's progress.
* Always let the principal know if something negative happens
between you and students or student's parents. This way, you have
already informed the principal if anything blows up.
* Be diplomatic about everyone, all of the time. You haven't
established your career yet; so take care with loose lips and be
impeccable instead.
* A teacher's work is never done. If you feel that being a student
is bad enough, teaching won't change that ever-present feeling of
having things queued up to do _always_, even during vacation time!
Learn to love it for what it is – a career you chose out of love
and passion.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* Teaching materials
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Assist Teachers to Include Students with Special Needs
* How to Write a Resume as a Graduate Student
* How to Act at a Parent Teacher Conference
* How to Help a Student Who Hates the Teacher
* How to Teach
* How to Teach English As a Foreign Language and Travel the World
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
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