Final Fall Post

This semester was really unique for me. Student teaching/observing really allows you to get out there and put to practice everything you have been learning, but in a way that you are expected to still be learning. I hope that makes senseJ. One of the biggest things I learned about myself was that I can do it. I have a lot of experience in classrooms for various reasons. However, I had always been there for one or two days at a time, teaching someone else’s lessons. This semester, I really got to see what I could do. My CT allowed me to have a lot of input and interaction in the classroom, which helped to build my confidence as a teacher. I could stand in front of a classroom all day, and not be nervous, but I was able to gain confidence as a teacher. I also learned how important it was to build relationships with the students. I genuinely cared about the students, and I think I was able to portray that too them, without having to be extreme. They knew that I wanted them to succeed, and that I cared about what sports they were in, or what activities they were a part of. I wanted to be that type of teacher, and I saw that I can be, and without really thinking about it, I was. Even if it wasn’t something I wasn’t particularly interested in, I still tried to be excited for the students. Finally, I learned that I want to be a teacher that makes English exciting, when I really have my own classroom hopefully next year. There is just so much you can do, especially in English, that is meaningful learning, but that the students can have fun with, and showcase their many talents. I want to try and push myself to find ways to make my future classroom like this, so I’m not complacent, and my students aren’t complacent.
With the confidence I gained this fall, I feel a lot better about the process in the spring. I feel that if I am confidant in what I’m doing, then the students will respond better to me. They will see that I care about their learning, and what they are doing outside of school. I am trying to work with them, not against them, in making it an enjoyable experience. I also think that knowing the type of teacher I want to be, will make me want to create lesson that the students can find more relevant to their lives, and unique styles. If I am able, I know the types of things that I want to experiment with in the spring. Hopefully, I can accomplish all of these goals this spring.