This semester I am Student Teaching
at a middle school in North Austin. It is
a new and exciting process for me. I
wanted to do a blog post about student teaching that outlined some of my experiences
and some advice. Sorry, this is a long
one!
At the middle school I am student teaching
at this semester, the students are ready to learn and create. I really admire this quality in
students. So far, I have been impressed
with the students’ willingness to try new things, especially in dance. Dance can sometimes be scary and difficult to
master. The students are not afraid and
are willing to work on things until they understand it. This is an attitude that comes naturally to
many students and it is supported by the teachers and staff at the middle
school. The teachers strive to create an
environment that is safe and encouraging for their students.
There have been some obstacles of course. I
found it very difficult to study for my History Certification Exam while
student teaching. Sometimes I had time
during the school day to study but most of the studying happened while I was at
home. Some weeks it felt like I worked
all day at the school then worked all night at home to study. I now understand why my university does not
allow us to take any other classes while student teaching. It is a process I must devote a lot of attention
and time to. I must also focus on becoming
a certified teacher by taking the necessary exams.
Another challenge I am facing is how to
help a student who is an English Language Learner. My Cooperating teacher or mentor doesn’t have
a lot of information on her. Therefore,
it is unclear what level of proficiency she’s at. She understands spoken English but rarely
responds with more than one word when asked a direct question. I have studied the English Language Proficiency
Standards (ELPS) but I am having trouble finding ways to accommodate when I
don’t know how much or how little accommodation she needs. On a different note, she is a very talented
beginner dancer! She has shown a lot of promise and I am enjoying working and
learning with her.
I am most inspired by my CT’s ability to
comfort her students. As teachers we
must educate and support our students.
Sometimes that means providing a tissue when they shed a tear or listen
to them when they need advice. Sometimes
this leads to the help of a counselor but often a pat on the back from a
teacher can go a long way. I am a very
empathetic person, and a great listener.
However, I do not always know what to say in the moment while comforting
someone. I feel that comforting people is something I need to grow in.
As the weeks have gone on, I have fully
taken over all 6th grade dance classes. Because I am also being certified in History
soon, I will take over two 7th grade Texas History classes. I am also lucky enough to be able to observe
two dance team classes which are a mix of 7th and 8th
graders. I also attend morning practices
for the team and have gotten to watch them kick butt at two competitions this
season. I am looking forward to working with
them as they prepare for spring show!
While there is a lot on my plate as a
student teacher it is also extremely entertaining and rewarding. I never know what’s going to happen at a
middle school or what I will learn that day.
My advice is to never stop asking questions, how are you ever going to
learn if you don’t ask? I would also
like to say it is alright to feel a little stressed. I am often at the school starting at 7AM for
practice until 4:30 in the afternoon, sometimes later if there are after school
activities. Student teaching is a lot of
work! Just remember to be confident in
yourself and ask for help or support when you need it. Feel free to contact me if you have any
questions about Student Teaching or the certification process!
lmacnary@gmail.com
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