The Balancing Act: Teeter- Totter

Student teaching has taught me a lot, most of all, it's taught me how to try and stay balanced. Between my own personal life and events, student teaching, being a student, working a part time job, I've had to learn how to manage my time by the minute.

In January, I realized, planning minute by minute was especially important when managing a class period of 45 minutes. The secret I found: routines. I consistently now know I will spend 5 minutes on bell work, 5 minutes on fluency, 30 minutes on my lesson, and 5 minutes on closing/clean up time. 

Quickly, it became essential to learn how to more efficiently manage my time outside of the classroom. I have no choice. 

I have the occasional slip up where things don't always go as planned (so life goes), but if there's one thing I would like to learn to do better is to: accomplish my goals, have a life, and be the best professional I can be. 

It's about that time of year where the end is so near, I can almost see the finish line. I'm scared, I'm nervous, I'm afraid of falling off of this thin-line that's taken up all of my time, efforts, and sacrifice. I've been having a reoccurring dream that I somehow end up substituting, the same class, over and over again. I'm not sure where the fear stems from.

I'm lucky to have a cooperating teacher that is encouraging, supportive, understanding, and provides me feedback daily. She pushes me to become better, suggests different techniques, and praises me for best practices. 

I feel as if I have gone through the “growing pains” of improvement in my professional aspect, but I still have a long way to go.

My passion for teaching and reaching students is my main drive. I think the most rewarding part of my student teaching experience are the students that excitingly share stories that they’re writing with me and ask me if I can teach 7^th grade at their school next year. A student just recently asked me two days ago to edit her “book” she’s been writing. There’s nothing more rewarding than to see your students passion ignited for reading and writing outside of the classroom.

I have students that confide, trust, and believe in me as a teacher. When a problem arises, they look towards me for the solution. When my cooperating teacher leaves the room, they no longer question my authority in the classroom. I am their teacher.

The most important part is to believe in yourself. It’s something I struggle with, but I’ve become more confident as time has passed. I thank the supportive friends and teachers I’ve had around me.

I’ve learned the importance to  keep honest and open communications consistently with the professionals, families, and students you are working with. Be open to receiving feedback, and appreciate it, above all. Take advice, reflect on yourself honestly, and be ready to apply it to who you want to become. 

The End of the Honeymoon Period: Let's Get Down to Business (Blog Post #2)

“In an effective classroom students should not only know what they are doing, they should also know why and how.”

 –Harry K. Wong

We all have heard teachers refer to the "honeymoon" period, right? I didn't believe it was true. When I first started this semester, I knew quite a few of my students already from last semester. I'm sure as many of you have experienced, the students were fascinated by you. They may have thought that you were the one on their side and sort of like a friend. Now that many of us are taking over a full teaching day, they may start testing your authority, if they haven't already. 

No, not Johnny. He was always such a nice kid to me! Well that's over now. He is now throwing pencils at the kid next to him and taking sticky notes off of my desk to write “Kick Me” signs on other student’s backs. Okay, it may not be to that extent but it seems to be much worse than when I had started my placement.  I'm not sure how many people are experiencing this right now, but, I can tell you that students are certainly testing my patience and giving me a learning experience in behavior management daily.  As teachers we realize the importance to self-reflect and grow daily. I came to realize it was time for me to apply my knowledge in my education courses collectively. As a future educator, it is my duty to give my students the most effective learning environment and using efficient methods to do so. Sometimes a method may not work, and that’s okay. It is a learning experience and I love every minute of finding out how to improve my instructional time as well as constructing a classroom environment.  

I found that talking to my cooperating teacher about difficult students and collaborating with other teachers has assisted me in finding solutions. The most important concept I've learned in behavior management and instruction: explicit instruction. It seems simple. Yet, the concept can become much more complex when a inexperienced student teacher doesn’t realize to the extent of the simplicity. For example, I’ve found at the middle school level that  students respond well to timers. It's a concrete way of keeping a pace in the classroom that is expected, and they realize that they don't have time to talk to their classmate about their plans this weekend. They have a specific task that they know they will be accounted for and a certain amount of time.

 I spent a majority of my time after conferences today, writing a list of very specific classroom procedures I expect students to follow. Something as simple as how I want them to turn in their papers can become a huge mess unless I have a systematic way of giving students instructions and consistent expectations. I've found that more than ever, I have to refer to my Wong text from our first year of the teaching program. I continue to use the texts given to me in my professional development hour at my placement, discussions in our seminar time, and the resources given to us throughout our teaching program to assist us in becoming successful educators. I love it. Tomorrow I implement my new “strategy” and I’m excited to explain how it rocks or it flops in my next blog. J

Online Reflection #1: An Overview of Thoughts at the Beginning of the Semester

The most important concept that I’ve learned so far is what a teacher is perceived as: by students, administrators, and the overall general opinion of society. A teacher is a counselor, a coach, a role model, and an instructor. The role of a teacher goes beyond the classroom.  Teachers have one of the largest impacts on their students’ lives as consistent adults that help guide them through their lessons and their own personal growth. I recall my first experience as a student coach my junior and senior year. The two consecutive years of Spanish 1 classes that I helped with were freshman and sophomores. Little did I know the large impact my students would have on me. Prior to my student teaching in the program at Wichita State University, this was the only teaching experience I had. It was enough of an inspirational experience to interest me in the teaching field.  Little did I know these past few weeks I have gotten to know all 120 of my students, it has made me realize how much I still have to learn about becoming a successful teacher. I am aware that I am still learning and I plan on continuing to be a lifelong learner.  What have I made my main focus these first few weeks?  I’ve reviewed classroom procedures, students’ names, and making sure that I’ve integrated myself as an active participant in the classroom. I’ve been lucky enough to have a sub twice. The best part was my cooperating teacher trusting me to manage all six classes on my own . The first day went over well because I know the students but I figured out quickly the mistakes I made that day and how to handle behavior in middle school. I learned that not every kid really has to go to the bathroom. Students will test you to see how much they can get away with. They can see someone with no backbone a mile away. You have to be confident and be known as a “stickler” for the rules.  Kids talk, and they will treat you how they read you. Rumors will spread, whether you’re the “easy” teacher to walk all over, or the one that deserves respect. Learn the balancing act. Get to know what they like. What they do after school. Know their favorite books.  Get involved in your school. Read Wong’s book of instructions on how to conduct your classroom and the first day of school. Make mistakes and create new solutions.  Keep up with the latest culture. Being respected is more important than being liked. Try to achieve both in the process. Read, read, read. Never stop growing, learning, and trying new ways of teaching and getting through to kids. Never think you are done. The journey doesn’t end at student teaching or your first few years of teaching. There is clarity in the madness. There is beauty in the process. Trust your instincts. Create new goals. Inspire a change.