Student Teacher

via D Sharon Pruitt

I just found out I will be having a student teacher next year and I'm a little nervous. It's not because I don't think I will be able to handle a student teacher, but more that I hope I don't harm the new teacher's enthusiasm and excitement for the teaching profession.

It's very humbling to think that I am being entrusted with helping a new teacher gain experiences that they can look back on after they have been hired and are teaching full-time. I know I won't be a perfect mentor but I hope I'm not totally awful. I hope that I am able to help this new teacher see the joy that I have for teaching and possibly help them to also gain a certain level of joy as well.

I wonder what this new teacher is hoping to get out of the experience of working with me? I think I was their first choice of mentors to work with which is also a little scary.  I wonder if they have any specific goals they want to achieve while student teaching? I wonder if they have any fears about working with me?

It appears as though I have a lot of questions about this experience and I hope I don't have to wonder long. I am hoping the student teacher is willing to meet with me this summer to address these questions I have and hopefully establish some great ideas on how to make this next year a huge success.

One thing is for sure, I am going to do everything in my power to get them to start using technology as soon as possible. I plan on making sure they understand what Twitter is and recommend they start tweeting about their experiences in the classroom, or at least listen in on the many others using the service. I hope to get the new teacher excited about blogging, hopefully helping me to also re-catch the bug and post more regularly as well.

Overall, I am excited to have the opportunity to work with a new teacher to see what is being taught in the teacher-prep courses at the University level. I just expect so much of myself that I want to make sure I enjoy the experience and not just spend my time worrying about how I am doing. I have total confidence in the new teacher, and I hope to learn as much as possible from her while, hopefully, passing on some good ideas and insights to her as well.