I have been very lucky to have worked with 4 different student teachers over the past few years, from 3 different educational institutions. Though the programs and requirements were all quite different, I really lucked out in terms of the actual student teachers placed with me. They have all been awesome! This gives me a great deal of hope and optimism for the teachers of the future! It has also made my job easier, and each student that I have worked with has been very helpful and energizing to me. So, to you four lovely ladies, thank you.
When I was an education student (academic years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005......um.....that seems like an ETERNITY ago!) I had one ok experience and one AMAZING experience.
For my first practicum I was placed in a Grade 2 class in a Catholic School in inner city Saskatoon. We went once a week for 12 weeks. Our responsibilities began with observations and reflections and ended with teaching our own lessons, conducting class activities, and reflecting on how we did. I was beyond excited. I wanted to be a teacher when I was 6 years old, so to say I was itching to get into the classroom would be a major understatement!
Imagine my surprise when I walked into the classroom on the first day and saw my former next door neighbour was the teacher! I was good friends with her daughter when I was little, so that was pretty cool! Unfortunately, her health was not the greatest and she was waiting for an opening for a surgery. That opening came just a few weeks into my practicum. Obviously, this was good news and very necessary for her health. The remainder of my practicum was spent with a young, inexperienced temporary teacher who had been placed in the class while the regular teacher was on medical leave. Not ideal, but not the end of the world.
My second practicum was AMAZING. Seriously....I was so lucky. I hit the practicum jackpot. I was placed in a small town school (about a 45 minute drive from the city) in a Grade 3 classroom full time from the beginning of the school year (start of Sept.) until the Christmas break. My partner teacher was experienced, wise, and young at heart. She was full of life and energy and passion for the job. I can't remember how many years she had been teaching, but it was around the two decade mark. Her classroom buzzed with activity and excitement. Kids were loved and respected and they knew it.
Right from the start I felt that she also respected me and allowed me to be a real part of the classroom community. I had a voice and I was encouraged to give my input, ask questions, make comments and try as many things as I wanted. When things did not go quite as I had planned, she never made me feel like a failure. She patiently discussed it with me, asking me the right questions until I figured out where I could improve and what I could try differently next time. She displayed the healthy and positive attitude of a lifelong learner...not someone who viewed herself as knowing it all or having it all figured out. She made me feel like a teacher....not a student teacher.
So....why did I begin taking on student teachers?
I think having the correct motivation is essential. Sadly, I think there are some teachers out there who take on a student teacher so that they can "have a break" or pass off some of their responsibilities on someone else. This isn't really true (or shouldn't be!) and if those thoughts cross your mind, you probably should not take on a student teacher.
A few years ago I reached that point where I finally felt like I had a handle on things. I had gone through the ups and downs of the first five years of teaching and had those moments where I wasn't sure if I could continue. I pressed on and fell in love with teaching again. Around that time I started to think about taking on a student teacher. I knew how lucky I had been as a student, especially since I knew some of my classmates in university had not fared so well in their placements. They had ended up with teachers who seemed like they did not have the right reasons in mind when they took on a student teacher, and my classmates' experiences were quite negative as a result.
I decided that I wanted to try to give students a similar experience to the wonderful one I had in my second practicum. Not that I feel I have the same amount of experience or wisdom as my wonderful partner teacher, but I certainly do feel confident in my craft and I absolutely love what I do.
I don't see myself as an "expert" or as someone who has all the answers, but when I come across a difficult situation as a teacher (not if, but WHEN) I know how to handle it and how to seek out the answers or resources that will help me. I don't see myself as a "master" but I have mastered many teaching skills. I DO see myself as passionate, creative and driven to help each of my students find success. I want the upcoming educators who will be entering our school systems to have those same qualities - passion, creativity and drive, and ultimately I want them to really love and care for their students.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you are a teacher and you are considering taking on a student teacher;
1. You need to be willing to give them some time.
A student teacher should feel like they are able to talk things through and especially to ask questions. This takes time.
Time when the children are gone.
Like your lunch break (if you have one....can someone tell me what that is like???).
Or after school.
While their richest learning experiences will ultimately be while they are teaching and working with students, being able to talk these experiences through with you will enrich their experience and clarify their own learning. This is a very important part of their practicum experience.
2. You need to be willing to hand over the reigns.
This is a tough one.
I am a control freak.
There.
I said it.
It's true and those of you who know me personally are laughing right now because you know how very very true it is. Am I right?
(yes)
Now, you don't need to hand the reigns over all the time. But when your student teacher is set to teach or run an activity.....back off. Only step in if things are really out of control, or if they are signaling a silent plea for help.
Stepping in and saving them every time one tiny thing goes wrong will not help them.
They need to have the opportunity to learn and to figure things out for themselves.
3. You need to be willing to have your own teaching practice placed under the microscope.
Yeah.
That student teacher of yours will be watching you like a hawk.
Or at least they should be!
Get used to having an audience....a non-child audience (it's different).
Be prepared to be a good model, but be real.
Just do your job the same way that you always do (ie to the best of your ability) and don't try to put on some kind of show.
I am sad that my student teacher's last day is tomorrow! It has been another great experience. I will definitely continue to take on student teachers in the future. It might not be for everyone, but providing great practicum experiences for today's students means stronger and better equipped teachers of tomorrow!
