Goal for Pre Student Teaching
My goals for myself and my students are similar. I expect them to what to come to school ready to learn, and on the same token I should be expected to come to school ready to teach. Both the students and myself will be learning a lot this year and my devotion to planning unit guides and creating a healthy classroom environment will ensure that the students get the education they need. I plan to teach the students at a pace that is conducive to their learning level. I have high expectation for what it means for me to be a teacher and how the content should be covered, but I need to remember that for some of these students writing a full length essay will be a crowning achievement for them, and that's beautiful! Some on the other hand will need a heavier workload and will not need as much help from me in regards to their education process. I'm fine with that as well. I want to make sure I can provide each student with the education that will help them the most. If that means modifying the lesson or accommodating to their needs then I'll do it.
This year I am concerning myself with making mistakes. I'm not worried about mistakes, but I am hoping to make them. I want things to be a little messy and the students to give me a funny look. If everything goes smooth then I will be wary of the upcoming semester when I am a true student teacher. Things should go wrong and when they do go wrong it will allow me to reflect on what it is that I need to work on. My students are outspoken, so I know that they will not have a problem with feedback regarding my teaching skills. My goal for this semester is to make mistakes because it means that I am trying something out of my comfort zone and I can fine tune my mishaps into a vehicle that will help propel my teaching prowess.
Lastly, I just want to have fun. I have had a blast getting to know this kids this week and I can't wait to see how they change and grow in the classroom. Getting the shy girl to open up, or having the class jester say something thought provoking or brilliant is one of the reasons I want to be a teacher. It's less about me and more about them and their growth as young adults. I am looking forward to getting to know my 3rd hour class and eventually getting to know close to 100 more next semester.
Mr. West (aka Dirt McGert), thanks for this post! I appreciate your excitement for taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from them. That's definitely the right attitude for the upcoming year. Obviously the mistakes you make won't be from lack of preparation or knowledge; they will more likely be from lack of experience and practice. Having to self-assess and readjust midway through a lesson or revising plans after a a 1st hour flop in time for 3rd hour are just a couple of the important skills (literacies) effective teachers learn and practice. Thanks for articulating that so beautifully here. I also love your point in your final paragraph that this is about your students, not about you. You are definitely a teacher now, Mr. West. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteI love your willingness to step out of your comfort zone, try new things, and be willing to fail. It seems you've learned that lesson: it's not our failures that define us, but how we react to them. With that attitude, you will learn and grow just as much as your students. I love this line: "It's less about me and more about them and their growth as young adults." Keeping this in mind will help you to become an effective teacher.
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