How to Survive Student Teaching

Student teaching is like straddling a bridge for a semester. You have one foot at the end of your student years and barely a toe grip on being a full-fledged teacher. It's challenging to navigate a room full of new students, their parents' concern and your cooperating teacher's routines. Keep some key things in mind while learning the ropes to make your time as a student-teacher a positive experience.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Get to know your cooperating teacher, the curriculum, the kids and the school. Start with your cooperating teacher; take cues from her, try to keep in-sync with her rhythm and style. That doesn't mean you must mimic her completely, but if she keeps her classroom tidy, respect that and know where supplies go. She can also help you get to know the curriculum and guide you through it. Learn about the school through your co-op teacher, too. Go with her to meetings, conferences and even occasionally to the teachers' lounge. Getting to know the kids is easy; they won't have it any other way.
2. Offer to help out whereever and whenever you can. Grade papers, take attendance, tutor and support student learning, set up bulletin boards and organize materials. Learn to make photocopies; more importantly, learn to fix paper jams and you'll be a faculty-room hero.
3. Spend time observing other teachers, and ask to be observed by your co-op teacher and school principal. This is an intimidating process. It's important to get comfortable with observations because your first three years of teaching will often involve multiple observation sessions.
4. Stay ahead of lesson plans by trying to read ahead and review materials before they're introduced in class. Get support and run your ideas for lessons by your co-op teacher, who can give you guidance as you plan.
5. Plan more than you think you'll need for each lesson. When you start teaching, it's hard to learn how to pace a lesson. Students often take little time with something you thought would be the focus of a lesson and lots of time with some small piece. Have something in waiting in the wings in case you finish early.
6. Make to meet with your co-op teacher, college observer, school principal and other teachers. You should meet with your observer and co-op teacher frequently. Make time with a principal to get insight about interviewing and applying to schools.
   Other teachers can give you ideas for classroom management and lesson plans.
7. Take care of yourself. Keep healthy. Get your rest, eat well and wash your hands often. Schools are full of germs. Seasoned veteran teachers have built up insane immunities that you don't have yet, so protect yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Dress professionally. At the very least, wear the most professional clothes you can afford. If there's a school dress code, try to follow it.
• You may get feedback from observations that surprise or even upset you. Just remember, even the best teachers always are changing and learning. Teaching is a process.