How to Be a Good Student Teacher

Your student teaching year can be physically and emotionally exhausting. A good student teacher will still manage to be responsible, independent, committed to education, and keep a good sense of humor.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electronic Personal Organizers
• Calendars
• Personal Organizers

1. Consult at length with your master teacher at the start of the term. Be sure you know what his or her philosophy of teaching and classroom objectives are before you make large plans for classroom activities.

2. Make arrangements with your master teacher to take a few minutes each day to discuss classroom events, possible future activities, and procedure.

3. Inform yourself about any particular school regulations that you and your students must abide by. Know the rules by heart so you can give definite answers to your students, who will be testing your authority.

4. Familiarize yourself with relevant legal issues, such as those concerning child abuse, substance abuse and sexual harassment among students.

5. Show genuine interest in your students' schoolwork and progress, and leave personal relationships with students to the school counselors.

6. Show initiative and independence by assuming responsibility for the preparation of individual lessons or entire learning units.

7. Show resourcefulness by gathering materials and introducing educational methods you are learning in your graduate studies.

Tips & Warnings

• Be professional in your speech, dress and attitude.
• Maintain a friendly but professional relationship with students, your master teacher and other faculty. Try to attend some of the school's social functions.
• Learn as much as you can about the school and the district. Many student teachers are hired by the schools where they do their training.
• Be prepared for a long, hard year. You will be taking graduate courses in education in addition to your five-day-per-week teaching schedule. You may have to juggle regular work hours if you also have a job.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.

on 11/22/2005 Always make sure your paperwork for your college supervisor(s) is in order. Make sure to have extra copies of lesson plans when they observe you, feedback from your cooperating teacher in your portfolio. It may take a little more prep time, but it will save you much heartache and extra work in the long run. And never be afraid to ask questions or deal with problems right away! That's what these people are there for!

on 11/22/2005 If you are fumbling for materials or trying to organize your thoughts on the spot, the students will think you don't know what you're doing. Always have extra activities planned in case you finish early, but don't worry if you don't finish everything. Be overprepared and have everything together before class starts.

on 11/22/2005 One important way to maintain control of your class is to exude confidence. If you don't have faith in your own abilities, neither will the children. They need to recognize and respect your authority in order to learn anything.

on 11/22/2005 Take an interest in your students, especially in their after-school activities. You may be the only adult who takes an interest in their activities. Ask students how they are doing and smile. You may be the only friendly face they see. Care about them.

on 11/22/2005 If possible, try to avoid taking more than one class in addition to your student teaching. The work load is a lot and a lot is expected from you, so try to focus all your energies on your teaching.