Students learn to teach
Student teaching has changed significantly over the last 10 years. Originally, student teachers were with one teacher for ten or sixteen weeks. Now, they are with several different teachers for eight or sixteen weeks at a time.
“When I was student teaching it was all very random, and there was a lot of liberty given to me because my ‘teacher mentor’ basically used me as a substitute so he could leave the building during the periods I taught for him” said Mr. Jon Carl.
Many of the universities have changed their policies for student teachers, and the mentors who are in essence, teaching the teachers. They saw that the teachers were using the students and they began to be more choosey about the schools that the teachers were sent to, and the teachers the students were sent to. The universities decided to make changes because they wanted to increase the benefits of student teachers. The goal of that portion of the student teachers curriculum is meant to be a learning experience, and the changes were meant to increase accountability.
“We are like permanent substitutes, and sometimes it makes things difficult at first,” said Mr. New.
He is a history major and has spent the last months teaching under the supervision of Mrs. Hale and now Mr. Carl. As we all know, substitute teachers generally have very little to no respect amongst the student body, and at first, that’s how most students see the student teachers.
“Discipline is the hardest thing to get over, I was in high school not so long ago, and I remembered hating discipline, now, I know it just comes with the job, if I intend to gain the students respect, then I have to show them that I deserve it.” Discipline is much more simple to accomplish when the students know you, and have a reason to respect you. Student teachers come in not knowing anyone, and knowing that they are going to have to earn the right to be respected.
“It’s hard to walk into a room where all the students know each other and are accustomed to the way their teacher has been teaching all of first semester. It added a lot of pressure to be very creative in my styles,” Now said. The key is to keep teaching the material, but to do new things with the curriculum that will intrigue the students. It greatly depends on the topic they are discussing, but to do it in a way that is different and new.
One of the other major factors is figuring out what works and doesn’t work for the students. “Each class is different and figuring out what works for one and doesn’t work for another is difficult, especially while trying to earn their respect and keep the room under control, it is something of a feat to be accomplished.”
Carl mentioned the fact that when he was student teaching, the universities often just sent the mentor teachers student students that had very little to do with their chosen career field.
“They didn’t particularly pay attention to what teachers we ended up with, they just kind of sent us out there to figure it out on our own, now it’s a lot different” Carl said. The student teachers got a broader variety, but often didn’t know the topics they were being asked to teach on.
“Now they match up the student with teachers who teach the subjects that they are studying. It’s nice to now have student teachers who are actually prepared to teach the topics.”
Carl also mentioned that some student teachers just aren’t cut out for teaching, or are painfully nervous, and it often adds to the lack of respect from the students they are trying to teach. Along with that statement, it was said that many times it is refreshing to have a new face and a younger generation come in and teach.
“When I get a new student teacher and they are good, I love learning the new things that they can teach me. Often times we are able to bounce ideas off of each other and come up with new ways to teach the same old things” We all know that sometimes teachers get stuck in their ways. There are often times when a teacher has been teaching the same subject for so long that they could teach it in their sleep. That’s when they become boring.
“Student teachers always help me see the way I am teaching something is becoming boring. I enjoy having someone else teach something that I love, and showing me what I can change,” Carl stated.
Most of the student teachers left at the quarter, but those who are left will be in charge of their classes until the end of the year.
