Student teaching is this exciting time where we get the chance to practically run our own classrooms, try out all those lesson ideas that we pinned on Pinterest three years ago when we decided we wanted to become a teacher, and truly become adults and do what we feel we are meant to do. It is easy to become excited thinking about all of those things and overlook the seriousness of the upcoming semester. At least it was for me. That fairy tale dream of running my own classroom came to a crashing halt when I truly began to think about everything that I was going to be doing this semester. I mean I was actually going to be in charge of 150 13 year olds for four months. I would have to complete a portfolio on myself and my teaching (edTPA) that would determine my future. I would have to start applying for jobs. I would (practically) have my own classroom all to myself. It is a daunting task to say the least.
Being the type A person that I am, I made a giant checklist of everything that I needed to do to get ready for my upcoming semester to hopefully rid myself of the fears that had begun to accumulate. This giant checklist included reading everything I possibly could to prepare me for edTPA, trying to build a relationship with my cooperating teacher so that this semester would go smoothly, and learning how to live at home with my entire family after being on my own for 3 1/2 years. I really piled it on for myself.
Despite all of my preparation, the emotions that come with student teaching are inevitable. You are going to be scared. You are going to be excited. You are going to want to take advantage of every single second you spend inside your school. I was. I was ready to tackle this challenge head on and really push myself out of my comfort zone. I was secretly freaking out inside, maybe not so secretly if you ask my family and friends. I knew that this was the end all be all for me and that I needed to put 110% into this so I can get the most out of it.
Now that I am on week four of my placement, I can honestly say that the fear and anxieties that I had coming into student teaching were exaggerated but put the fire in me that I needed to succeed. Student teaching, although an intimidating experience from the outside, has been an exciting and more than worthwhile experience for me thus far.
xoxo,
Miss C