What have I gotten myself into?

[echosupernova]

I feel underqualified, unprepared, and generally not ready to be a student teacher, nevermind having my very own classroom in a year. I know in theory that I'm just as qualified as my fellow students (if not more so, since I have experience in education), but it's just so much to know and do. How do first year teachers who have no education

Comments

[rainswolf]

Very, very few new teachers feel ready. You really do have to show up and PRETEND to know what you're doing. Act confident even if you don't feel it. Act like you know what you're doing.

Even my 2nd and 3rd year teaching I had to get back into "teaching mode" at the end of the summer. I would literally show up the first day of school with my plan thinking "Okay, now I'm going to pretend like I know what I'm doing!"

Eventually you pretend less...

What are you teaching-- high school English?

[echosupernova]

Yep, high school English. That's pretty much what I've heard from my professors and teachers they've brought in to talk to us.

[rainswolf]

I look forward to reading your journal. I love hearing about the experiences of other teachers.

But yeah... that "fake it until you make it" advice really is helpful to me. I think it gives one permission to not get overwhelmed or to worry a lot about feeling unready/insecure/nervous or whatever one feels.

Prioritize

[jlsatud]

Yes, it seems like a lot...and it won't be easy. There will be stress and lack of sleep. But as long as you act like you want to be there and have a smile on your face, people will most likely want to help you. At our school the best teachers to approach for help are the ones that are relatively new themselves or almost on their way out. I am sluggish to help the whiners but the ones who appear to like their jobs? I do everything I can to make their lives less stressful! So that's my advice. Plus, you have a year to get ready. Granted, I live far away and work even further away but I'm sure some people at my school would let you come and hang out in their room if you want to get a feel for it!

Re: Prioritize

[echosupernova]

Thanks for the advice, Jenny! It makes lots of sense, though I know it's hard to stay smiling and cheery when you're way stressed. I'm going to be hanging out in a classroom a lot this year student teaching, so I'm sure I'll pick up some techniques from my mentor teacher, and even more in my first years as a teacher.

Re: Prioritize

[rainswolf]

Also, I think the cheeriness (and likewise, whiniess) can be contagious. Being positive helps everyone else stay positive. When others get in the major-complain mode it's shockingly easy to join it.

Re: Prioritize

[rainswolf]

Are you in Boston? Because I know a teacher type who is into sports and has your first name and who lives in Boston.