Comments | starya: Musings on the observation of a student teacher, one semester later...

starya

Musings on the observation of a student teacher, one semester later...

Jan 19, 2010 14:40

So today I had the opportunity to sub for a high school math class that had a student teacher. This, of course, lead to some thoughtful musings as someone who was recently a student teacher, and had a few mixed experiences when a sub was in the classroom as opposed to my co-op.

( So for all of you curious types who care to read... )

Comments 12

b1ackdea7h January 20 2010, 05:22:27 UTC

I've only had this happen to me once during my student teaching. I'm in the same boat of classroom management woes but since I've been out of the game so long, I'm pretty rusty in pretty much every regard. Every sub call I've gotten recently was for something I'd rather have a better degree of training in (special ed) but I do want to pop back in a few times so I can keep the position and to see if I can get off some of this rust ( ... )

starya January 20 2010, 16:40:49 UTC

Every teacher/student teacher I've spoken to said the same thing about their classroom management, so you are definitely not alone. Having done more research on the topic post-graduation I realize how much I did wrong, and why my students didn't really respect my authority in the classroom. Sure, it wasn't a train wreck, and the students liked me, but I was a bit too passive and doormat-like. There is so much I would have changed if I could go and do it again ( ... )

b1ackdea7h January 20 2010, 16:57:51 UTC

Work is work. I took my office job as long and they let me keep it. Now I have enough funds to hold my my loans so I can freely finish my Federal Career Training. Still want to sub should a good opportunity arise though. The extra cash would help too.

And yeah, I definitely hear you, there are some days where I do still want to go back and do it all again, but better and more refined (well, in theory anyway).

I had quite a few special education students in my classroom for student teaching. Made for an even more interesting experience for me. A whole class is a different story though. Given my experience with special ed. students, I'd definitely want to look at IEP's and have a chance to observe the students first before even trying to be their sub. Totally need more experience and education before comfortably going in to a new group of special ed. students and confidently knowing what to do and how to handle anything and everything.

Heh, I'm starting to sound like a teacher again.

starya January 20 2010, 23:16:55 UTC

Hurrah! As you should.

I had mostly inclusion classrooms during student teaching, but I feel the entire process was still.. Different. I'm currently post-incredibly-long-interview, so I'll make a more coherent comment when my brain function kicks back in.

But yes, looking at IEPs made a huge difference in my inclusion classes, along with the help of the special ed. teachers and the aides. Subs should be aware of that material (Even if it is health related. I had a student have two seizures during a sub day and I had no idea what to do or if it was a common occurrence. Thank God for aides!)

(The comment has been removed)

starya January 20 2010, 16:42:31 UTC

XD More like my many failures, if we want to consider my student teaching.

I'm blown away after reading all of your posts. I can't imagine how stressful your environment is with all the disorganization, the different (some crazy) teachers. And, ya know, the whole language barrier thing. How is Japan treating you otherwise?

littledust January 20 2010, 18:04:33 UTC

I want to hear your updated classroom management ideas!

peneli January 20 2010, 23:08:32 UTC

heh, me too.

starya January 20 2010, 23:11:57 UTC

Most of them revolve around the idea of "grow a backbone, you doormat," and have yet to be tested in an official classroom. I'd be curious to see if the ideas stand up to anything beyond subbing for a single day. :/

Regardless, I'll try and make a post in the near future about it!

peneli January 20 2010, 23:15:23 UTC

I still tell myself that one some days. :)

peneli January 20 2010, 23:15:02 UTC

Ah, classroom management. Still the bane of my existence and this is my 5th year teaching ( ... )

starya January 20 2010, 23:35:41 UTC

Oh Gettysburg Department of Education. I feel they did a wonderful job making sure we all had ideals, but didn't really prepare us to work with those ideals in reality ( ... )

peneli January 21 2010, 00:53:09 UTC

"I feel they did a wonderful job making sure we all had ideals, but didn't really prepare us to work with those ideals in reality." This. On the other hand, um, I think giving us a grounding reality would probably lead to a lot more people dropping ed., so, not a surprise ( ... )