I have been teaching since.....well, to be honest, some days it feels like forever. I have never once taken on a student teacher, although I have been encouraged by many of my colleagues. They site the benefits for the teacher in training, as well as for myself. But I have felt like I lacked the knowledge, despite reassurances and evidence to the contrary, to help initiate a young impressionable newbie into my chosen profession. After all, my job changes by year, according to the needs of my class and often by the minute, according to the needs of my individual students. And the 20 small people in my care for six hours every weekday will have many more teachers and years of schooling to undo any unintentional craziness I might have instilled during their year with me, but a teacher candidate has only a very small amount of time in which to undo any unintentional craziness I might have instilled during their time with me. I have always felt inadequate and, truthfully, not up to the extra commitment.
But last spring I received a phone call and found it much more difficult to ignore than the emails and so, after taking in a huge breath and screwing my eyes tightly shut, accepted the responsibility of helping a student teacher in their final, big practicum. >Yikes!<
That being said, I have met Mrs. Unsworth a number of times and am looking forward to having her join us at BEST this year. She is confident and eager and friendly. I have no doubts that she will not only learn many things but also teach me, and Team Awesome, many things during her time with us.
But last spring I received a phone call and found it much more difficult to ignore than the emails and so, after taking in a huge breath and screwing my eyes tightly shut, accepted the responsibility of helping a student teacher in their final, big practicum. >Yikes!<
That being said, I have met Mrs. Unsworth a number of times and am looking forward to having her join us at BEST this year. She is confident and eager and friendly. I have no doubts that she will not only learn many things but also teach me, and Team Awesome, many things during her time with us.
