Week 3 - Discovering Challenges

Well this week has certainly been full of edifying experiences.  The entire week was dedicated to exams, with Thursday and Friday reserved specifically for make-up exams.  Thus, there was not too much interaction with students this week.

I managed to get a firm grasp on the use of the copy machine and for the first time used the Scantron grader… I got cheers from the waiting teachers after my successful use of the ancient machine!  Ah…use of copiers and Scantron graders,  both very important skills for a teacher to have and experiences I am glad to have under my belt before the beginning of the next semester.

I have over this past week discovered the solitary nature of the teaching profession.  Though I am of course in the classroom with my cooperating teacher all day long, I do not very often see other teachers.  It is necessary, if the high school teacher desires any adult interaction, to step into another classroom and make that concerted effort.  I could see this being a challenge for me in the future as I am often apt to get lost in my work and lose track of time.  When I get my own classroom I will have to make a conscious effort to interact with fellow teachers throughout the day.

While I have been warmly welcomed by my cooperating teacher, administrators and teachers in other departments, I have found it difficult to truly make any connections with fellow teachers within my own department.  I am finding this difficult to accept, as I generally feel that people respond and open up to me very quickly.  I acknowledge that, with EOC exams and a new upcoming semester, this is a stressful period for teachers and that as a student teacher I am likely viewed as someone that is merely passing through; yet I really want to fit in with the teachers and become a part of the team.  This has been a challenge for me over the past week.

I have always felt that food is an excellent way to warm people up to you, so I brought Krispy Kreme doughnuts in for the department teachers on Friday.  The department chair made it a point to come down to the room and ask my name -- no longer am I so-and-so's student teacher!

Lesson Learned:  Yet again, food proves to be the best way to people’s hearts!

The new semester begins on Tuesday which leaves me with a mixture of emotions.  I am very excited to finally have the opportunity to teach.  Aside from the one lesson I taught last semester, I have not yet had any actual teaching time.  Therefore, as one might guess, there is a certain degree of apprehension in my household this weekend.

Fear of failure is always present for me, yet it is this same fear that encourages me to strive for success.  I do believe that over the past three weeks my mind has covered most probable worst-case-scenarios and I have adequately prepared for them.  Classroom management is the main concern.  Though I do have a Classroom Management Plan in place, this plan is only theoretical as I have never actually put it into practice before.  One can never tell how they will react when an actual situation arises.  Therefore, I can only say that I shall keep you updated on my classroom management strategy!

Wish me luck… Tuesday is the big day!