10 Things to Remember When Student Teaching

by Rivette Pena

Student teaching is exciting and scary all rolled into one. This opportunity is something you shouldn’t take for granted. You will gain only as much as you put in.

I’ve compiled 10 things for you to remember while going taking this journey.

1. Good Impressions

Make a good impression on your mentor teacher and the administration at your hosting campus. At the end of your time there, you can ask for a letter of recommendation. At the end of my time at my host school, I asked my mentor teacher and the principal. The principal told me he had never written one for a student teacher before but he was so impressed with me he wrote one and asked me to apply with the district. Good impressions are important.

Remember on time is late, be early. Report daily because your days are numbered. Always be prepared.

2. Be Approachable

Be genuine and welcoming. Wear a smile as often as you can. It will be easier to warm up to your mentor and students. Show your students kindness and respect. A student will work their hardest for a teacher they love. Treat your class like family.

Befriend the office staff and the custodians. You don’t know how much power they really hold. They are the glue that holds the school together.

3. Be Open

Be open to constructive criticism. Don’t let it hurt your feelings. Grow from it. If you burst into tears or become angry, your mentor teacher may not offer you anymore advice.

Ask questions and listen to the answers. You are lucky enough to have a mentor teacher all to yourself. Use their knowledge, their goal is to help you become the best you can be. Take advantage.

If you make mistakes, own it and learn from it. How would your mentor have handled the same situation?

4. Collaboration

Build a network of support by collaborating with other teachers, staff members, and administrators within your school community. Make your presence known. Build those relationships by showing initiative, offering ideas and standing out. Be memorable.

5. Be Professional

You may not be getting paid but you are a teacher. Dress professionally. Be the best dressed person there. It’s all about being noticed. No short skirts, tight pants or low cut blouses. No torn jeans or ratty tennis shoes. This is a professional setting dress accordingly. If there is even a remote chance you may show your undergarments...change your outfit. Remember you will be on your feet all day so high heels, tight shoes or bulky boots may not be the most comfortable. Buy a school shirt so that when Fridays roll around you can show your spirit. Just because it is jean day doesn’t mean you have to go for comfort. Pair it with nice professional leisure wear.

What happens in the classroom, stays in the classroom. Respect confidentiality. You are a professional you will be expected to keep student information to yourself. No sharing student, parent or teacher information. No gossiping about teachers or students in the teachers lounge. Do not get sucked in. Even if everyone in the group is doing it. You don’t.

6. Know Your Students

Learn their names. Know something about each one. Connect with each student daily. Read their IEP’s know their labels. Watch the way your students interact. In and out of the classroom.

Use your collected information to offer choices and be flexible in your planning. Get in there and interact with your students. When someone walks in the room, make it difficult to find you. Be in the mix with the kids at their level. Not separate away at a table/desk in the corner watching.

7. Establish a Relationship with Your Parents

Parents want to know how their kids are doing. They don’t want to only hear from you when their kid is messing up or getting into trouble. Let them celebrate their child’s successes as well. Drop them a note, an email or a phone call. Don’t overstep, clear it with your mentor teacher first.

8. Treat Each Day Like You’re Being Observed

You are on stage. You have the spotlight. Make it count. Show your mentor teacher or observer how much you deserve to be a teacher. Make them want to hire you. Show your initiative. Be creative in your lesson planning. Be prepared to answer questions about your lesson.

If it is early in the term and you feel like you have nothing to do, jump in and help with students. Show you are ready and willing to be a teacher. Kids don’t always look for help, look around and find someone who is struggling. Pass out papers, supplies and materials.

9. Highlight yourself

You have an opportunity to build a portfolio. Keep lesson plans, student products, reflections and suggestions for next time. Take pictures of you working with students (no student faces).

Record a lesson. Sell yourself. Collect as much evidence as you can to prove to others that you were made for this job. Impress a future employer.

10. Take Care of Yourself

This is going to be a grueling time for you. Long hours of unpaid work. If you are lucky, you don’t have a paying job to get too. However, many student teachers have jobs as well. It is what it is, if you have to work make every moment count.

Eat healthy and regularly. Pack your lunches. Get sleep. You will not make it without sleep. Stay healthy so you don’t have to miss any work.

You’ve got this. Enjoy every moment because it can go by quickly.