How to Succeed in Student Teaching
68A Five-Step Guide to an 'A' in Student Teaching
How I Know...
I teach a Kindergarten class now and have taught upper elementary school students in the past through co-teaching. I graduated from college magna cum laude, certified in both elementary and special education.
And, yes, I did receive an A for student teaching.
5. Develop a Rapport with Students, Your Cooperating Teacher, and, if possible, Parents
Communication is KEY!
Most importantly, get to know each student, their interests, strengths, and areas for improvement. Learn how to help them, because even as a student teacher, you can make a difference.
4. Keep a Log or Journal
Not a diary or what movie you want to see.
A record of effective strategies or any lessons you feel are worth remembering for the future. You may think you'll be able to store all those tips in your memory, and maybe you can, but it never hurts to write it down just to be safe.
A Teacher's Journal
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3. Learn Keywords and Phrases for Education
Some examples of common terms for teachers include:
- learning styles, such as VAKT
- manipulatives
- instructional time
- formative and informative assessment
- IEP, FBA, BIP (just to name three of the many acronyms for special education)
If any of these sound foreign to you... LOOK THEM UP!
2. Begin Developing Behavior and Classroom Management Plans
Yes, these are separate areas. Here's how...
- Classroom Management Plans - Involve desk arrangements and possibly classroom rules
- Behavior Management Plans - Focus on how to positively reinforce appropriate behaviors while reducing inappropriate behaviors
Learn from your mentors, whether they are actual cooperating teachers, or other teachers in the school, professors, former teachers, or supervisors. Let them help you.
Without appropriate behaviors in the classroom, a teacher cannot truly teach.
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1. Write Effective Lesson Plans
Certain schools require different lesson plan formats, but bottom line, any lesson plan needs the following:
- Objective - What your students will learn from the lesson.
- Anticipatory Set or a Motivator - How you will engage the students in your lesson.
- Procedure, or Steps for Teaching the Lesson - What your students will be DOING and what is your involvement
- Adaptations - If any student in your class has special needs, or any students need adjustments made, this is where you record what will need to be modified.
- Closure - Wrap it up and explain how you will bring it to a close.
- Assessment - How you will know the students have actually learned something.
Now, go on your journey to be a teacher!
* Created December 2, 2010 KG
For more on creating effective lesson plans...
- How to Write a Lesson Plan
Here I will take you through all of the key parts to a lesson plan by SHOWING you an example of a Language Arts lesson plan that was effective (and helped to earn me that A in Student Teaching!)
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I remember student teachers coming to our class. They did not seem much older then ourselves. It can be quite intimidating for a new teacher.
Hopefully this hub will help all those student teachers out there - Thanks for your comments!
I really agree with your tips here. I had quite a student teaching experience myself. All of these tips are helpful. What I really had to keep in mind is that everything looks good on paper. Actually doing it is not as easy as typing it up, and just because you know what you are supposed to do doesn't mean you can actually do it or make it work the first time. So don't get discouraged if it takes a while to get the hang of anything, and definitely let people help you, just like Kristen says.
Great tips. I think that new/student teachers also need to know that your first few years can be tough and there is a learning curve. Be positive, know your content, and don't be afraid to ask lots of questions.
Good hub. I like USC Rossier. A fine institution.
DREAM ON Level 7 Commenter 17 months ago
It is funny how the teachers in are life helped so much but we never get to thank them since we move on but the lessons they taught to us live on.