Coming into my last semester of college, I had no idea what to expect when I began my student teaching placement. I went in my first day extremely anxious and nervous. What if my students hated me? What if I didn't get along with my co-op? But after spending over a month in the 6th grade Middle School classroom I was placed in, I can definitely tell you that there are multiple reasons why student teaching sucks.
1. You are the one who has to teach the class what they know
It is a lot of pressure being the one in charge of your young students' minds. What you teach them in your last semester of college is a building block for them to complete the rest of their education. There is the constant fear that you aren't teaching them well enough. But there are those moments when you see their face light up and you know you did something right. An even better moment is when they run up to you and tell you something they found out during research and you know you were able to make them care about the subject.
2. The students interrupt lessons to ask about your life
"What's your favorite color?" "What kind of car do you drive?" "Do you have any pets?" My students quiz me about my life daily. It's extremely weird to me that they care enough to ask what I do outside of teaching them. And even weirder, they remember.
3. Classes just aren't long enough
My students love talking. They are some of the most discussion oriented 6th graders I have ever met. Each block I teach is only 62 minutes long. It is always painful to interrupt an incredible discussion they are having with one another to move on to a new topic. I love seeing how excited they get. Sometimes when they bell rings, they collectively groan because we have to stop talking. After counting down the minutes until class was dismissed all through my years in school, I never thought I would be wishing for more time.
4. Your kids become your best friends
I never thought I would become so close with my students. My friends are sick of me talking about them and make fun of me saying that my only friends are 6th graders. It is always an adventure with my class. They do the craziest, funniest things everyday, how can I not talk about them constantly?
5. You have to leave them
Every Tuesday I have to leave my last block early to attend the class at my college that coincides with your student teaching. Every Tuesday my kids get upset that I have to leave. I am already dreading May 5th. It is the last day of my student teaching. When I told my students I wouldn't be with them until the end of their school year, they got upset and told me I should get a job as a 7th grade teacher so they can have me again next year. I have never been so flattered in my life.
6. This experience will end
This is the most sucky thing of all.
Maybe I've just been blessed with a great group of kids, but my experience student teaching thus far has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I love my kids, I love the school that I am at, and I am loving my career choice more and more every day.
