1. Be on the ball.
Stay on top of all the tasks you have to do. Plan ahead. Be prepared. Don’t let yourself fall behind - especially on grading… it will catch up with you and you will feel overwhelmed.
2. Connect with professionals in your building.
You can learn a lot just from observing other educators. Every teacher has a different style and watching different teaching styles can help you discover who you want to be as a teacher. Your cooperating teacher has a lot of knowledge and experience to share with you - pick his/her brain! When you are teaching young people, there are many adults they connect with (coaches, counselors, program coordinators, club sponsors) that can be essential in relating to your students - get to know them!
3. Build a support system.
Don’t go through the struggles and stresses of student teaching alone. Share the experience with fellow student teachers. Talk to your cooperating teacher - they know what you’re going through; they’ve been there before. Lean on your family and friends to keep you centered.
4. Don’t forget to have a life.
You can’t be the best you if you spend all of your time at a desk grading papers or in front of a computer planning your next lessons. Take time away from school work before you forget how to be a human outside of work. Spend time with loved ones. Find a hobby and stick with it.
5. Remember to refresh.
Just as with every part of life, it is important to stay refreshed. Take time for yourself. Netflix and chill with yourself. Go see a movie. Have a date night. Hike in the forest or run along the lakefront. Take time for a daily devotional.
6. Focus on the successes and learn from your mistakes.
There will be successes and failures - that is a given. There will be good days and bad days. Use this experience to learn and grow from the mistakes. Also remember to celebrate your successes. Those are the things that are going to remind you of why you want to be a teacher. Those are the things that will keep you going.
7. Keep your goal in mind.
Stay focused on the ultimate goal of student teaching - more than to just graduate and get a degree, but to prepare you for your years ahead in that profession. It's going to be rough finding your groove in this demanding vocation, but student teaching is a stepping stone to discovering yourself as a teacher.
