Phew, you made it! After seven long semesters of tests, late night studying, group projects and lesson plans, you finally made it to student teaching. It wasn't easy, but you did it!
People may have rolled their eyes when you told them your major. Others may have laughed and wished you luck trying to find a job. Do they not see the passion in you? Clearly they have never witnessed the smile on your face after teaching a lesson to a room full of young students.
In these final days before teaching, you're probably reaching out to cooperating teachers, adding a few articles of clothing to your teacher wardrobe, preparing planners, and you might be feeling overwhelmed. OK, maybe that's a bit of an understatement. You are overwhelmed. There are moments of panic and times when you're excitedly skimming through rosters, bell schedules and lesson plans.
It's OK to be emotional! After all, it's like a test run for your first real job. But I just want you to remember this: you are not alone. You have a whole support system behind you. There will be times when you share success stories with fellow student teachers, and times when you will chat about the struggles you are trying to overcome. You will also have your professors as well. If you have a question, don't hesitate to ask for help. After all, that's what they are there for. And finally, you have your cooperating teacher. He or she will be there to guide you along the way and offer as much help as possible.
Know that it's OK to make mistakes. You most likely will make mistakes. But that's OK. You will learn from your mistakes. You're not going to know every student's name within the first few days. You're not going to know how to answer every single question. That's why you're here. Student teaching is a learning process to prepare you for the day you have a classroom all to yourself. So take advantage of this opportunity, and make the most of it.
Take a deep breath and embrace it. This is your last real chance at having a classroom with people to guide you along the way before you take on a real job. Try a variety of teaching methods, use new technology, and ask questions every day. The days will be long, the grading will seem never-ending, and the periods never quite long enough, but in the end, it will all be worth it when you see something click with your students. So don't give up. Never lose sight of the passion that drives you through this final semester.
Sincerely,
A fellow student teacher
