It’s a way too common misconception that education majors have it easy in college. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard someone say, “you just come up with fun games and stuff, right?” or one of my favorites, “what’s your homework? Coloring?” I’d be rich. But little do the other majors know, education is one of the most demanding majors on campus. Not only are we responsible for knowing the content, but also knowing the perfect ways to teach that content to students. We need to be able to create meaningful and engaging lesson plans with objectives that reach high levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, meet the diverse needs of each student, use proper accommodations and adaptations for students who need them, learn classroom management skills, create unit plans, curriculums, and so much more. So by the time we reach the end of the semester, we’re beat. If you’re an education major, you’ve thought these things a time or two by the end of the semester.
1. What is my objective? Who even knows at this point.
You typed “the student will be able to” ten minutes ago. Since then, you’ve been staring at a Bloom’s Taxonomy chart.
2. Is this objective measurable enough?
So now you’ve come up with an objective, but does it make sense? Can you actually measure if the student will be able to do that? You’ve been staring at your lesson plan for too long… send help.
3. We’re doing it for the kids… We’re doing it for the kids…
It’s hard staying up till 3 AM making a unit plan, but one day you’ll have a classroom full of kids that will make it all worth it!
4. Which theorist do I like, again?
“Please explain your teaching philosophy and how it relates to the work of an educational theorist.” Yeah, okay.
5. I don’t have time for this *insert non-ed class here* homework, I have a lesson plans to write!
General education classes start to seem like a waste of time when you have actual major-related work that needs done.
6. Can I put that on my resume?
Anything to make yourself more marketable to school districts.
7. Can’t I just go do another observation instead?
I’d rather watch a first-grade class do math than take this cumulative Child Development final.
8. Hang on, I’ll look on Pinterest.
When it comes to creative ideas, Pinterest is our savior.
9. Is it time to student teach yet?
It’s so close, yet so far away.
