As a bright-eyed college education major, I have spent many Thursday mornings walking in the cold across campus to the Education Building. When I tell people that I need to be awake at 6 AM, 6:20 at the latest, to go into a classroom and watch a teacher do their thing and help out, they give me a look of terror. "You poor thing! That sucks" is a response that I seem to get every time. Yes, sleeping is awesome and I treasure it as much as the next guy, but no, it does not suck. I spend two and a half hours a week in the "tutorial mode" of my future career and that is awesome. I have compiled a list of what my experience in the teaching field has taught me.
1. Be flexible.
One day you are grading quizzes, the next you are putting up a bulletin board or making copies for the week. The best thing you can do is to be open to do anything. You are there to learn how to be a teacher and everything you are doing includes aspects of what a teacher does. Have a good outlook on whatever comes your way and you will make the most of your field placement.
2. Be awake.
Yes, it is early. Yes, you should still be sleeping. No, you should not show that you are tired. Do whatever you have to do make it through until your next nap. Caffeine can work miracles, I promise you that.
3. Talk to your students.
Your students are fascinating people. If they are wearing a sports jersey, ask them about it. Something I have noticed about middle schoolers especially is that they tend to wear what they like so it makes it really easy to ask them questions to get to know them. Also, sports are a really easy topic to talk about with students. If you get to know them, they will, most likely, be more responsive when you try to help them.
4. Ask questions.
Your cooperating teacher is not out to get you. They want you to succeed and to become the best teacher you can or they would not have signed up to get a student come in. Asking questions is awesome for you to get first hand teacher knowledge from an expert who has been through it.
5. Wear comfortable clothing.
I feel like this one should be self-explanatory. I learned the hard way that heels are cute, but very hard to wear for field. Wear something professional, but you can still move around in.
6. Be active.
Take an active role in the classroom. Walk around and see if the students need help. Answer questions. Don't just sit there and waste your time and your cooperating teacher's time. If you aren't doing something, you aren't getting better.
7. Have a good outlook on everything.
Do you want to spend an hour making copies? Probably not, but you are learning how to be a teacher and hours at the copier are included. This point kind of goes along with my first one about being flexible, so all I'm going to say is to take everything that comes your way with a smile.
8. Learn how the copier works.
Learning how to work the copier is key because you might need to know how to work it and if you figure it out, then it makes your life so much easier. You may spend some time there, but you will always need to learn how to
9. Realize that you are a teacher too.
You are not a student being taught by a teacher. You are partially a teacher. You are an adult to these students. They will call you "Miss" or "Mr." and you won't know what to do with that because you are still a teenager, but it is a cool feeling. Field Placement is just one step to finally becoming the teacher that you want to be and you will probably have the most fun with it. And someday, you will have your own classroom with students with minds to fill. Be patient.
