This week concluded my student teaching internship. It was really emotional to see the student's faces when they were told that this was my last week. Many of them asked if I could come back next year to teach, most were upset that I was not going to be there for them to pick on and have fun with. I reassured them that I will see them at the banquet and to not do anything sneaking to me when I am there.
Looking back over the entire experience, I learned that I can make it through some very stressful and seemingly impossible situations. Student teaching is meant to give a college student the full experience of what a first year agriculture teacher would experience. Saying that, all of the planning, organizing, and executing of plans is only half the battle when you have a very active program. You must also plan trips, prepare students for events, and plan fundraising that is currently happening and in the future. I believe that this experience should have a time investment of 100% (or very close) to get the most out of the experience. A new teacher should have the passion to continue and the push for a stronger program. If a teacher does not have the passion, the investment will be lacking and the push for a stronger program will be non existent. Therefore, passion for teaching is needed to make it through stressful times as well as pleasant times. My experience at Big Spring High School had both pleasant and unpleasant times, however, I feel that I have grown through the entire experience. I am more precise with what I am doing, and focused on what I need to get done and how it should be.
I think the area in which I have expanded the most in teaching is building a connection with the students and developing my questioning techniques in classroom discussion. At first, I was very particular with what I said with the students in fear of crossing unknown lines. Yes, it is safe, however, the students view you as a robot without emotions. After several weeks, I began to make jokes and have fun with them. This all started after ACES when my goal was to get all of the students out on the dance floor instead of sitting around. From that point on, the students were always coming to me for advice and a laugh.
If I had to give one word of advice for those who are about to student teach, plan ahead as far as you can, you never know what will happen out side of teaching that will impact your planning and teaching. I felt that I had a good week of planning ahead of my class and sometimes I was at 2 weeks. However, that all came crashing down when I had to start taking on more responsibilities with the family business due to unforeseen circumstances. As a result, I was planning for the end of the week instead of the end of next week. This way is extremely frustrating and nerve racking with the stress of having everything ready for the students. Therefore, PLAN AHEAD as far as YOUR CALENDAR allows you.
I am happy to have the experience behind me, however, I will miss making students smile when they are having a tough day or feeling uneasy about an exam. Either way, I really enjoyed making students happy and confident in what they knew.
The one thing that will stick with me forever from this experience is when I asked my cooperating teacher if teaching has influenced how she raises her children. She replied "Many of the students come from a home life where they are not the main concern or are seen as a negative part of the family. So I try to never do work when my children are awake. I give all of my time to them when they are awake, all of my work is done when they are asleep so that I can devote everything to them." I feel that if I do not teach in the future, I will understand how to show my children the love that I have for them so that they will not have to endure some of the feelings that others have to.
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