So, after a good and healthy summer I am back in the student teaching saddle again. This time round I was place in a High School not too far from where I live and campus. It serves about 1200 students and is grade 9-12.
So far it has been really great. The staff here seem to get along well with each other and the students and there is a sense of purposeful camaraderie that makes the environment a good one to learn and practice in. I have met many of the teachers and staff and virtually all have been very welcoming and eager to help the student teachers.
I currently am student teaching under two teachers for History (Juniors) and Government (Seniors). One of my teacher has never had a student teacher (though I would never have been able to tell as she has it down pat) while the other has been teaching for nearly 30 years and has many. They both have very different styles. So far this has been great as I get a lot of bang for the buck, as they say, each and every day.
I took one week to observe and this past Monday have jumped in and have been teaching. High School is both different and the same. Students are older, more aware of each other, and can pick things up more quickly but I have noted that the early effort of making relationships, going to functions and meeting them more than half way is still a key component (and well, let's face it, I wouldn't be here if I didn't really enjoy working with students). They still want to see you care it just seems that you maybe demonstrate in different ways.
First week is done and as I get the feel of it all I am getting amped up and excited to practice my skills and implement some of the things I am interested in (like Technology, students as historical detectives, and effective writing) into the curriculum. I am fortunate in that both Master teachers are both very open to new things but realize I am still learning and aren't going to be afraid to say "that doesn't seem to be working".
Can't wait to get there every morning so...so far so good.
As for school school- my school that is (University of San Diego) after a the all encompassing PACT requirement of last semester we are now combining our student teaching with Action Research. In truth I am looking forward to engaging in this project this year. One of my interests is technology in education. Its just one of those things that is going to inevitably grow and grow, and for good reason. Each year the students that are coming up through the ranks are more proficient in our current types of technology than the ones they followed. It is, in fact, part of a large part of most of their lives outside of class; an interest for many if not most they have outside of class. I have said in past blogs that I think that technology has both pros and cons but, truthfully, at the end of the day it is a tool and will be what one makes of it. Over the last couple of years I have seen some amazing educational tools (and some not so great) presented and in my AR would like to see if I can increase long term learning, engagement, and interest by including tech with innovative ways of teaching the subject of History. I'd like to try and combine tech with having them learn how history is researched, understood, and ultimately given to the public. I'd like them to possibly try to work like a historian themselves (focusing on improving their writing if possible) and I would like them to do so using the tools they are going to have present when they need it in the near future.
So far it has been really great. The staff here seem to get along well with each other and the students and there is a sense of purposeful camaraderie that makes the environment a good one to learn and practice in. I have met many of the teachers and staff and virtually all have been very welcoming and eager to help the student teachers.
I currently am student teaching under two teachers for History (Juniors) and Government (Seniors). One of my teacher has never had a student teacher (though I would never have been able to tell as she has it down pat) while the other has been teaching for nearly 30 years and has many. They both have very different styles. So far this has been great as I get a lot of bang for the buck, as they say, each and every day.
I took one week to observe and this past Monday have jumped in and have been teaching. High School is both different and the same. Students are older, more aware of each other, and can pick things up more quickly but I have noted that the early effort of making relationships, going to functions and meeting them more than half way is still a key component (and well, let's face it, I wouldn't be here if I didn't really enjoy working with students). They still want to see you care it just seems that you maybe demonstrate in different ways.
First week is done and as I get the feel of it all I am getting amped up and excited to practice my skills and implement some of the things I am interested in (like Technology, students as historical detectives, and effective writing) into the curriculum. I am fortunate in that both Master teachers are both very open to new things but realize I am still learning and aren't going to be afraid to say "that doesn't seem to be working".
Can't wait to get there every morning so...so far so good.
As for school school- my school that is (University of San Diego) after a the all encompassing PACT requirement of last semester we are now combining our student teaching with Action Research. In truth I am looking forward to engaging in this project this year. One of my interests is technology in education. Its just one of those things that is going to inevitably grow and grow, and for good reason. Each year the students that are coming up through the ranks are more proficient in our current types of technology than the ones they followed. It is, in fact, part of a large part of most of their lives outside of class; an interest for many if not most they have outside of class. I have said in past blogs that I think that technology has both pros and cons but, truthfully, at the end of the day it is a tool and will be what one makes of it. Over the last couple of years I have seen some amazing educational tools (and some not so great) presented and in my AR would like to see if I can increase long term learning, engagement, and interest by including tech with innovative ways of teaching the subject of History. I'd like to try and combine tech with having them learn how history is researched, understood, and ultimately given to the public. I'd like them to possibly try to work like a historian themselves (focusing on improving their writing if possible) and I would like them to do so using the tools they are going to have present when they need it in the near future.