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Student Teaching Experience Reflection
My student teaching experience was, by far, the most challenging learning
experiences in my life. As a high achieving and successful student, school has always been
easy for me. From primary school through college, A’s were never uncommon. I finish
projects, papers and large amounts of reading without breaking a sweat. I was often given
awards and distinctions. I felt so comfortable in my achievements, I thought I knew what a
good teacher was. I have passed judgment on past teachers; I have even criticized my them.
However, it was not until this past semester that I had realized that I had no idea what
teaching is. I never knew just how many expectations were on teachers. In one person,
teachers must be coaches, they must be counselors, they must be experts of their content,
and, when necessary, they must be police officers and judges. Through it all, teachers must
be the models of a moral, empathetic and democratic citizen. If real education occurs when
we struggle, it was not until this past semester that I was truly educated.
I learned a great deal in the student teaching process. I have learned to hone my
organization skills, to speak more clearly and concisely, I have learned to plan, I have
learned to plan a back up plan, and I have learned to manage and use time (the most elusive
of all resources) wisely. Some of these skills I learned quickly and executed well. One area
that I excelled at was my ability to over plan, organize lessons and materials. These skills
were great assets through out the semester and they helped carry me through more
challenging lessons. Other things that went well included the rapport I developed with both
my mentor teachers. Mr. Ross Wilbur and Mr. Doug Gordon are kind, giving men that have
supported me every day of this past semester. They modeled for me how beneficial building
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relationships can be. I am thankful that despite the challenges of student teaching, I had
two incredible teachers to guide me and support me. My two excellent mentor teachers as
well as my organization and planning skills made the difference for my student teaching
experience.
While I was successful in some areas, the most relevant lessons I learned are those
that I was not immediately successful at. Most importantly, I learned that successful
teachers allow their students to get to know them. I know the importance of doing so
because I did not always let students get to know me. Because of some of my failings in
classroom management, I put up my guard with some of my classes. I rarely laughed with
these groups and I tried to behave as much like a teacher rather than teach like myself.
These classes, as a result, continued to create classroom management problems.
Meanwhile, in a couple of other classes, I allowed students to know me as a person as well
as their teacher. I laughed daily with them, I told them about my family and shared my
aspirations and feelings with them. The classes that saw this side of me were the same
classes that posed fewer classroom management problems. Many of the students in these
classes were also among my highest performing and most dedicated students. For example,
during my last unit, I held ELO review sessions before a test. All of the students that
attended were the same students that had gotten to know me. I had only one student from
other classes attend. If I could do student teaching over again, I would work harder to allow
all my students to get to know me as well as work to maintain that openness even after
difficult days. Teaching really is a practice in vulnerability and strength. I hope I can be
strong enough to allow students to see what I tried to hide for man this past semester in
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order to create a richer, easier learning environment in the future.
Student teaching is the most challenging experience I have had thus far. Where being
a student was easy, teaching was an entirely different endeavor. It has forced me to use
every skill in my arsenal. Through arduous work, it has sharpened my skills in planning and
organization. However, it has also made me to struggle to see the more important lessons. I
know now just how important relationship building is. With the students that I have felt
comfortable with, I have seen them achieve and learn more as a result. With others, I have
seen how the lack of a connection has disengaged them and hurt their learning. In the
future, when I have a classroom of my own, I hope to remember that, especially after the
difficult days. Teaching truly is built on the relationships teachers build with students.
When we get to know our students and students get to know us, that is when true learning,
caring and growing can happen. In whatever endeavor I pursue in the future, that is one
lesson I will always carry with me.
