Out of all the course I have taken so far, I can honestly say that my Level 1 Internship really made the most impact on me. I did not have a positive experience with my supervising teacher and she did not allow me to do anything in the classroom. At first I thought that nothing positive could come out of my experience with my teacher and class but I think I learned what not to do in the classroom. The teacher I observed had NO control over her class and screamed at them all day, which got no responses from the students. The classroom was completely out of hand and the students did not get the attention and learning experience they should be getting in second grade. Observing this class and teacher really made me focus on my classroom management skills for the future and how to deal with another teacher that you do not necessarily get along with but have to work with. This teacher was also very unprofessional in that she would talk to me about teachers she did not like and about what the administration was doing that she didn't like. I was very uncomfortable and did not know if how I responded would effect how she treated me or how she would grade me in my observations. I hope my Level 2 will be a much better experience where I can learn what to do instead of what not to do.
2. I have not had a lot of opportunities to get experience because I played softball for my first 3 years here and it took up all my free time outside of school. The experiences I have had are with volunteering in my mothers classroom (first grade) and with being a consoler at the USF Softball camps over the summer which was with all ages from 7-16. I was most impacted by my time with the softball camps because it was a comfortable environment for me and it was easy for me to teach the subjects/tasks because it was something I was confident with because of all the background knowledge I had. I wish that I was more confident in certain subjects in my teaching abilities in the actual classroom. I am uneasy about math because I feel like it is not one of my strong points and I feel like that comes off to the students when I try to teach it. I hope to work on that when I get into the classroom this semester.
3. My expectations for this internship are to hopefully have a positive supervising teacher and a classroom where I can learn my strengths and weaknesses. I hope to improve my teaching abilities while learning from my teacher and peers on how to create engaging lessons and making a lasting impression on my students. My fear is that I will have another bad experience and have a really bad behaved class that I will have to spend more time reprimanding their behavior rather than teaching them the material. Lastly, my worst nightmare is that I have another supervising teacher that does not let me do anything and isn't a good support system for me when I am trying to learn.
4. Personally, the experiences that really stand out in my life are ones that are negative. I have only had a few teachers that I really enjoyed and learned from. These teachers all had the same qualities and really understood how to relate to their students while still keeping a professional barrier. These teachers were very fun and exciting to be around, they made me want to come to their class and made each class feel like it lasted 5 minutes because we never had time to be bored. I also really enjoyed these teachers because they taught their lessons with examples and real life situations that I really related to and paid attention to. I really felt comfortable in these teachers classrooms and never felt nervous to ask a question. I knew these teachers would be there to help me if I needed anything and liked that I could count on them. I wish I would have had more teachers like this when I was in elementary school but I didn't get a teacher that made this type of impact on my until I was in 7th grade.
I have heard a lot of people say the same things about their level one internships. It is great that you are looking at the positives and not the negatives of the experience. A lot of things can be teachable moments and this is one of the times that you have learned not from something good that someone has done but you have learned how you do not want to do things. Those moments can be just as important.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that you can do if you come across that again is hopefully model good management skills and the students will respond well to them. The teacher can then see that she would not have to be shouting at the students that there is a different way.
One thing that has helped me is to be successful remember confidence is key. Make sure to stay confident in what you are doing and it is okay to say that you don’t know the answer to something and that you will have to find it for them. It is also okay to ask the teacher if you are having trouble. This is the only way that you will learn and you will become more confident in your teaching.
I am sorry that you had a bad experience your first Internship. But like you said it was a learning experience because now you know what NOT to do inside your classroom. I think even in the midst of something bad you can always take something away from that experience. I am not sure what teachers feel they accomplish by yelling at the students. Do they feel self satisfaction to show the students whose boss and incharge? Just imagine...you felt uncomfortable and uneasy when you were observing a fellow mentor teacher that is to be a role model and good example yet she shows herself to almost dislike her job and only there because it is routine and mundane. Not really something you want to observe when this is going to be your future career.
ReplyDeleteI knew that you played sports but I did not know that you helped out with summer camp at USF. I think that is very awesome and gives you just as much experience with kids as sitting in a classroom reading a book or working on writing lessons. You got to interact with these students in an open atmosphere where you could see their personalities, likes, and dislikes. Just think one of these students that you coached during summer could possible be in your class at some point or another as one of your students. You can touch a students life wether it be on a softball field, in a sunday school class, in a classroom or at the local supermarket. Bring the softball experience in the classroom and apply the tools you already have!
It is funny how most people remember the bad or negative things that happen in our lives over the good things that happen. It sounds like the teachers who focues on time management and exercise practices in your classes growing up were great educators. I would have liked to hear a bad experiece you had and how it impacted you. I hope that in teaching we learn from our own experiences and identify with what to do and what not to do in our classroom.
I also am taking an overload of classes right now just so I can graduate next semester. So far it's all going good now just hoping it stays this way throughout the semester. I also can relate to your experience in the level one internship. My supervising teacher allowed me to do just what I was required to do. Most of the days I sat in the back of the classroom and tried staying awake.
ReplyDeleteAs far as gaining confidence in the subjects that you are unsure of, confidence will come with experience. The more we get to practice the better we will become at our fears. As for me English is my biggest fear. I love reading and consider myself decent at English, but I am very unsure as to what to the children. I feel as though there is so much that we are responsible for teaching our children that I would hate to miss something.
It is a coincidence that all your experiences, i have heard them before from my peers. I think that it is great that you can keep going and growing towards your professional goal as a teacher especially after all the negative impacts you have come across. I always say be positive no matter what because something good will always come out of it no matter what and you did that exact thing. You kept your head up high and knew that even though the teacher was not the best influence on your level I experience but showed you what you shouldn't do in the classroom and made you think of the different ways you can help your students to succeed. It is awful to hear all these experiences of how some teachers really feel. If they are unhappy with the job they are doing then they should find something else to do.
ReplyDeleteWaking up everyday and being excited to go and do what you do best, like us for instance, being a teacher and going to a classroom where you know your students are coming in to be with you for 7-8 hours a day to learn from you, you are touching their lives in a way no one else can. That is not a job, it's a love.
My level II now is just the same as your level I and unfortunately that is just how some teachers are. I definitely agree though with your experience that you will be able to manage and teach your class in a better more beneficial and successful way.
Everyone will always remember the negatives about their experiences, even though the good always outweighs the bad, you know that what you saw you will make it ten times better in your class. Keep your head up because you teaching experience will get better and better everyday, especially the days that those children start looking up to you because you take the time to get to know them and teach them.
When reading your experiences with children, one certain thing popped up at me. WHen you said you worked with children during summer camps teaching softball, this sounded very familar to me. I was a dance teacher for about six years and I loved working with the children of all ages especially because it was something I was so comfortable with. I felt that with all my background knowledge, I was a great teacher and I loved doing my job. I think we will both be fine when we are teaching our students in the classroom. We may not be playing softball or dancing, but we can take our experiences with these sports and use them to advantage in the classroom. Whats great is we both have had to manage children in a setting one way or another.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe you are taking 21 credits! You are crazy, but also very determined to graduate and get into a classroom to make a difference. You are dedicating much of your time to graduate and move on in your life. I wish I was a little bit more like that, but I have decided to just stick out until Fall to graduate!
As far as internship this semester, I think you will have a great experience and learn a lot. This may not be the most ideal school, but we can learn so much from good and bad behaviors of the faculty and staff. Most of all, we have each other to get through it! I know we are both in the 3rd grade classrooms, so we are on the same team, and we could always help each other out! I am excited and nervous at the same time about teaching my students, but only the best will come out of it!
You are a smart and dedicated girl and your students in the future are going to adore and look up to you so much. Good luck with your internship and I hope you have a great experience!
Wow! 21 credit hours is a lot to handle. Keep organized and and be efficient and you will do just fine. It also sounds like your Level 1 internship gave you a sneak peak in what not to do. Having classroom management skills is very important and can change the learning environment altogether. It must have been difficult to learn new teaching strategies, but at least it gave you some insight into what could happen if management were lacking. The only advice I can give you is to be confident and take control. I have heard teachers sarcastically say, "Don't smile until Christmas!" This is their way of being firm in the beginning and not letting students walk all over them.
ReplyDeleteI think your experience is quite beneficial to you. Having your mother as a teacher is a great resource. Also, being a counselor allowed you the opportunity to be a teacher in a different way. You probably had to coach or teach new skills in softball, just like you would in the classroom.
I highly agree with your expectations, as I would like to learn from my strengths and weaknesses as well. I hope things have changed for you this semester, so you can see the positive sides of education.
I definitely agree with your assessments of your favorite teachers. Mine were always fun and engaging, and I really learned a lot from them. That is exactly the teacher I would like to be; One who inspires my students to go into a teaching profession. Good luck with everything this semester and take as much with you as you possibly can!
That stinks that you have had all of of those bad experiences but like you said bad experiences help you understand what not to do in your future classroom. Those experiences have definitely made you a stronger teacher.
ReplyDeleteAs for teaching experiences that's good that you were not confident in all subjects yet since it was just you level one internship you have more time to develop your confidence in the subjects you struggle in. I have had pretty good experiences with my internships so I was able to get help with my confidence but as for you, you were basically on your own because of the supervising teacher.
I agree with you with the your favorite teachers being exciting being a good factor because I think teachers should be exciting when they teach so that they can make learning fun. Teachers that are fun and exciting will always have the attention of their students.
Sometimes having a horrible teacher as the supervising teacher can show you what you do not want to do. I feel that you may have had a bad experience with the teacher, but she showed you a lot of "how to's" of not handling a classroom. And those can be the most valuable lessons because they can stick with you longest.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wish I would have had time for things such as softball or taking more time to volunteer with children. I had to work full time in order to keep my head above water. I feel that your choice of playing softball was a valuable one!
I feel that your goals for this internship are logical. On the other hand, having another horrible teacher can either show you things that you already know not to do, or it can show you even more bad examples of things you will not want to do. Never be afraid of what is to come. Even though when I do not know what to expect it tends to worry me, but I have to let it go and embrace what is coming.
I find it interesting that you say the negative experiences with teachers are the ones that stick out the most. It sends a message that teachers want to not be the one leaving a negative impact on a child. Even though all teachers want to be remember, sometimes not being remembered can be the best thing!
Kendall,
ReplyDeleteYour experiences seem to follow the protocol from other students, and that is unfortunate. However, I love the positive attitude you are demonstrating with your internship experiences. Every experience is a learning moment and it sounds as if you are looking for the best from the situation. That is the way to view it, take what you can from your experience and leave the rest.
Mr. B
Kendall,
ReplyDeleteI understand how stressful this semester must be for you! I am taking a lot of the classes you are taking now too. I have heard that a lot of our peers had a negative experience for their level one. It makes it hard to be positive about your level 2. I hope this one is going better for you with a new teacher and a new school environment. I had a great experience for my level one; I hope you get to experience this in your level two! It is also really neat that you played softball for USF! It must be a great help that your mom is also a teacher. Does she help you out with your classes?