Questions for teachers/pre-service teachers

[Marseeya]

I have some questions about student teaching.

I'm applying now for my student teaching for next fall, and I just found out that we can't student teach where we graduated from high school. Have any of you ever heard of this, and do you know why? That's really upsetting to me, because I graduated over 20 years ago and the school's administration from the 80s is long gone, and the curriculum has changed drastically. They usually give priority in hiring to teachers who student taught in the district. Aside from that, I can't be driving all over the boonies just to student teach -- #1 gas costs would kill us, and #2 I need to be available to my kids before & after school, especially my son who has frequent doctor's appointments. Not to mention, I want to be on the same vacation schedule as them.

Also, what is student teaching like? Do we come in with our own lesson plans/units to teach? Or do we teach what the teacher has already prepared? Do we just observe for a while? It's been so long since I was in school, I don't remember what they did!

Anything else I'm not thinking of?

Thanks!

 

[believe]

I student taught...10 years ago. I was able to teach at my elementary school. I was told by the teacher what 'themes' or principles she wanted to cover, but I was free to cover them how I wanted...as long as they were taught. Not sure how it is today since I don't teach.

 

[kasar]

If that was true around here there wouldn't be any teachers in the schools. Seriously.

I've never heard of such a rule. It's a seems a little unrealistic - someone must have messed it up for everyone at some point.

 

[SDFgirl]

I'm student teachging right now.

For the first week, you just observe the teacher and help out when needed. When I was student teaching in the second grade, the help was needed a lot. Now that I'm in the fifth grade, not so much.

Then, you start taking over lessons. I started with an hour a day and gradually worked my way up from there. The teachers tell you what they want you to teach, but the lessons are up to you. Because the students are in a routine, however, of what kinds of lessons are taught, I think it's better if you teach the same kinds of lesson plans as the teacher. And then every once in a while, bring out something new and exciting, especially if you're being observed. But I would teach some of the "regular" lessons before you do that, or the kids will go crazy. Don't worry, the teacher and the text will really help you out a lot.

 

[golfgal]

We couldn't student teach at our high schools either. If you think about it most student teachers would have graduated only 4 years earlier and most of their teachers would still be there. In your case, they might make an exception because of the time span from when you graduated until now.

You will need to come up with your own lesson plans. That is really the main reason for student teaching, to learn how to teach. You will have some observation time, maybe a week, then you will gradually take of the classes. You will be expected to do everything a teacher does, calling home to parents about students, conducting parent/teacher conferences, attending workshops, etc.

 

[Marseeya]

Thanks for the insight, guys! I don't start until next fall and I'm really worried about it for some reason. It's not being in front of the kids that worries me, but working under a teacher (especially since she'll probably be younger than me ) and being observed. That's nerve wracking!

 

[daisyduck123]

In my county, student teachers never have to come up with their own lesson plans in L. Arts or Math. . We have a day-to-day pacing guide for both subjects & there is not much time for extras. We are provided with plans telling us what we have to cover each day & how to teach it, in elementary school anyway.

 

[barkley]

i student taught years ago but i have a couple of nephews doing it currently. when i student taught it was preferred that you taught 1/2 semester in one school district, 1/2 in another. the high school student teachers in my graduating class were very limited as to where they could student teach because as high school teaching candidates they were pursuing "single subject credentials" and there was a very limited number of "master teachers" who could have these student teachers in their classrooms (the school districts and the university wanted the teachers overseeing the student teachers to have specific training and insight to better work with them, the teachers that got the training necessary for this became "master teachers" and received a very small stipend during our student teaching time).

i'm a bit concerned that you may be unrealistic about taking/picking up your children from school-both when and i student taught, and now with my nephews (as well as student teachers that have been at my daughter's school) there was the requirement that they arrive 1 hour prior to the beginning of class, leave 1 hour following the end of class (and later if there were facutly meetings, conferences...).

 

[Marseeya]

i'm a bit concerned that you may be unrealistic about taking/picking up your children from school-both when and i student taught, and now with my nephews (as well as student teachers that have been at my daughter's school) there was the requirement that they arrive 1 hour prior to the beginning of class, leave 1 hour following the end of class (and later if there were facutly meetings, conferences...).

No, I'm not worried about picking them up and dropping them off. I've got that covered already. But that one hour before and one hour after isn't that way in our district. I have a friend who teaches and I know she gets home before 4:00 and that's by her choice to stick around that long. She doesn't arrive at the school until 15 minutes before the start of class, and I see elementary teachers arriving when I drop my DD off at the elementary school.

What really worries me more than anything is the scheduling with my son. I don't know how they'd feel about a student teacher who has to leave for frequent doctor's visits for her child, PLUS I'm constantly in his school meeting with counselors, principals, or teachers. My son is actually a full time job. It wouldn't be nearly as big of a problem if I was in the same district. Same days off, being right there in the same town. What would take up a couple of hours if I were in a different town would only take up to 45 minutes in the same town (his doctor is half a block from his school!). I'm sure that's way more doable for the school district. And meeting with the staff... I'd be right there, so what might take an hour if I had to travel would only take maybe 10 minutes in this town.

And personally I don't see what the problem is. It's not like I'm fighting to be in the school district the university is located in -- I'm actually in another town altogether (which you could figure out from my profile info ). So there's not going to be a lot of requests to be in this school. It's just that stupid rule of not being able to student teach where you went to school. I understand it for the kids who are in their early 20s and had just graduated, but for crying out loud, I graduated in 85. Surely it wouldn't be a major stretch for them to make an exception. I'll be really upset if they won't.

If I could, I'd honestly wait until my son was done in school before I did this, but I can't. My student loans will come due as soon as I finish school and my salary is going to pay for those, plus everyone else's loans. Yippee.

My goal is to sub when I graduate (we have to be certified to sub here) so that I'll have the flexibility when I need it. Then after my son finishes school, I'll go for a full-time position.

 

[Marseeya]

In my county, student teachers never have to come up with their own lesson plans in L. Arts or Math. . We have a day-to-day pacing guide for both subjects & there is not much time for extras. We are provided with plans telling us what we have to cover each day & how to teach it, in elementary school anyway.

It sounds as if it's different for everyone. That's one of the things I'm most nervous about. I've only actually written a few lesson plans -- if you can believe it, my school doesn't really teach how to do that very well. They're more focused on theory and philosophy. Real helpful in the classroom, right?

 

[Cindy B]

A coworker of mine was student teaching as well this semester, and it was preferable but not required that she would not be in the same district as she formerly was.

She was a younger person, only 23, and she DID NOT get her same district.

I also would worry about scheduling with your kids. I will be in the same boat, and I am going to attempt to student teach as my kids are in upper grades and can get off the bus/get on the bus with minimal supervison. (At this point they would be in 9th and 7th grades). I would also try for student teaching at the end of the year so my kids schedules can be established.

 

[Marseeya]

A coworker of mine was student teaching as well this semester, and it was preferable but not required that she would not be in the same district as she formerly was.

She was a younger person, only 23, and she DID NOT get her same district.

I also would worry about scheduling with your kids. I will be in the same boat, and I am going to attempt to student teach as my kids are in upper grades and can get off the bus/get on the bus with minimal supervison. (At this point they would be in 9th and 7th grades). I would also try for student teaching at the end of the year so my kids schedules can be established.

Good luck getting the school you want! I hadn't thought of doing it at the end of the year as opposed to the beginning. That's a good idea.

 

[golfgal]

Frequently missing classes, etc. will be frowned upon when you are student teaching. Remember you are being graded for what you are doing, not necessarily A, B, C but you will be getting recommendations in your file from your cooperating teachers and if they put a letter in there that says you are frequently absent, you can pretty much forget getting any kind of job. You are going to have to try to schedule as much of his stuff after school or on school vacations.

 

[Marseeya]

Frequently missing classes, etc. will be frowned upon when you are student teaching. Remember you are being graded for what you are doing, not necessarily A, B, C but you will be getting recommendations in your file from your cooperating teachers and if they put a letter in there that says you are frequently absent, you can pretty much forget getting any kind of job. You are going to have to try to schedule as much of his stuff after school or on school vacations.

Which is exactly why I want to be in the same district. I'd be able to schedule them on our days off, or during lunch or other planning periods. As I said, the office is less than a block from the school. I could only schedule them after school if I didn't have to drive out in the boonies every day.

As for not getting a job because of something like that, isn't that illegal? Especially in a school district -- can you imagine how bad that would look for them if a parent is doing the best they can by a child and then they can't get a job because of it?

Regardless, that's why I want to sub until he's finished with school.

 

[golfgal]

Which is exactly why I want to be in the same district. I'd be able to schedule them on our days off, or during lunch or other planning periods. As I said, the office is less than a block from the school. I could only schedule them after school if I didn't have to drive out in the boonies every day.

As for not getting a job because of something like that, isn't that illegal? Especially in a school district -- can you imagine how bad that would look for them if a parent is doing the best they can by a child and then they can't get a job because of it?

Regardless, that's why I want to sub until he's finished with school.

No, it is perfectly legal to not hire someone that doesn't have a good attendance record and it is also legal to fire someone for repeated absences. You can't not hire/fire someone for things like sex, color creed, things they can't control basically. You can control whether you are at work or not.

Substitute teaching isn't as flexible as you may think. Yes, you can say no when they call but if you say no too many time, they won't call you anymore.

 

[daisyduck123]

Requirements vary depending upon where you live. When I student taught, back 1989, I student taught both semesters in the elementary school where I attended from K-6, with many of my former teachers who were still teaching there. The principal even pulled me from my 2nd student teaching assignment to go back to the first class I had been with & be the long-term sub for the rest of the year, because the students already knew me, I'd done a good job, & the teacher was going out on maternity leave for the rest of the year. (The long term sub she'd planned on getting did not work out...lucky for me).

THE BEST PART...since I was going to be a college graduate at the end of the year....the principal made sure I got paid the rate of a certified teacher.

In the county I'm in now, teachers are required to be at school 1 hour before/after the students - it's up to each principal how they work the 1 hour...but no teacher is at school only student hours.

You never know how things will turn out...maybe you'll get lucky & everything will work out.

 

[Marseeya]

No, it is perfectly legal to not hire someone that doesn't have a good attendance record and it is also legal to fire someone for repeated absences. You can't not hire/fire someone for things like sex, color creed, things they can't control basically. You can control whether you are at work or not.

Substitute teaching isn't as flexible as you may think. Yes, you can say no when they call but if you say no too many time, they won't call you anymore.

Well, I basically have to take the attitude of whatever happens, happens. My kids' needs have to come first and that's the bottom line. I have no other choice in the matter.

With that attitude, I've managed to get an undergrad degree magna cum laude and am close to getting my masters summa cum laude, so I must be doing something right. At any rate, I'm not trying to be difficult, but surely I can't be the first parent on the face of the earth to go through something like this.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Well, I basically have to take the attitude of whatever happens, happens. My kids' needs have to come first and that's the bottom line. I have no other choice in the matter.

With that attitude, I've managed to get an undergrad degree magna cum laude and am close to getting my masters summa cum laude, so I must be doing something right. At any rate, I'm not trying to be difficult, but surely I can't be the first parent on the face of the earth to go through something like this.

Sounds like you have your priorities in order and you are not "planning" to miss days but things happen. I am sure everything will work out in the end!
Keep us posted!

 

[princess pooh]

I would talk directly to the person in charge of placing the student teachers in the schools. My university had placement rules, but they were also flexible with older students or those with special needs.