Don't Underestimate the Experience of Student Teaching

This is your best opportunity to practice your craft

  • This is your best opportunity to practice your craft
  • This is your chance to learn under the guidance of a master teacher
  • Many times this learning comes through making mistakes
  • Fortunately, most errors can be easily corrected
  • Your ext question should always be, "is there anything that I can do", or "can I do that for you" or "can I help you with that"?

Write down every 'process' for every class as you observe

  • You will most likely do a few days of observing the routine and structure of the classes
  • Take good notes - write down phrases the teachers use and then you use them when you teach
  • Pay attention to how the teachers phrase things and the method they use to communicate an idea and use them
  • You should basically be a 'clone' of the cooperating teachers at first; you will find your teaching voice as time progresses
  • Don't think that just because you are not in front of the class that your time is being wasted
    • Move around the room
    • Without talking, fix hand positions, mark missed notes/accidentals
    • Just the fact that you are standing next to a student will make them more aware of what they are doing and how they are doing things
  • Remember that teachers have specific ways they want to teach concepts; stick to their way as there is a reason why they do things the way they do them
  • Pay attention to the culture of the programs and determine what makes their program tick

Be Inquisitive

  • Ask questions - take notes and write your questions down as you think of them; you won't remember them by the end of the day
  • Ask your cooperating teacher if there is a time each day when you can sit down together and 'debrief'
  • If you don't know something or don't understand exactly what is going on; don't pretend like you do
    • ​The students will know and you will lose your street cred
    • Leave your ego at the door - we don't have the time or patience for it
  • Think past and beyond student teaching to your future self
    • Ask questions about administrative tasks
    • Ask about parent conferences
    • If you don't see something in particular going on, it doesn't mean that it is not happening

What do you bring to the table

  • What would you expect from a student teacher if you were the cooperating teacher
  • What positive thing will you leave when you are gone

Seek outside professional development

  • There are many PD opportunities in this area
    • Young Educators Seminar at SMU
    • The Texas Music Educators Conference
    • The Texas Bandmasters Conference
  • It is never too early  for PD
    • When I am reviewing resume's, I like seeing that young teachers have professional development listed
    • It tells me a lot abut a person and their dedication to teaching
The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates.  The great teacher inspires.