Advice for Student Teachers

The following is my advice for student teachers.

• Understand your students by listening to them. They will let you know if you need to explain or re-teach a lesson. They will be the ones who will let you know if the lesson connects or not.
• Show patience. Remember that each student learns differently.
• Greet your students by saying "Good Morning" or "Good Afternoon" at the beginning of each class. Just by saying these few words can set the mood for the rest of the class period.
• If you want respect from the students you must show them respect. Saying "thank you" or "excuse me" will go a long way.
• Get to know your students names right from the beginning. It will make the students fill important that you have taken the time to learn their names.
• Wear a smile. You may not know how a students' day has been, but showing this small gesture can make them fill so much better.
• Show that you care. At times just showing that you care what is happening in a students' life can make a difference.
• Enjoy the students. Talk with them. Laugh with them. Listen to them. It will be amazing what you will learn from them.

Week 15

This was the week which I was looking forward to seeing and hearing the presentations from the students on "Going Green at Benton Middle/High School." They had worked so hard on their projects. This past weekend I had gotten everything done and felt good when I had gone to bed. Getting up on Monday morning I was not feeling very good and was finally taken to the hospital and admitted that afternoon. It wasn't until Wednesday afternoon that I was able to be discharged and get back to my own home. I was so disappointed in not seeing the student's presentations. I know that they had done a good job.

I am looking forward to getting back and working with the students this coming Monday. I realized while in the hospital how much I missed being there and teaching. Even with the challenges which teaching brings, this is something that I know I want to do. I know that I will have a lot to get caught up with once I return, but I will get it done and am looking forward to whatever this week brings to me.

If I had the chance to start this week over again, that would be to have not been so sick. I am on the road to recover but it is going to take some time. All I know is that I am ready for whatever comes my way.

Week 14

It was hard getting back into the routine on Tuesday morning after being off for a few days, but once I got to school and started teaching it felt good. The students also were having difficulty settling back down after being off. By Friday, everyone seemed to be back to normal.

The computer concepts class started presenting their "Going Green at Benton Middle/High School" project and I have been very impressed with what the students have done. They have put quite a lot of effort and time into the project and it shows. This has been a group project and I have learned a great deal on how to manage groups. Managing groups and keeping control of the classroom has been a challenge especially the noise level. This was very evident with the class of 30 students. Giving them the opportunity to work together and the layout of the computer lab made if difficult. The environment that the students have been use to when working in groups has been very different then the way they had to work together in this classroom. When working in groups in their academic classes they have the ability to move their desks and chairs, where in the computer lab this is not possible. The end result has been that all of the students have learned on how to work together and I have learned how to control the noise level.

With each of my classes, I have always greeted the class first thing with either "Good Morning" or "Good Afternoon." The other day just as I was ready to begin the one class there was an announcement made which I had to stop for. After that I started to say something not saying "Good Morning." One of the students raised his hand and I stopped. He proceeded to remark that I had not said "Good Morning." The other students chimed in and wanted to know why I hadn't said it. I apologized and greeted them with two "Good Mornings." This class has rarely made any effort to respond back to me when I have greeted them as the other classes have. I was so surprised that they had noticed. I hadn't realized that a simple jester such as a greeting had made an impression on these students.

What I would change if I had the opportunity to start the week over would be to explain to the students that I realize that the noise level will be different when working in groups. I would have explained that we all need to be aware of it and try to control it.

Week 13

This week brought new challenges for me. Not only was this a short week, but on Monday I started a large project with the Computer Concepts classes. The students were placed into groups to start putting together a PowerPoint presentation on "Going Green at Benton Middle/High School." The groups will be presenting their findings and recommendations at the end of next week. Having to control groups is a new experience, but by Tuesday things were going well. The students are really getting into the project and I am looking forward to seeing their presentations.

The Computer Projects class has been working with budgets and spreadsheets this past week. It seems as though they are once again having difficulty with the spreadsheet formulas. These formulas are basically the same ones that they were using in the previous chapter. Even my co -op said that she cannot understand why the students are once again having difficulty with the concept. These students have had two years of working with the basic formulas. When we return on Tuesday, I will have to review again, but I realize that this is part of the job of teaching. If I can assist these students with the concept, then I know I have done my job.

Teaching the two keyboarding classes has been different. The one class I have three times out of the week, while the other one is only there two times a week. This means that the one class is always behind. Trying to keep track of which class is doing what has been an experience, but I have been able to keep on top of it.

If I could change one aspect this past week, I would change how the groups were selected in the one class of thirty students. The groups are working well now, but it was a rough start. Selecting groups is difficult and no matter which way you do it, there will always be some problems.

Week 12

After returning from FBLA, it was good to be back up front teaching again. The students greeted me with that they were glad that I was back which made me feel good. I do enjoy teaching these young people. They have so much to offer and I am glad that I can be a part of their lives at this time.

On Friday, all of the students wanted to stop doing their work about ten minutes before the class was over. It was like they were already for the weekend or something. Even the substitute teacher said he noticed this. It was difficult to keep them going until the end of the period. I know that this will happen from time to time and you just have to keep on top of them.

What I would change if I could start the week over would be to keep the students on tasks on Friday. I know that they just wanted to relax. It has been a long time since they have had a break from school and they are at the stage of being ready for Spring Break. As a teacher I know you must keep them on task at all times which at times is a challenge.

Week 11

This week I have been very impressed with the eighth grade students in all of the computer concepts classes. We have started a new lesson on Microsoft PowerPoint. After doing the exercises in the text book, I had them complete other PowerPoint assignments. I realize that they have been working with PowerPoint since elementary school, but as I moved around the room and started looking at what they were creating I became very impressed with their knowledge, creativity, and skills. I am planning a project which the students will be placed in groups and will research a specific topic. The group will then have to create and present this topic on PowerPoint. I can hardly wait to see what they are going to come up with.

The end of the marking period was this past Thursday and all the grades must be in by this coming Tuesday. On Friday, besides trying to get everything done before leaving for FBLA, I had to get all the make-up work graded and recorded. This has been a new experience for me with all the classes that I have been teaching, but I got it all finished.

The one thing that if I could start the week over would be was when I had demonstrated a specific concept I would now have done it differently. The students had difficulty and it had taken longer then I had planned. The end result though, was that they did learned how to do it.

Week 10

One of the aspects of this week which I have found to be most valuable has been, with the class of tenth graders. After Monday's class and discovering that the students were having difficulty with this chapter, my co op and I decided to just take the lesson each day very slowly. This is a small class of 14 students and a quarter of the students are learning support. The class is very easy to work with and the students are eager to learn. On Friday, at the end of class I asked the students to write down on their Post It one thing that they had learned today regarding the lesson. While making notes regarding the lesson, I pulled out the Post It notes and started reading them. All week long I had been going over the same concept with them. Today on the Post It's each student in their own way said that they had gotten what I had been teaching all week long. Tears came to my eyes.

The other aspect which I have found to be of value this week has been on taking into account that the students had been taking their PSSA testing this week. When the students would arrive in the afternoon, I made sure that I had taken the testing into account when working with them. I was glad to see Friday arrive and return to a normal schedule. I know that the students were glad to be back on a normal schedule,too.

As I look back on this past week, the one thing that I would change if I had the chance would be planning more time for the students to complete an assignment. The assignment was a team activity and I should have planned more than two days to complete it. Planning the length of time that a class has to complete an assignment is very important. Not only do you have to take into consideration the amount of time that an assignment would take, you must also take into consideration the learning level of each student within the class. This has been a learning experience for me and I know that if I use this assignment in the future, I will make sure to plan more time for the students to complete it.

Week 9

What a week this has been. It seem like I was on a roller coaster with the first part of the week going up, the middle of the week going down, and by the end of the week coming back up. The first of the week the students were doing fine. They were enjoying the assignment that I had given them and were eager to accomplish it. By Wednesday, I believe with the time change, they seem to have difficulty with adjusting to the change. During the review game in two of my classes on Wednesday, the students just didn't want to get along with each other. This really surprised me with the one class which always has been an excellent group of students and who work well with each other. By the end of the week, the students were doing well and were back to their old themselves.

This week has been one that has been rewarding, too. I have had one student who felt that if they just passed their chapter tests and not do the assignments that they could pass for the marking period. This student had been doing this since the beginning of the year. Another student would do their assignment, but didn't care if the assignments were done correctly, had decided that the computer class was one that they could do their other homework in. Also, when I was doing the lesson, this student would not participate and would just sit there. I had explained to the class on the first day that I taught them, that they were not to do any other work from other classes while in this class. There would be plenty for them to do and when they completed their work, they could select something from the activity center to do.

After speaking to each of these students individually and showing them that I wanted them to succeed, there has been a change in both of them.. The student who just thought they could pass the tests has now been completing their work and handing it in, and now is seeing that their grade has risen because of it. The other student has been turning in better work and participating in the class. This student now greets me when they see me in the hallway, greets me when entering the classroom, and whenever I work with this student, thanks me. This has given me a great feeling.

There are two things that I would do differently if I could start the week over. The first would have been selecting a different game to review the vocabulary for the test in regards to the dynamics of the one class. The second was when in this same class, I had to ask a student to leave the room. I really didn't like doing it, but it had to be done. I have found out that this group of students move from on class to another all day long (my co-op didn't know this either) and when they reach the class in the afternoon, some of the things that have happen in other classes or on the way spill over into the classroom. I need to keep this in mind from now on when I present my lesson or do any type of game or activity with them.

Week 8

When I taught the Computer Concepts class this week on databases to the eighth graders, I gave the students a homework assignment. Two out of the three classes didn't have any problems with the assignment, but the one class sure did. You thought that I was asking them to pull out all their teeth and remarked that Mrs. (co-op's name) never has given us homework. My reply was "I am not Mrs. ____, and I am giving you homework. I know that it will be something that you will like." The homework assignment was on gathering specific information from 15 of their own CD collection, such as the title of the CD and the artist. If the student did not own any CD's, or if the student did not have enough CD's, they could use the Internet and look for CD's that they may want to have and bring that to class.

After the students had created their CD collection database and I had asked them at the end of the class specific questions regarding databases and the lesson, one of the students remarked that they had never thought that a computer class would have had homework, but that they enjoyed doing the assignment.

With the other class that I teach, Computer Projects to sophomores, this week I have taken a different approach to the subject. I have incorporated more personal finance into the subject and relating it more to the needs of the students. The students are taking this new aspect very seriously, which I am very happy to see.


As I reflect on this past week, and could change any aspect if I had the chance to start the week over, I would have wanted to approach the concept of spreadsheets to the Computer Projects class differently. I am still learning what their learning skills are since this is the class that I just picked up and a quarter of the class is learning support. I knew that they have had the concept of spreadsheets in eighth and ninth grade. Also, I had them do some review activities, but the lesson I gave them I feel was to advance for them. The next lesson from the text book, which builds on the previous lesson, I will approach differently. Getting to know the skill level of your students is difficult, but at the same time a challenge.

week seven

The one aspect this week that I found most valuable was how teaching 10th graders is so much different then teaching eighth graders. I picked up my fourth class this week which is teaching computer projects to the sophomores and found that their needs, wants, and level of learning are so distinct then the eighth graders which I have been teaching. I have realized that putting together their lessons and activities are different then when I plan for the eighth graders. In addition, I have found that teaching two classes before I teach the 10th graders that at times the transition is sometimes difficult. I do look forward to teaching this new class and the challenges that will come with it.

Another aspect this week that I found most valuable has been on teaching databases to the eighth grade computer concepts classes. This is a new concept for these students and having to introduce this has been difficult. It will be interesting to see how the students do with this unit. I know they will eventually understand the concept.

The one thing that I would change this week if I had the chance to start the week over would be to revamp how I introduced the concept of databases to the eighth graders. I have learned that I have to break this concept down even more and take this concept even slower then when I taught spreadsheets to them. Even the gifted students are having difficultly with this unit. I have come to realize that teaching database is without doubt going to take time, but I am up for the challenge.

Week 6

1. What aspects of my week did I find most valuable?

Taking on a third class this week has been a challenge in regards to classroom discipline. This class of eighth graders is completely different then the other two classes that I have been teaching. This group has many in it that have behavioral problems which means having to be on top of them at all times. Also, they are a group who are more hands on then lecturing, so I have to take a different approach to teaching the material.

On Friday while giving a test first period, two of my students were called to the office for disciplinary problems. The first student called was about half way finished with their test and when returned finished the test but bombed the second half. When the student had returned, they did not seem to be upset but it was obvious that they were. The second student who was called was finished with their test but returned crying during second period (which is a prep peroid) and made the statement that they were going to "kill themselves. " I had to calm them down and asked if they needed to go see someone in the office. They said no but my co-op who had also heard what the student had said had to report it to the office. The student returned during activity period and thanked me for caring. Once again just showing that you care makes a big difference.

Also on Friday, during the third class that I teach, just as I was going to start class, a student said to another one "don't take my picture again." Just as I turned around to see what was happening the student did take another picture and the one who made the statement before said "Mrs. Huntington so and so is taking pictures." My co-op heard that too and both of us approached the student with my co-op asking the student quietly to give her the camera. The student did without making a scene. This was a great way to start the class but I did without any difficulty. I learned how to deal with a situation like this by staying calm and taking control of the situation.

2. What I would have changed if I had the chance to start the week over.

I would change the way I handled the third class regarding classroom management this week. I started on Monday with going over the classroom rules and disciplinary policy with them just as I have with my other two classes. On Thursday it was very clear that they were not going to be able to have any of the came privileges that the other classes have. On Friday I had to go over the rules and disciplinary policies again and had to make myself very clear on what they now have lost in regards to privileges. Classroom management is one of the most important aspects when teaching and this class is proving this to me.

Week 5

Aspects of the week I found most valuable.

This week has been one of many different changes in the period schedule because of PSSA testing. My first period class I only taught once this whole week. They were taken out Tues-Fri, so now they are four days behind the other class. This coming week will be one of getting them caught up. As I have said before, you learn to be flexible.

Tuesday I had the opportunity to sit in on a Parent/Teacher conference with regard to one of the student's I have been teaching. This has given me a better understanding of the student and where we will be going in the future of getting this student grades up. Also, this week we had a Parent/Teacher Open House which gave me the opportunity to meet with several parents. Through both of these experiences I have learned even more that keeping excellent records of each student is valuable, not only their grades, but all work which has been graded (which my co-op has a folder for each student to place their work in) gives you the proof that you need to show the parent of what their child has been doing.

On Friday, I had an activity that was a WOW teaching moment. The students enjoyed the activity and were excited about doing it. This made my week! In addition, my co-op asked me if I would teach the other class this acitivity which I did. This gave me another opportunity to work with this class since I will be picking up this class on Monday.


What I would modify or change if I had the chance to start the week over.

I would modify one of the activities that I had the students complete. I would make the activity more current and exciting for them. I know now that this would make them more interested in the concept that I had taught them.

Another thing that I would change would be that during one of my lessons and when I was asking questions within the lesson one of the students was dominating the class. I have now turned that around and have learned from my mistake.

Week 4

1. What aspect of my week did I find most valuable?

After teaching the lessons and having the students complete the exercises on spreadsheets in computer concepts, the students have been able to expand on their knowledge through specific projects. Seeing these students put what I have been teaching them into creating their own spreadsheets correctly has given me a feeling of accomplishment. The students are enjoying the projects which can be seen in what they have been turning in and telling me at the end of the class.

Picking up my second class this week which has 30 students in it has given me an experience of learning classroom management in a new way. I am using more of the peer assistance strategy for when the students need help which keeps things under better control. This is a class of upper level learners so keeping them busy after they have completed their exercises is a must. They are a good group of students, but learn at a different speed then the other class that I have been teaching, so I have learned to approach the lesson in a different way.

Also, I have had a week of having quite a few interruptions. On one of the days, I had just started the lesson when the principal came to the door with two administrators from the Vo-Tech school to speak to the students. On another day, I would just start to introduce the lesson when there would be an announcement, not just once, but this happened three times in a row. On starting the fourth time, I started the lesson again, waited, the students laughed and I was able to continue on. I know that this happens and we all have to just go with the flow.

2. As I reflect on the past week, what I would change if I had the chance to start again.

My co-op was out sick one day this week and I had a substitute who I have worked with before. This substitute was trying to help me out, but was telling the students one thing while I was telling other students something else. I know that the next time that I have this substitute (who by the way is not a business teacher) I will have to explain exactly what I want the students to do and how before the class starts. This has been a learning experience for me.

In addition, I would change the handouts with the project outlined that I have made up. The one hand out was plain, just the instructions on it. On Friday, I had a hand out that was more interesting for the students, with a boarder and clip art on it. The students seem to enjoy it. Something I have learned and will use from now on.

Third Week

1. The very first aspect which I found valuable this week was to be able to take the opportunity to learn how to adjust my lessons after having a snow day and then a two hour delay the next day. This has given me a new insight into the teaching field. I had to review a few things on Thurs. of what I had covered on Tues. and then shorten my lesson to cover what I could. All in all, everthing went well and we were able to get most of everything accomplished.

I started a new unit this week on spreadsheets in the 8th grade Computer Concepts class and the students have told me that they are enjoying the lessons and exercises. Also, I have learned more on which students need more assists on the exercises and have been working with them during the class period and activity period.

There have been two students who are now starting to test me and the one asked me how long I was going to be there. The student rolled their eyes when I said thirteen more weeks. I realize that I have my work cut out for me with these two students.

Friday brought a new experience for me. Not only do the students act differently on Fridays, but my coop was out that day too. I had the opportunity to teach three classes of the same subject which are all at different learning levels. This gave me a feel for what I will need to do when I take over the other two classes. To say the least, everything went very well and I look forward to teaching the other two classes.

2. If I had the chance to start the week over I would change my lesson that I taught on Tues. completely on spreadsheets in Computer Concepts (8th grade.) I would have given the students a more of hands on approach to moving around on the spreadsheet and would have changed my questions within the lesson regarding the subject. At the end I learned that I need to keep those students who finish early something more to do, to keep them busy. Also, I needed to have a better bell ringer. This lesson was not my very best and I was very disappointed in it.

Week 2

The aspects of the week which I found most valuable was when I was able to teach. Also, I had the opportunity during the In Service Day on Monday, to work with my coop and other teachers on curriculum for the school district. This was an eye opener!

What I would have changed, was when I went to teach my first class on Tuesday, which is first period, I had just started when my coop informed me that the students were going to be leaving in five minutes for a field trip to the Vo-Tech School. She had forgotten about. I had to delay what I was going to teach and move all my lesson plans. This is life!

1st week

Aspects of the first week that were most valuable was getting to know the teaching style of my coop and getting to know the students. Also, meeting the faculty and administation who have all been very helpful and made me feel very welcome. I also was able to meet the other student teachers.

If I was able to start the week over, being called down to the principal's office on the second day and trying to figure out what the other student teacher in bus. ed. and I had done and remembering what the prof. had said the night before was alittle puzzling to say the least. When we arrived at the office we found out that the principal just wanted to introduce himself and meet with all the student teachers.