As you can tell from the title of this blogpost, I am very sad that this is my last week at Lindale. I have gotten so attached to the students and have created great student-teacher relationships with them. They are such a bright and bubbly group; there is never a dull moment with them! I have also created great friendships with the staff and have learned so much from them.
Pre-internship has been such a great experience. I have learned more in these past couple of weeks then I have for the past 4 years. I feel 100% confident in my teaching abilities and am ready to do this full time. I want to share some key things that I have learned.
- In order to teach middle years students, you have to have a healthy balance between being able to joke around and being serious. They LOVE when you laugh at yourself and crack jokes with them. I never thought I would be able to fully be myself in the classroom, but I am able to joke around and bring out my sarcastic humour. They love it! I have also learned though, that you must make yourself clear when its time to focus and do work. If you do not show your serious side, they will walk all over you and you will never get your respect.
- It is okay to make mistakes! I have had great lessons, and I have had bad lessons. I have forgot to teach important information and steered my students in the wrong direction. But each and every time I have made a mistake, I have learned from it and made it better. I am human, I will make mistakes, and that is okay.
- Get involved in school activities and talk with staff. As I mentioned above, I have created some great friendships with the staff at Lindale. I have received loads and loads of advice from multiple teachers and it is great to hear and see other perspectives. Some I agreed with, others I did not. However, hearing from multiple perspectives has really made me realize that each and every teacher has a different teaching philosophy that makes them a successful teacher.
- Taking time for yourself is essential! A lot of this has to do with time-management. My first week I was so stressed out and completely exhausted. All I could think about was how I was going to prep and mark everything, while trying to get homework done for the loads of assignments that we have due. I finally told myself: One thing at a time. I simply do not have the mental capacity to do both things, so during these three weeks I have focused on teaching, and teaching only. This is what is important to me right now, and that is what I am going to work on. I personally do not think it is fair for us to have to worry about completing all of these assignments during our three week block.
Lets just say, I am not ready to leave the wonderful world of teaching, and go back to the University. I have been so happy and stress free these past few weeks, and I know that when I step foot into the University again, that is all going to change. I think this has to do with the fact that I literally have not learned anything in my classes this past semester and it is frustrating me. Yet, we are overwhelmed with assignments. I wonder if I am the only one who feels this way?
Shelby Hack- Middle Years Educator 
You read my mind! I completely agree that University it so much different than being in the classroom. I can understand your frustration when it comes to going back to University. We have spent the last three years learning how to “become a teacher” but it is at the point where textbooks and lectures are no longer of use to us. Personally, all I want to get more hands on experience in the classroom, as I strongly believe this is where the learning occurs. Glad to see your enjoying your placement!
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I’m with you on feeling the pressures of our assignments that are due right after our pre-internship! I too, decided that during my three weeks I would only focus on what I was doing in the classroom. (Let’s just say I’m not looking forward to this weekend). I am very thankful that I did narrow my focus though, as it gave me the time I needed to really put my efforts where they needed to be; in the classroom. It really allowed me to make engaging lessons, to find ways to connect with students, and to focus on what needed to be done to help the students be successful. While I don’t think I’ve reached that 100% confidence level like you, I’m working on it! I learned so much in my pre-internship and would just love to keep doing this for the rest of the semester instead of our assignments!
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I hear ya!! I’m going home to spend time with my family who I haven’t seen in forever, but unfortunately most of that time will be spent on my laptop
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