Week 1- Post 1- Taryn

The developing conception of myself as a teacher still has a long way to go, to say the least. I think that this semester is going to be the biggest factor in my choice of career path. While so much of me is passionate about being a teacher, there’s also part of me that’s just as passionate about the English language and writing in general. Knowing that I’ll have to make a decision about what I’d like to pursue in less than six months is scary, but having this semester to test the waters of teaching is exciting.

I think the easiest part of my transition from student to teacher will be having the ability to know what it feels like to be frustrated and not understand. Though I’ve done well in school, there have been many times when I became very discouraged, and having those experiences will help me be patient with my own students. I think the most challenging part will be catering to a large group of diverse learners and learning how to manage their different personalities in one classroom. This will be most challenging because I know that I’m in charge of students who, though in the same classroom, are at different learning levels and prefer different teaching styles. It will be difficult for me to know that there are some kids who might not fully understand the material, no matter how much they try; however, I’m ready to try my best to help them.

I currently think of myself as a student because I’m not quite to the finish line yet. In six weeks, however, I will consider myself to be a professional because that’s how my students will (hopefully) view me. Though it’s only a bit over a month away, I know I’m ready. To me, being a teacher means aiding students so that they can better their lives. This definition isn’t limited to cognitive ability, but also their emotional well being. It means that I have to be setting a good example all the time, and though that’s a bit scary, I know that I can handle it. My classes and previous field experience have prepared me to handle anything that arises in my future classroom. I look forward to becoming a teacher this fall, and hopefully soon thereafter.