Week 4- Post 1- Taryn

Connie,

I can completely understand your concern. I went and met with my cooperating teacher last week and was a bit nervous as well. But it sounds to me like it might be a little better than you think...Think about it: only one classroom where you see possible discipline problems with? That's fantastic! Of course you're going to deal with discipline in every class, but I think that will be something that will come naturally.

Last semester when we had to teach a lesson for Melanie's class, I taught to two completely different groups of students. The first period class was completely quiet and not very participatory. I was so nervous that I forgot to look at my lesson plan in front of me. The next period was completely different. They were nothing but trouble, and I've never had more fun in a classroom in my life. We were bouncing jokes off of each other during the lesson and I learned to have that familiarity with them within a matter of minutes. Basically, the group that I thought would be easy turned out to be difficult, and the group that I thought would be difficult turned out to be a blast. I never would have guessed it until I got up there. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that we can sit and observe and think we know how things will go, but until we develop relationships with the students as a whole, we won't know what the heck is going to happen.

And as for the "extra set of eyes": I think that's a good thing. I've already been told that on the first day of my student-teaching experience, my teacher will be out the door (leaving me alone with a billion eighth graders?! AHHHH). I'm sure you'll do just fine, and if you're in your 8th week and she still hasn't left, then mention it. It doesn't take anything more than saying, "I appreciate you being in the classroom so much, but I'm interested to see how the kids react to me being the only adult in the room. I just want to make sure they'll respect me either way." Done and done. You'll be fine; we'll all be fine; it's just going to be a little stressful at first!