What crazy, interesting, confusing, strange, amazing experiences do I have on a weekly basis? Maybe my students made some off-the-wall comment. Some other time, I might have a story about a wonderful teaching moment. There may be some weeks that I reflect on my strengths/weaknesses as a teacher and others where I need advice. I'm dealing with the experience a day at a time.
I have the ideal situation. My PDS is a great school, with great school, top-of-the line resources, and exemplary teachers. My mentor teacher is open-minded, technology-savvy, passionate and animated in her teaching. I had the pleasure of working with her last year and quickly became comfortable taking over her lessons. So what was the deal this week? We spend LOTS of time together and luckily are able to converse on a regular basis. She was aware that I was ready to take over a few periods and teach from her lesson plans. The timing was there and what happened? I CHICKENED OUT! My mentor is such a great teacher. I know I learn so much from her and so I want her students to have the same opportunity. The material was easy and I felt confident in my abilities to teach it. But not on the level that she teaches. I think I have found my major teaching weakness - lack of confidence. I have noticed my nerves are intensified and I don't want to let my mentor or the students down.
As usual, I try to find the bright side of every shadowy time. It is a blessing that I am figuring this out now - before I am writing lesson plan daily, before I start my full-time teaching, before I am the sole presenter of math concepts in the classroom. Every lesson is not going to be award-winning. However, I AM capable of planning engaging and interesting lessons and I DO have the passion and charisma to be a memorable teacher.
Maybe I could take some advice from the "Self-Esteem" video from AA :)
I'm such a chicken.
ReplyDeleteI have the ideal situation. My PDS is a great school, with great school, top-of-the line resources, and exemplary teachers. My mentor teacher is open-minded, technology-savvy, passionate and animated in her teaching. I had the pleasure of working with her last year and quickly became comfortable taking over her lessons. So what was the deal this week? We spend LOTS of time together and luckily are able to converse on a regular basis. She was aware that I was ready to take over a few periods and teach from her lesson plans. The timing was there and what happened? I CHICKENED OUT! My mentor is such a great teacher. I know I learn so much from her and so I want her students to have the same opportunity. The material was easy and I felt confident in my abilities to teach it. But not on the level that she teaches. I think I have found my major teaching weakness - lack of confidence. I have noticed my nerves are intensified and I don't want to let my mentor or the students down.
As usual, I try to find the bright side of every shadowy time. It is a blessing that I am figuring this out now - before I am writing lesson plan daily, before I start my full-time teaching, before I am the sole presenter of math concepts in the classroom. Every lesson is not going to be award-winning. However, I AM capable of planning engaging and interesting lessons and I DO have the passion and charisma to be a memorable teacher.
Maybe I could take some advice from the "Self-Esteem" video from AA :)