Success in student teaching

I have had many successful moments since I started student teaching. One thing that happened this week which has made me feel super official is that I started taking role and keeping up with grades. I always helped my teacher with grading things in the past, but now I write the grades down and keep them in my binder; they are mine to keep up with. Another thing that happened this week that has made me feel more like a real teacher is that I have pretty much led all of the classes. There hasn’t actually been much instruction time because we are reading Of Mice and Men, and they are doing so silently. But any instruction that needs to be given I am the one to do so.  Something that has helped me to feel more like a real teacher is that the students come to me, or call me over, as often, if not more, as they do my cooperating teacher. It makes me feel like I’m more than just an observer.  One of the times a student asked for my help it was a question pertaining to writing. She told me that she didn’t think that she was a good writer and that she did not think that she could do the assignment. I told her that I never felt like I was a good writer either, and I gave her some tips on how to structure her essay. Then she was able to write her essay and felt more confident in doing so. Something that I have grown more confident in is classroom management. When I first started, I did not feel like the students would really listen to or respect me. But I realize that I have good control over them now. They listen to me and respect what I have to say and follow the instructions that I give them. Another area that I have been successful in is during our weekly team meetings. This past week when we met, the leader said that she really didn’t have anything that she could share. I was the only one who had anything to give to the group as far as ideas on upcoming lessons, and they all liked my idea! All in all, I am really enjoying my student teaching experience and it seems to get better each day!