Ruth Ayers of Discover. Play. Build. invites us to share weekly celebrations, big or small, on her blog. This week I am jumping in, celebrating my opportunity to work alongside a preservice teacher! Thanks Ruth for hosting!
As an educator I see my
role in the classroom as a learner and a mentor. I see it as my
responsibility to know the students and to work with the students in
establishing a community where we can flourish and make choices that guide us
to new learning and new questions that reflect the interest and values of the
members. Knowing the students in our classroom requires us to listen, ask
questions and guide in a way that not only allows choice, but in a way that
necessities choice.
I am currently working
alongside a preservice teacher, Mary Kay, in our first grade classroom.
The benefits of having another teacher in the classroom are obvious, but
the responsibilities aren't often as clear. I approach this
responsibility each day with the knowledge that one day Mary Kay will have a
unique classroom of her own, full of diverse learners and a plethora of
choices. Mary Kay will need to be reflective in her practice as a teacher
and a learner to guide her students in a way that respects their needs and
values. She will also need to be reflective in how she builds her
educational beliefs and establishes a style unique to herself and true to her
beliefs about education.
The challenge to me each
day is in explaining those instructional decisions that take us away from our
plans and lead us to follow our children and how abandoning the best laid plans
makes us better teachers and gives our students more opportunities. After
teaching for over 20 years these moves just seem to be a part of who I am and
how I teach, but when I am challenged with explaining this I realize just how
much intention is behind these seemingly natural diversions.
So today I am celebrating
the opportunity to work with Mary Kay and help her to find her way into a
classroom that respects student's choices and opens the doors to new
opportunities for learning for her and her students. The responsibilities
of being a teacher are changing everyday, but if we accept these changes as new
opportunities and keep an open mindset our job remains consistent, it's just
the how that brings new challenges.
I would love to hear from
others who are working alongside preservice teachers! How you are supporting
the journey?
Mary Kay is on Twitter @MkGrove12 let's get our preservice
teachers connected and started on their own PLN!
I just completed a sic week stint with a student teacher, Deb, and it was quite a wonderful journey. At the end of the day, my main goal was for her to see a real live classroom teacher dealing with real, live students. All the theory she had read, she said, did not prepare her for the types of on the spot decision making and responding that she saw me do. We talked after each class, and she asked tons of questions. You are right, so much has become instinct for me, too. But, it was wonderful for me to have to take a step back and walk through my thought processes, and I think she gained more from this sort of thing than anything else. I did, too.
ReplyDeleteMary Kay is one lucky lady! I also admire you for investing and sharing so much of what you love to hopes of guiding a new educator to be the best they can be. It sounds like you are both receiving things by working together. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMary Kay is very fortunate to be in your classroom, Deb. I agree, it's hard to sometimes articulate why we make the moves we do. Teaching is an art, isn't it? Helping Mary Kay be reflective about what she sees and her own practice is probably one of the best things you can do for her.
ReplyDeleteDeb,
ReplyDeleteI am always inspired by the conversations going on in your classroom. There is so much learning happening on so many levels. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this important journey.
Cathy
Hey Deb,
ReplyDeleteI love the way your blog is formatted and the theme of this blog. Your experience with Mary Kay has only made me more excited for my own experience in someones classroom. I hope I am as lucky as Mary Kay with who my senior teacher will be!
Megan