Being a teacher (or student teacher for that matter!) is a funny paradox- on one hand you are planning lessons and teaching the kids in your class everything they need to know. On the other hand, the kids themselves are constantly teaching YOU things, and you are learning things about yourself that you never knew before.
What 3 single day visits and a full week of being on prac have taught me includes:
- never try to assume what kids will do. Sometimes they will have no idea what you're talking about, and other times they'll blow you away with their creativity and insightfulness.
- be prepared for sweetness (eg. being brought a handmade cinnamon scroll) and the complete opposite (eg. a child slamming their fists on the desk when you correct one tiny thing)
- lecturers know their stuff, there really can be seven years difference in ability within the one class.
- similarly, you as a teacher really need to know your stuff, because if you're teaching it, you better believe the kids will ask you every type of question about it.
- nothing goes to plan. It's a miracle if it does.
- the school day is full of interruptions. Just when you get started, you're almost inevitably distracted.
- you can go into a class with all sorts of expectations, and some kids will meet them, some kids will go above and beyond and some kids won't at all. But not for a lack of enthusiasm.
- be nice to the kids and they'll (usually) be nice back.
- you're only as good of a teacher as the relationship you have with the students.
- teaching is a team sport. Other teachers are your assistant coaches.
- contrary to popular belief, the school day DOES NOT end at 3 o'clock when the bell rings. At least not for the teacher, anyway!
- it's impossible to get everything right, but you keep on trying.
