Congratulations, you’ve made it; you’re finally a student-teacher. It’s that last step in the teacher training process where the student finally becomes the teacher! Unfortunately, it isn’t always as beneficial as it could or should be, and it isn’t something a textbook or lecture can truly prepare you for. If you’re feeling anxious and uncertain about what to expect from student teaching, you’ve landed in the right place!
I want to help you make the most of your student teaching experience with these tried and true survival tips. You’ve certainly proven that you care and are committed to being as prepared as possible just by being here, reading this blog!
The Ultimate Student Teaching Survival Guide
Invest in the Ultimate Student Teaching Survival Kit! It will help alleviate your anxiety because it tells you what to expect and how to be prepared for your experience. It also provides you with the tools and resources necessary to thrive in your student teaching adventure. The kit includes editable printables to design your perfect student teaching binder, lesson planning pages, tips, tricks, and much more.
Get your Student Teaching Survival Kit HERE!
Batch Your Work
Increase your productivity and creativity by grouping similar types of work together, aka, batching. For example, block off time on a specific day every week to complete lesson plans for the entire week. Other tasks you might batch include grading, email, parent contacts, and making copies.
Create (and SAVE) Lesson Plan Templates
Creating and saving lesson plan templates during student teaching will help set you up for success in the future. Check out my blog post on using lesson plan templates HERE!
Work smarter, not harder though, and start with this Lesson Planning Template.
Be Kind to Yourself
Remember that you are still learning, so you will make mistakes! Mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow so don’t beat yourself up!
Balance Your Time while Student Teaching
I’m not going to lie to you! Student teaching is hard, and you will be busy. However, it is so important that you understand that your time is valuable! You can earn the respect of your host teacher without working 24/7. The best way to effectively balance your time is to establish organized, effective systems and procedures from the very beginning.
My Survival Guide has great tips for wowing your host teacher and ways to stay organized!
Comparison is a Theif
Don’t let comparison steal your joy! Again, you are learning, and you will need to find your groove as a teacher. Learn as much as you can from your mentor, but don’t compare. You might be surprised to know that your mentor teacher can learn from you too!
Be Prepared for Early Finishers
Classroom management is critical. Your classroom management systems will evolve and grow as you gain more experience. My best piece of advice for classroom management as a student teacher is to prepare for early finishers! If you have systems and activities in place for early finishers, you will have fewer opportunities for misbehavior.
My Survival Guide includes ideas and resources for classroom management that you will definitely want to have in your toolbox! Check it out HERE!
Practice Self-Care while Student Teaching
As a student-teacher (and as a teacher), it’s easy to move self-care to the bottom of your very long to-do list. However, it’s critical that you take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, eating healthy (take that lunch break), and finding time to just be yourself! Check out my Self-Care Must-Haves for teachers HERE.
Congratulations again for making it this far! I know you’ve worked hard training to become a teacher, so take these tips and get your survival guide in order to tackle student teaching like a pro! You’ve certainly shown that you’re committed to being an awesome teacher already!
For more first-year teacher tips and ideas, make sure to check out these blog posts:
- NEW TEACHER TIPS: USING A LESSON PLAN TEMPLATE
- STUDENT TEACHING AND GOOGLE SLIDES TEMPLATES FOR THE CLASSROOM
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