student teacher????????

Question

how does this process work? are they allowed to choose what class period they want to teach? do they have to follow the teachers plans or do they make up there own?

ALSO
my 2nd period history class(Honors) might get a student teacher next semester and i dont like the idea of that what if he/she doesnt know what they are doing or dont know alot about their subject? and i also dont like the idea that my school puts them in all the AP classes or Honors classes (why do they do this?)

i'm not against it or anything its just that history is one of my favorite subjects and i dont want the student teacher to ruin it :(

Answer 1

I was a student teacher (history) two years ago and taught two Honors Magnet classes (as well as two regular Gov't classes). I did not have a choice about the teachers, periods, or assignment. I was completely and utterly in charge of each of the four classes and had to make up my own lesson plans. My master teachers offered their guidance and support, but I was on my own for the most part.

I was extremely worried about my two Honors Magnet classes, but once I got started I was extremely at ease and had a great time. The teacher whose classes I was taking over is a living legend at our school, yet the students in my Honors classes told me they actually learned more during the semester I taught.

Trust me, before a student teacher can step into the classroom they have to pass proficiency exams which are pretty difficult to pass if you don't know the subject matter. I can't guarantee you will like this new student teacher, but give them a chance!! You just might enjoy them. I still get emails and visits from students who were in my student teaching classes (I just saw one today!). Plus your regular teacher is required to observe the student teacher, so he/she will let them know if they need to adjust their lessons (if things aren't working out).

Answer 2

Like it or not, teachers have to learn to teach somehow. The best way they've found so far is for them to teach real students in real schools.

The student teacher doesn't usually have any say in what classes they are given. This will be left to your teacher and to the college supervisor for the student teacher. Usually they will start with one or two classes and eventually take over the teacher's entire schedule for at least a month. Of course, your regular teacher is responsible for assisting the student teacher with appropriate lesson plans and discipline.

It's almost guaranteed that a student teacher won't be as good as the regular teacher, but if you're smart and dedicated enough to be in AP class, then you probably are so motivated that you do a lot of learning on your own. I know that my AP English kids could do a pretty good job working independently if they had to. I also know that they could be very helpful to an aspiring teacher by being able to explain what they need in order to learn.

Quite honestly, I think that below average students have more difficulty with student teachers simply because they need more structure than someone like you, and they can't always express why they're having problems.

Student teachers are simply a part of your school experience. If you have a good regular teacher, he/she is still responsible for your learning and will certainly keep a close eye on the student teacher.

Answer 3

When I was a student teacher I was assigned a partner teacher. This teacher had to write all my evaluations, so it was best if I taught her classes. However, she did give me some flexibility to work in other classes if I wanted. I made a choice to spend four out of six periods with her, and two periods with a different grade level. I had to do all my own lesson planning, but on the plus side for the students I had to have a written plan for each day that outlined with curricular goals were being met (sometimes experienced teachers just "cover" material without actually going back to the curriculum documents and ensuring that they're teaching what they're supposed to). I also had to justify my instructional strategies (if my students were taking notes from a textbook, I had to prove that was a better strategy for that activity than say, doing their own online research).

I think that student teachers get placed in Honours classes because their universities like them to be partnered with very experienced teachers, and most teachers with seniority prefer to teach the higher-track ("academic") classes rather than the remedial ones. Don't worry - your "real" teacher will be there to keep the student teacher in line by pre-approving the lesson plans and making sure that you're being taught what you need to know.

Answer 4

Pretty much the school admin. (normally the Principal) assigns the student teacher to a Master teacher - so first consider yourself well thought of.
Give the student teacher a moderate amount of instruction on your procedures, etc. in advance - let them know the curriculum and let them fly. Make suggestions/corrections that are important - but it almost always turns out fine.
This is a great opportunity for you to bring a new teacher - probably a diamond in the rough - into the teaching profession - a great endeavor.
Probably better they have Honor classes - they are better behaved and the student teacher will get more of a chance to teach and learn classroom management than in a tough class.

Answer 5

Student teachers do not get a lot of say in what classes they teach. Student teachers at the high school level have just graduated college with a bachelors (4-year degree) in the subject matter they are to teach. For example, your history student teacher has a degree in history. After they graduate with that degree, they go on to grad school to get their teaching credential. This is when they start student teaching. They first student teach 2 periods at the middle school level and this is called parttime student teaching. While they are doing this, they are also taking education theory classes at their college. After a few months of that, they move on to full-time student teaching at a high school. (If they plan to teach middle school as a career they would do part time at high school and full time at middle school). For full-time, they teach all-day. It can vary on whether they follow the teacher's plans or not. In order to get their credential, they are required to come up with some lessons on their own.

As for your situation, I would look forward to a student teacher. They probably know a lot about history and they will be excited about it too! Student teachers are anxious to get out there and start teaching and you will appreciate their enthusiasim for history. Remember, they have just spent 4 years or more studying just that subject. I have never seen a 'dull' or 'boring' student teacher. I would leave those words to the teachers who are about to retire. As for student teachers taking over AP, I think it is because the AP teachers are experienced and the student teachers are supposed to be mentored by these experienced teachers. Anyway, I hope it works out!

Answer 6

It sometimes depends on your teacher if the student teacher writes lesson plans or not. I understand what you are saying about not being sure if the student teacher will know what they are doing or not. The student teacher may know more than your history teacher, it just depends. If you feel that the student teacher is taking away from the class instruction, talk to your history teacher about the situation.