Lessons Learned in Fall 2009

It is a much different experience being in the classroom and learning how students behave. Going to the middle school once a week allowed me to have a hands on experience with students and really understand why they performed the way they did. I learned that every day is different and that a teacher can prepare only so much for what he or she will experience each day. Although this may sound difficult it is a great reason to teach. Every week that I was in the classroom, I had a different experience with the students and my mentor teacher.

A second lesson that I learned from going each week was that students are very diverse. Being at a middle school allowed me to witness different ages, races, and ses backgrounds. The student population is diverse and many students bring their backgrounds into the classroom. This can affect the school environment, as seen through at home projects and homework. Some students have less resources than others and it can be seen in the classroom. This can affect how a teacher teaches and what he or she assigns. A teacher needs to be fair to his or her students and understanding the ses of the classroom is a necessity.

A final lesson that was learned throughout the fall was that teachers are more than teachers. Students have more issues than their homework, especially in the secondary level, and need help and guidance from other adults besides their parents or guardians. Teachers can provide this extra assistance that students need. I was often asked questions about college, and if the time was appropriate would talk to the students about college. This showed the students that I can help them with more than just their assignments. Teachers do more than teach, they also mentor.