Student Teacher Success
Launches Teaching Careers

The beginning stage of teaching careers - student teaching - is the time to understand that critical relationships extend in two directions...

• From the student teacher toward the master teacher (the teacher actually assigned to the classroom)...and...
• Toward the children in the class.

Both relationships are critical for success.

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This important developmental experience is lined up by the college that you attend, though you might be able to provide some input on your placement. This college will have relationships with local school districts that assist with those who are seeking teaching careers.

Your schedule will differ depending on your degree program; it may be nearly full time for a school year, one semester, or may be "graduated in" a term at a time. The teaching college usually provides a mentor to assist with the challenges you face.

You may be able to choose your classroom if you have some experience in a local school district already. Usually, however, you will only be able to express a desire for a certain type of school for your student teaching session, perhaps "Title school," for example.

Every program will have a different implementation schedule, meaning that you will find yourself alone sooner or later with the kids, first in short sessions and eventually full time. Getting ready for that full-time classroom control is the goal that you should be working toward as you pursue your own opportunities in teaching careers.

The steps to success

• Observe
• Take notes
• Ask questions
• Be professional

These four steps will help you build a relationship with your master teacher and all other mentors in your building, as well as prepare you to be successful in your relationships with the students.

Preparing to be a successful, full-time (but short-term) teacher takes a few intentional, focused preparatory steps. We cover all of those on this page about teaching lessons and rapid improvement

This site is all about honest and unfiltered information about teaching, because that is exactly what you need to be successful. So a complete picture of this critical period of your education must include my answer to this question:

"Why do classroom teachers want to work with college students?"

That page definitely includes some things that you need to know.

This is an exciting time for you...welcome to your first big step toward a full-time teaching career!

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