Really nervous.... Teachers come in please!

[mollz007]

Tomorrow morning I have my first observations. (background: I am an education student and one of my classes requires us to go to real school and do 10 hours of observations and then write about it) This is the first time I have done this and I really want to make a good impression. Can you ladies talk me down so I am not so nervous? If you are a teacher, have you ever had ed. students come and observe your class? If so, was there anything that they did that you liked or didnt like?

Thanks! Wish me luck....

[mollz007]

I should probably add a little more info. I will be observing elementary school aged kids- not sure what grade yet. I am not sure if the teacher will want me to interact with the students- it is not necessary for the assignment, but I wouldnt be opposed to it. I will be arriving at 8:30, and the kids come in at 8:45, so that will give the teacher plenty of time to tell me where to sit. I will leave myselff plenty of time as I am not very familiar with the area the school is in.

[joenali]

Sept 19, 2012 20:36:49 GMT -5 mollz007 said:

I should probably add a little more info. I will be observing elementary school aged kids- not sure what grade yet. I am not sure if the teacher will want me to interact with the students- it is not necessary for the assignment, but I wouldnt be opposed to it. I will be arriving at 8:30, and the kids come in at 8:45, so that will give the teacher plenty of time to tell me where to sit. I will leave myselff plenty of time as I am not very familiar with the area the school is in.

I think this is good! There's no reason to be nervous. Just observe, take notes. You never know what you might want to use in your own classroom.

Notice what the kids do when they come in.
WHat is the teacher doing.
How is the room set-up and organized.
Etc.

I'm sure the kids will want to know who you are, but I'm sure the teacher will tell you whether or not they want you interacting with the kids. I guess it would just depend on the morning routine.

Have fun!

[hulley]

I am not yet a teacher, but I am at the other end of your journey - student teaching. I remember being just as nervous before my first few observations. You will be fine. Definitely leave plenty of extra time - what I didn't account for the first time is that while I was a bit early, the teacher wasn't yet in the classroom so we had less time than expected to meet and get set up.

I assume you are just observing, and not yet participating? If so, the teacher will likely have an idea of where you can sit and be out of the way while still having a good vantqge point. My best advice is to just respect the teacher's preferences and go with the flow. It gets so much easier, and soon you will be excited for each visit. Good luck tomorrow!

[mccallister84]

Ask the teacher what she/he would like you to do. I loved the observers who would get up and work with the kids, although I understood not everyone was comfortable with that.

Definitely make air to show up a little early and no matter how bored you get don't touch your phone!

[mollz007]

Thanks so much for all your advice ladies!! This helps a lot! Hulley- yes, I am pretty sure I am just observing and not participating, unless the teacher wants me to participate. I just started grad school in education (got my undergrad degree in psychology) so this is literally one of the first education classes I've taken! I am excited to be able to get so much hands on experience so early on! I just want to make sure I make a good impression and don't do anything stupid lol.

[Deleted]

Don't wear sweats and don't sleep in the classroom while the teacher is teaching. If you follow these two things you will do better than our recent observers.

Sent from my DROID3 using proboards

[hulley]

Sept 19, 2012 21:02:46 GMT -5 mollz007 said:

Thanks so much for all your advice ladies!! This helps a lot! Hulley- yes, I am pretty sure I am just observing and not participating, unless the teacher wants me to participate. I just started grad school in education (got my undergrad degree in psychology) so this is literally one of the first education classes I've taken! I am excited to be able to get so much hands on experience so early on! I just want to make sure I make a good impression and don't do anything stupid lol.

I will echo PPs - just act respectfully and be aware of the time constrqints and never-ending list of things that need doing in most classrooms. Write down specific questions and let the classroom teacher take the lead there. I have had many ask at the end if I had questions, and a few ask me to email. I have also had some that threw me right in with the kids and that was great. Trial by fire, so to speak.

I was also in the classroom from my first EDU class, so I know how you feel. You'll be great, it really is the best way to learn what it's all about.

[starshine1977]

While you are observing, look for not only what the teacher is doing, but think about WHY she/he is doing it in that way. Not only with lessons, but also with classroom management. And if you don't know why they are doing it that way, ask. It's a great way to learn, especially since most of your learning for classroom management will come while you are in classrooms with experienced teachers.

ETA: Don't be too nervous, being in the classroom really is the fun part

[pacificrules]

Sept 19, 2012 22:26:53 GMT -5 starshine1977 said:

While you are observing, look for not only what the teacher is doing, but think about WHY she/he is doing it in that way. Not only with lessons, but also with classroom management. And if you don't know why they are doing it that way, ask. It's a great way to learn, especially since most of your learning for classroom management will come while you are in classrooms with experienced teachers.

ETA: Don't be too nervous, being in the classroom really is the fun part

I agree with this. And, realize that there IS a reason he/she is doing every.single.thing. It's easy to miss a lot of the actual 'work' of teaching if you think she/he is just going with the flow and not actively, thoughtfully deciding how to interact with individual students and the group as a whole.