What is the best advice for student teachers? (opinion)

I've heard many student teachers explain their experience as, "stressful" or "nerve-wracking". A common experience is that all the theory in the world can't prepare you for a restless and noisy student that decided your lesson will be the lesson they unleash it all. So what is the best advice for teachers?

Well for starters there's no official textbook you can buy on Amazon.com on how to cope as a student teacher because each school and experiences are totally different, but this may benefit you. This may sound strange for you, but the purpose of my madness is that I truly want you to understand how this can actually be an opportunity to grow...

#1 - Consider this an opportunity to master your confidence!

Back when I was studying I had the honour of having probably the most brutally honest lecturer on planet earth. He was this extravagant lecturer who said it how it was, whilst rocking gumboots with money imprinted onto it. He was amazing! 2 years into my degree and he decided to move onto another adventure that would take him around the globe, but before he left we chatted one day before the end of the year. He said that hated public speaking and in the true sense could be described as an 'extreme introvert, but his time in front of us was his stage to play on and act like an overly confident lecturer that would never be forgotten. This resonated with me because I felt that even the when you felt one way, you could essentially, "fake it, till you make it". I'm not trying to say you should sit on desks cross-legged, shouting extravagant lines from a textbook, whilst a comedy youtube clip was playing in the background. I think that using your teaching environment to boost your inner confidence in an engaging way is a great way to break the ice between yourself and learners.

#2 - Take each day as it comes, but be prepared.

Having many expectations sometimes could lead to having many disappointments, but this shouldn't stop your drive as an educator. Think of each day as a learning curve towards achieving an end goal, because nothing in life comes easy. Preparedness is something that becomes a necessity when teaching, as it's certainly not a 'walk in the park'. Having a set plan of action for each month helps you gauge whether or not your strategy is working towards a purpose rather than focusing on having students achieve top grades. If you have a moment to take advantage of to prepare for another lesson down-the-line, then you should always capitalize on that opportunity!

#3 - Positive reinforcement is the key to success!

If there's anything school, university or life has taught you - being positive can go a long way. Student-positive-reinforcement can become the backbone to long-term success, but supporting your co-educators is the greatest gift of all.

#4 - Extra-curricular can be your friend.

We all fall into the trap of over-working, but having time to unwind and have fun is probably the most important factor to consider. I found extra-curricular activities the school offered not only allowed me some time to relax, but also give me an opportunity to learn new things and share some insight into other areas besides my teaching subject. This truly depends on the type of person you are, however, if you find you enjoy having fun with coworkers after school hours coaching a sport, joining a slam poetry club or learning another language, this could be the thing for you.

#5 - Teaching Fitness is like a muscle.

When I started as a student teacher, I thought it was going to be difficult adjusting to the schedules and constant attention, but it suddenly became so much easier after 2 weeks. I found myself having so much energy at the start of each lesson and I was pumped up to teach, but then it hit me like a brick wall.

Teaching fitness is like a muscle, if you do too much too soon, you'll burn yourself out. I found myself feeling extremely tired just before the end of each workday and this made me realize that I needed to pace myself in the lessons I was teaching. When teaching, find your fitness and warm up to it, just like you would do in any sport. I found that opening each lesson with an open discussion with my high school students was a way for me to catch my breath from the previous lesson, as well as become a way to re-engage students into the subject matter.

#6 - Have a blast!

Waking up each day knowing that I was going to be teaching, laughing and having a blast, became the real motivator for me. I formed friendships with coworkers, groundsmen and cleaning staff so that wherever I was on campus, I could strike up a conversation and have a little laugh between classes. Enjoying what you teach is certainly a huge factor, but make it your moment to shine and have a laugh. I would always say to myself, "How am I going to have fun in the lesson today?" and this statement became so important when eventually creating lesson plans or sharing insight with other fellow student teachers.