Hang In There, Sister (or Brother?) I Know... By bandmom

I graduated from college in 1982, and my student teaching was so horrible that commercials for joining the Army really looked appealing. I could not imagine working hard for the rest of my life. I got a job as a cocktail

waitress and then worked in a flower shop taking the phone orders and doing their billing. I really needed that 2 year break from school. My CT and I were not on the same page. I thought I'd go in there there and take over and she did it by the book - one week to observe, and add a class each week till the quarter was over. It was a self contained first grade with 40 kids. My college

counselor advised me to never let prospective employers see her evaluation, it was that negative.

By the time ST started, I had done field experiences in 4 different schools at 4 different grade levels, and all were wonderful! ST blew me away!

My course work in college taught us not to use the teacher manual and create all our own lessons, and my CT hated that I never used the manual. Towards the end of the quarter, I sat in the principals office and cried and cried. She wouldn't let me leave until I composed myself and then I drove home for the weekend and cried the entire weekend, I kid you not. Bless my parents - they let me cry and never lectured. I remember on Sunday they took me to brunch and my father peeled all my shrimp from the seafood buffet! (I miss him so much!)

I could go on, but 2 years later, after I moved home, I got a job in a first grade with only 18 kids and no cooperating teacher. It was wonderful and I've been working ever since, except I was lucky enough to stay home with the kids when they were little. I'm in my 10th year of 6th grade and have been told I'm very good at what I do. I've since earned my Masters and am a mentor teacher for entry year teachers at our school. Go figure!! :)

View the original thread this idea was posted on

^BACK

---

The ProTeacher Collection - All rights reserved
For individual use only. Do not copy, reproduce or transmit.
Copyright © 1998-2008 ProTeacher®

Visit our ProTeacher Community

---