Well, after 6 weeks of 3 student teachers being in our building and only 1 having a positive experience, it got me thinking about what traits you need to be a teacher and what our teacher training colleges are actually teaching.
1.) Willingness to work: You have to be willing to put the time necessary in to the situation. Contrary to popular rumor, you don’t roll in @ 7:28 right before the kids and go home at 3. If it means you come in when the building opens and leave after the last custodian, so be it. You need to be prepared and the only way that is going to happen is if you put the time in. If you miss the big party on Wednesday, then so be it. Do you want the recommendation or do you want to waste 6 weeks?
2.) Organization. There are days I am disorganized. But they are not everyday. Not even once a month. Maybe once every two months I come in and I am shuffling papers trying to figure out where I am going. But on any given day, ask me what we are doing, when the next unit test is, what the essay is going to be on, what topic we are going to discuss next class and I am on it. I am disorganized, but not everyday.
3.) Willingness to throw out 90% of what you are taught in any teacher college. I really don’t understand. There is a complete disconnect between what is taught at these schools, typically and what what really needs to be taught. Great example of what I am talking about: I can sit you down in a classroom and teach you everything you need to know about driving a car. “This is the brake, here is the gas, it needs to be in ‘P’ before you get out.” But that won’t really teach you how to drive the car. You need to take it out on the road and really drive. Yes, you are going to make mistakes and cause pile-ups, hopefully they won’t be too bad.
What am I missing?
