Presenter: Anna Busch

Student teacher Anna Busch came in today to discuss the edTPA and her experiences as a student teacher. It was quite helpful, especially since I have been feeling overwhelmed by both the edTPA and the fact that I'll be student teaching next fall (seems far away, but time will fly between now and then!). Anna began by talking about how student teaching has been for her so far, including her head week experience and how that looks in general, learning how to properly manage a classroom of different ages, how to use prep time wisely, analyzing questioning practices, and how to stay focused on teaching the standards consistently. She also brought up how she managed her edTPA at her placement, which she advised the class to do something we're comfortable with, start collaborating early on with the cooperating teacher, and when the best time to conduct the edTPA lesson would be (around week 5 or 6). Anna also discussed the importance of developing a strong relationship with my cooperating teacher, which would lead to being able to openly and honestly share comments or concerns, develop a better teaching style, learn from their experiences, and share ideas about lessons and other aspects of education.

While I feel pretty anxious about doing well on the edTPA as well as student teaching, I know that it is an opportunity for me to learn how to be successful in those areas. Anna said that it is okay to stumble and fall sometimes, so long as you learn from those experiences and get up and try again. I need to remember that I am there to learn, not just to teach. I think I've had it in my mind that student teaching is going to be this enormous responsibility where I have to have everything together perfectly. While responsibility and being organized is important in formulating lessons and leading them, I have to realize that I am not going to be perfect right off the bat in student teaching, and that there is time for me to grow during my time as a student teacher. That is what student teaching is about. Anna stating this fact was immensely helpful, and it helped me to relax about my future as a student teacher considerably.