Being educated to be an educator

Teachers. I’ve spent the last 19 or so years of my life surrounded by them. We’ve seen them all: good teachers, alright teachers, and then those exceptional teachers that really have an impact on you. And now I’m in teachers college, on the road to hopefully becoming one of them. The first few weeks of teacher’s college so far have been a bit of a blur. I feel like a sponge, trying to soak up all the knowledge that is, for lack of a better work, being dumped on me. Pedagogy, classroom management, professional practice, curriculum...it can be a little overwhelming at times. I know these things are all important, and that if I’m being taught them there’s reason behind it. I already feel way more knowledgeable about the theory behind teaching, and have ideas of how to theoretically be a good teacher. But that’s just it...this is all in theory. I can study, and read, and learn all about good teaching practices. But until I actually apply this and have some real life experience, I don’t think I can really call myself a teacher.

That’s why I found that teaching part of a lesson that we planned to our peers was probably the most helpful thing that I’ve done in teacher’s college this far. There were nerves at first. What if I made a mistake? My audience was all knowledgeable in physics; I didn’t want to embarrass myself. But after watching a few of my peers’ lesson plans, it was evident that everyone was in the same boat, and that there was nothing to be nervous about. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s been a few years since I’ve been out on practicum in a classroom, so teaching a lesson today was great. I think it made me feel more confident for when I am actually in the classroom, and it was great to get feedback from my classmates. Moreover, now I have 15 potential lesson plans for when I have a physics class of my own, since I’ve seen all these great lessons presented. I love the creativity that was involved in them, and there were some really good demonstrations and POEs. I could definitely see myself using some of these activities in my future.

Overall, it’s been a solid start to the semester, and I look forward to what the rest of the year has to offer as I continue on with my education to be a teacher.