Lets just get this out here......Teachers DO NOT get paid enough for what they do (we are talking about good teachers)
So I'm just sharing some experiences and inner thoughts of my year long UNPAID internship from the most wonderful Education program on the planet that blessed me with my undergrad BA in Special Education and lots of debt (but it shall pay off!!!!! One day....)
Now if you are currently in the situation I am now in or will be in the future then stay tune because I have a lot for you. Here are some tips for you!
1. If you are receiving financial aid for internship year. Save and do not spend, spend, spend. Pay up your rent, phone bill, etc. Gear up for book bills, so save accordingly because some instructors have plenty of book requirements/ recommendations (some are an investment to your profession and others you will probably open like twice, your judgement call)
2. PARTY OUT prior to internship year because throughout your internship will be busy. This is only week 3 and I (As well as my peers) are pretty bogged down. Now don't get all worried there will be time for an occasional outing, game, family time, etc. Just know that your internship is your most valuable year prior to becoming a teacher. All of those tests, projects, etc are becoming more of a routine and not an assignment. So treat your internship with respect and invest yourself in it because the year after you will have your OWN classroom (get prepared, very prepared).
3. GET ORGANIZED. Make it a habit now because you will have a lot on your plate. So knowing where it is will be great. I organized my stuff with binders. An Internship year binder (all color coded and separated by class, and a portfolio binder (because you need to prepare for that professional portfolio).
4. There will be classes that you will feel that they are pointless, got one now (3 hours long...that's for you Special Ed students, not sure about Elementary Ed but i heard your days are shorter! Lucky you)
5. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE....I am a culprit of it, did it once and never again in this internship will I again procrastinate. Working in the class 30 plus hours, trying to eat and sleep, makes it a bit more difficult to cram.
6. Be a master of SKIMMING...All of those readings you will get on top of a long day can be quite annoying. Break up reading across the days and skim, highlight, and make whatever notes you choose. Read all of the texts word for word once and you will be one angry student. Not all of them are addressed in class and you only remember a small percentage (about 30% or so) of what you read.
7. You are going to love your students. They are a constant reminder of why you are placing yourself under so much stress, work, etc. The hugs, the notes, the pictures, the moments of where you totally got them to understand SOMETHING makes it worth it.
8. Stay away from the faculty room during lunch. Don't indulge in school gossip
9. Multitask....80% of my homework is done a week prior while in class. Makes the week less stressful. Just stay away from social media during class and just be productive as much as possible. Hard I know but getting your homework done feels much better than facebook creeping.
10. Don't jump rope if you have boobs, or anything that might jiggle and bounce (for guys and gals). Jump roped once in front of some third graders to teach them how to do it and the looks on those little boy faces O_O (eyes bucked). Interact with your students but just be mindful that you are an adult that has mature body parts that should be covered and bounce as less as possible.
That is all, until next time...
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