Advice for Future Teacher Cadets
My advice for future teacher cadets that decide to put themselves out there in an internship experience is that you stay on top of your impact in class and take initiative. Because of my lack of initiative, I feel as if my experience could have been more rewarding. Check your internship schedule frequently and stay on track with your weekly summaries. Get involved in your internship by conversing with the students as well as the teacher as much as possible. Try to network and make connections with your teacher as well as other teachers at the school you intern at. If you become good enough acquaintances, you can ask your cooperating teacher for help further down the road when you actually become a teacher. Do everything full out; do not half-way do anything. If you seize the opportunity of this great internship experience, you can get a lot out of it. It will help you grow as an educator, student and a person in general. Ask the cooperating teacher questions, they are sources of knowledge because they are an actual teacher that considers you something other than a student: an assistant. Take a chance and do something out of your comfort zone. Teach a class that you may not exactly want to teach or it may not be your first choice. Experience how different levels of students learn differently. Be very observant to the students and be interested in their problems and questions. Be a role model to the children by setting an excellent example of professionalism, hygiene, and respect. You become an idol to the children and they will want to talk to you and be around you. Take the time to listen to them and create bonds with them. All the hard work will be worth it in the end when you see your experience of your internship as a fulfilling one.