Hi everyone. I am new to this site and hoping I can get some advice. I start my student teaching w/ 3rd graders Sept 6th and I have a few questions concerning student teaching. My main concern is that I still have to work while I am student teaching, eventhough my college says we shouldn't. There's no way I cannot work. I have bills that can't wait for 15 weeks to be paid and I need to work full time to keep my health benefits. Is it possible to do so while teaching? The school hours are from 8:30 am-3:00pm and my work availability is 5:00-11:00 during the week and open to close on weekends; I need to work a minimum of 32 hours a week and I cannot afford to lose what I am making at this job until I start teaching. My manager said he'll work along with me as much as he can. Does anyone else have to work while student teaching, if so how is it possible? Second thing is my college did not prepare us enough for our student teaching. We don't know about disclipline techniques and how to actually teach a lesson (all they did was have us create lessons and teach only one). I don't want to go into the class looking like I have no idea what I'm doing. I did 3 fieldwork observations in 2 kindergarten classes and 1 2nd grade class, where the 2nd grade cooperating teacher yelled and screamed everyday and took advantage of me being there by having me do her busy work and kindergarten is big age difference from 3rd graders. I am afraid that I have been set up for failure w/ student teaching. Is this normal? Does anyone have any adivce? I would greatly appreciate all the advice I can get!!! Thank you in advance
No college ever prepares us for what really happens behavior wise in the classroom.... it's all on the job training. Don't worry too much. There are some excellent threads on management if you search the forums.
I am a new teacher. Here's something to consider....as a new teacher I am expected by parents and adminstrators (some) to come into a position and plan, prepare, deliver lessons, and manage students and parents as well as the person in the next room with 20 years of experience. During student teaching focus on developing good classroom management skills, as I'm sure your college has drilled you to death on prep. After college we can all prep...its learning classroom management that most teachers struggle with. Just keep working hard and everything will fall into place. About working outside the school day....my pre-service school did not allow it, but I would say it's up to you. If you need to pay bills you may not have a choice, just bite the bullet, BUT BE SURE TO PLACE YOUR STUDENTS FIRST NO MATTER WHAT. Good luck!!! It's the best profession out there
Here's the deal: You will never know everything you should until you are the real teacher... I did my student teaching in Fall '03. I was working part-time, but I figured my schedule to where I worked Fri. night, and all Sat. and Sun. Trust me, I was drained. My coop. teacher hated that I had a job because her previous 2 student teachers didn't work. They were dreams come true, but I didn't bleed and sweat for student teaching. My coop. teacher was a witch, too. I worked about 20 hrs. a week, and I was going crazy. To work 32 hrs. is really crazy, but you do what you gotta do. I can tell you that you'll probably spend 10 hours a week at least planning. You'll be expected to stay at school later (it may affect your grade) and attend meeting. I didn't work at all Mon. - Thurs. so that I could stay. I was SOOOOO drained all the time. It was a MISERABLE time. I literally had a countdown once I hit the end of Sept. Prepare yourself for a bumpy ride and good luck!!!
thanks for the honest advice. 3 days a week will be about 5-6 hour shifts and the rest of the hours will be made up on the weekends. I hope i don't get too burned out. The thing that I might have on my side is that my cooperating teacher has a 3 yr old kid so mostlikely she'll be in a hurry to get out of school.... and it's a small school (2 classes per grade). I don't know...i have been stressing about student teaching and working so much. I am already counting down the days to december 15th....but no matter what I will put the students before work as best as i can....thanks again for the help
It is going to be very hard to work full time and student teach. In fact, my college would have not allowed it (and removed you from the program if you tried). Have you actually told your college supervisor and cooperating teacher your situation? Is there any way you can get loans? Can you get insurance through your college? You may be able to start some of your work right now. Do you have a syllabus and contact w/ your cooperating teacher? Maybe you can write up some of your plans and then have her critique them. You could start making projects (file folder games, power points, etc). At least you might then not have so much work in the evenings. Good luck.
I waitressed while student teaching. Four days a week, 4pm-??? As I recall, some days were tough, but we all do what we need to.
Student teaching is like a full time job. I started out my student teaching working, but I just got too burnt out. I lived very financially tight during the end of my student teaching. But...it's different for all of us. If you're willing "to work your buns off" for a couple month, then go for it. You'll be a stronger person in the end.
I worked part time while student teaching. I worked for the school district I taught at doing aftercare. I agree student teaching/college doesn't really prepare you. The aftercare program I worked with however prepared me a whole lot! It dealt with a similar population that I deal with now. Good luck...
First off as stated in previous posts, it will be rough however you have to do what you have to do! I was an "older" student teacher that had to tend to a family also. Plus, during student teaching I also had to take one class at night in order to graduate when I wanted. It was a difficult time, however I made sure I did what I had to do to make everyone happy. I would say the biggest thing is, you MUST be organzied. You can do it, but it will be rough. I had to get approval to take the class at night. My college discouraged it, but in reality I was already working full time as a parent and assistant and going to school at night. This was nothing out of the ordinary.You won't get much time for yourself during student teaching and you will stretch yourself thin. Just remember though that in the big picture your student teaching time will go by super fast. You can do anything for a short amount of time! I wish you the best of luck in your experience.
Boy, I know you gotta do what you gotta do, but I would do whatever it takes to NOT have to work during student teaching. I just knew that I was tired just from teaching, I can't imagine having a job too. I remember wondering if I should work or not and then THANKING GOD that I didn't when I was in the middle of it. You need glowing recommendations from your cooperating teacher(s) to get a job, so that was my #1 priority. I knew I had to put my all into student teaching to get a job the next year. I had to pay the bills, too, but what I did was take out more college loans for that semester and then I lived very frugally. I don't know if you can do that, but if you can I recommend it. Yes, I now have more loans to pay than I would like, but in my mind it was worth it to focus all my attention on my future career. If you do end up having to work, good luck to you and I am sending good thoughts your way!!
I worked in a group home from about 4-10 and weekends. Luckily, my job was flexible, but I wouldn't have dreamed of not working while student teaching. It's just part of life. You do what you have to do, and somehow things always manage to work out.
i will be starting student teaching in january. we have been advised that it is not best to student teach during those 15 weeks because we do not know what our schedules will be like. we have been told that if the teacher is in the classroom from 6am-7pm, then we are there, too. but, i have been saving like CRAZY! i tried to tally up all of my bills and keep on a tight budget. i am not sure what is going to happen. i am also a little worried about this but i don't think that working is going to work. especially at my job. so, i'd have to find a new job anyway. and, we have class while we're student teaching, too. hmm... if you're able to work and not get too worn out, go for it. but, i guess, just be prepared for what comes at you. good luck!
I worked 20+ hours while student teaching and I survived. I needed the money and couldn't imagine not working during ST. It will help prepare you for how many hours you will work when you get your first teaching job. I did most of my extra hours on the weekends and a few hours at night during the week.
I would have to agree: working while doing your student teaching will be tough. But, as stated above, you do what you have to do. I was fortunate that I didn't have to work during student teaching. My husband paid the bills and we just budgeted the best we could. I would have to agree also that coming home from a long day of teaching is tough and I couldn't imagine having to go to another job. I also had two small children when I did my student teaching. We all have to get by the best we know how. We were also told that we should get there when the master teacher is there and stay until s/he leaves. If we got there before him/her, that would be better. So, that's what I did. My master teacher was going through a divorce at the time and having to go to court for custody of the kids. She was pre-occupied with all of that and pretty much let me run the classroom on my own. However, I had been in there at the beginning of the school year doing practicums and did my student teaching in the spring so I was there the whole year. Good luck to you. I'm sure it will all work out. It's good that you have a boss that is willing to work with you and rearrange the schedule to accommodate your needs.
I worked while student teaching. It was not advised by my college, but my Univerisity Superviser said, I know a some of you will have to work...bills have to be paid and so forth. It wasn't EASY by any means, but I managed. I worked mostly weekends. I was living at home at the time so that helped a LOT.
I didn't, aside from some occasional baby-sitting from some of my "regulars." Like some other folks, I lived at home, which made a HUGE difference!!! I was so busy with lesson planning and the papers we had to write that I couldn't have pulled it off. If I'd been on a "regular" ST schedule I probably could have made it work, but I was on an accellerated block... we had to get all the projects that we'd normally have in 16 weks done in 8 weeks, because my group also did half in England... there is NO WAY I could have done the double work load plus held a paying job! But... my circumstances were a bit unusual.
I worked during my student teaching and it wasn't a real problem. Yes, the college suggested not working an additional job, but then I should get paid for student teaching because we all have bills to pay! I at least had to have money to pay for gas to actually get to my school! I guess they expect everyone to have parents that can give money every week. My parents would give me some when they could, but I knew I couldn't beg all the time. I worked retail a few nights a week (however, mainly Fri.-Sun.). I didn't make a lot, but at least it was enough for gas and food! I would get out of school around 3:15-3:30 and then go to work at 5 til 9:30. I would get my lesson plans done either: 1) before school (ie getting there a little early), 2)during our planning (which at that school, was only 1 45 min. pd. per week), or 3) while the kids were gone to specials in the afternoon. So it's possible! You'll be tired from doing both, but hey-you're gonna be tired anyway! Maybe you could see if your school allows subbing with in the school or for your particular class. That way you could get paid for teaching-especially if your cooperating teacher is going to be out and you have to be there anyway! I did that a few times. As far as your other concerns, really sit down and talk with your cooperating teacher and maybe other teachers on your team. Ask them what they do and to give you some suggestions. Are you required to sit and observe a few days before you jump in? We had to do that. If possible, ask your teacher if you can observe at least one day. Maybe you could set up to go watch some other teachers in your school for a little bit. How long is your student teaching? We had to do a year long internship. The first semester I went from 7:30-10:00 Mon./Weds. and all day Fri. since I still had classes. Then second semester, I was there all day every day.
I too started student teaching in January. In my program we do the student teaching and take our classes at the same time. There were several people in my cohort who worked, primarily on the weekends though. There was a young single mother of 2 in my program who was working 2-3 jobs last semester, and she was tired all the time. But she survived the semester. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Thank you everyone for the advice. Student teaching here is 15 weeks starting Sept 5th to Dec 15th. I wish I can take out loans so I didn't have to work but I am already $40,000 in student loan debt as it is, then I have my car payments and insurance, gas money and perscription costs. I live at home as well, which is a major advantage but I also help my parents as well since they have their own financial and medical problems. I knew I had to save money for when I start ST but time went bye so fast and my family and I ran into a lot of financial and medical problems recently. I know how burnt I will be and between school and work I won't be seeing to much of my family and I won't have a life but it's only temporary. I will be looking forward to those two nights a week I have off from work, the weekends to sleep in, and the holiday breaks that will be coming up. I'm just hoping I am not making a big mistake. Thank you all again!
Hi. I'm new to this site also. I am starting my student teaching tomorrow for 16 weeks, and I will also be working 32 hours. I am working Thursday through Sunday, 4-midnight. I have three kids and need the health insurance, so not working is not an option. I made it through six courses and working full time last semester, so I think I can handle 16 more weeks. I just hope my family can handle it! My CT has agreed to let me observe on Fridays, so I will just have to do all of my planning Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Just keep telling yourself it's only temporary. Good luck!
Ok my first thought is work, don't listen to your college. Heh. Out of all the people that student taught when I did, I was the only one living on my own and married. I had to work to pay for my house. I did cut back my hours, only because I hated my job. I had 2 placements in student teaching, because I'm both elementary and special education. On my second placement, I ended up getting 2 jobs. Everday after I was done with student teaching, I would go and teach at an after-school program. For your other worry, talk with your teacher that working with. You learn more by student teaching than you do being in college in 4 years.
Thank you everyone. I met w/ my CT on Thursday and she is aware of me having to work, so she is okay w/ it. It's only Tues, Wed, and Fri nights I work during the week. My family understands that they won't be seeing much of me. I should be changing departments where I work as a promotion but it's going to be less stress on me there and I shouldn't be working as late as I am already. I work at Best Buy and I handle the store's money so my night usually ends around 11:00ish. I'm just fortunate enough that my managers want to work w/ me. I'm stressing over everything....I'm already stressing out majorly because I never worked w/ 3rd graders. I have the teacher's edition math book (math is my weakest area) and I am clueless because it's so different from the teacher's editions I'm used to. I feel so unprepared and I am afraid that it will show. Thank you again for helping me out!
Try not to stress. You're STUDENT teaching, not in there on your own. Your Cooperating Teacher should be a big help. And, remember: it's 3rd grade math!!! You can do 3rd grade math!
I'm a first year teacher & despite having a year & a half substitute teaching experience i have learned in only a week of teaching that college and even student teacher DOES NOT prepare you for the real thing. And yes, it is possible to work while you finish your program & student teach. It will be hell, you will have no social life, and you will be exhausted, but as you know it must be done. I worked on the weekends as a full time nanny (every other weekend) (7:30 friday night to 7:30 Sunday night) for my first semester of student teaching then worked as a nanny (diff. family) 4pm-12 or so every Friday & Saturday nights during my second semester of student teaching. It was rough as anything but I had to do it. So good luck with getting it all done. It will be challenging but if you just keep with it, it wil be worth it in the end when you get your teaching certificates.
Hey... I'm glad to see there are others who know about feeling like you're not only burning your candle at both ends, but in the middle as well! I am in my final semester of student teaching (3 full days per week + 1 day of university classes). However, I am also taking 2 other classes (1 I need to graduate and one that I am just interested in (yeah, why would anybody be crazy enough to take unnecessary classes? ). I am also working 15-20 hours per week but it can all be done from my home computer when I have time (as long as I meet deadlines). However, I am getting behind in my classwork... It seems I need a 5 day weekend to catch up on everything! Hey, wouldn't that be cool if weekends were 5 days and weeks were only 2? Or, 5 on- 5 off... heh Anyway, keep us posted on how you're holding up. We all need support to make it through this.
Ouch! I feel for you. I just started student teaching a week and a half ago. My way of getting through college (and student teaching) as a single mom of three boys is to do online auctions on Ebay. Works wonders! I started this about four years ago while I was still married and intend to continue after I start a "real" job. Even so, it is not easy getting out of school and running to the PO before it closes. I cannot imagine working 32 hours a week. I am overwhelmed as it is and I'm not even doing that much right now. My CT says, "Take over whenever you want, it's your classroom whenever you want it". You have to do what you have to do, especially keeping on the health insurance. I just have to suffer every time I am sick, like right now. My CT asked if I wanted to go home yesterday. I can only miss three days total so I said no. I must have looked like hell! Anyway, good luck. I am looking forward to being done! I imagine you are too!
I couldn't do it. I was teaching the full high school schedule (3 different classes). I was doing all the planning and marking for my classes. Everything needed to be planned a week in advance so it could be discussed and approved by my (2) associate teachers. It was difficult. Many times I was up to 11 at night just getting everything done. It might be different in your area of study, or in you school, but I was always busy (except Saturdays- my day off)
I have an intern right now and she works Monday after school and all day Saturday and Sunday. She's pretty tired, but still trucking along well. Kelly
