Madeline LaLonde is in her fourth year of teaching as a fourth grade teacher in Geneva, Illinois. She taught with me in the Fall of 2012 and graduated in May 2013 with a certificate to teach K-8 from Illinois State University.
This is post two of six in a series about student teaching, mentoring, and how we are always becoming teachers: “The Coaching Tree for Teachers.” In this post, Madeline reflects on our time working together, what she is discovering about teaching after a few years in the classroom, and how she might support her future student teachers.
1) What ideas, beliefs, lessons did you take away from our time together that seem helpful in your own teaching now?
I learned so much during my entire student teaching experience. Specifically, my time spent student teaching in 8th grade, I will never forget. You taught me how to look at teaching as more of a process rather than a goal or end task to be achieved. You also taught me the importance of reflection after each lesson and how to use those reflections for improvement even if that meant completely changing the path that specific lesson was taking. I learned how important it is to speak to the students as equals rather than speaking to them as their authority. Also, my belief of looking at each child as a whole child rather than just a student in my classroom, came from my time spent with you!
2) What are you struggling with or working through now and is there something we could have done during student teaching to help
I have been very fortunate to have been hired in a very supportive school. As a result of this amazing support, I did not have as many or the same types of struggles that most first year teachers report. One of the aspects of teaching that I find to be challenging is finding the right classroom management techniques that fit each individual class and each individual student. So far, every class I have had has been so very different from one another and each one has required different management techniques to run smoothly. I do not think there was much we could have done during student teaching that would have helped me through this, especially because 4th grade and 8th grade are very different, but definitely some of the ideas/beliefs listed in my answer to number one have gotten me through some tough moments so far.
3) When you are ready for a student teacher, what do you think you can most help with and what do you think new teachers just have to figure out on their own?
When I have a student teacher, I think the best way to help them will be through modeling effective teaching as much as possible. This includes showing patience, respect, tone of voice, questioning techniques, etc. I know that I learned so many of my teaching characteristics just by watching you teach! The lesson planning and the classroom setup, etc. are things that can be taught to a student teacher but it also is something that comes naturally as a teacher figures out their personal style. So, I would say technical things like that, a teacher might just have to figure out on their own. I believe the most important things that a new teacher can learn do not even involve lesson planning. A child won’t learn curriculum or state standards if they don’t feel safe, cared about and respected first.