Hi Shivon, I hope your student teaching went well, or is still going well. Had I seen this when you posted it, I would have written, "Listen to, and get to know your students, on your own mostly; by that I mean, do not just learn of them from other teachers. Listen to what other teachers have to say about any particular student, but don't accept their view as gospel; instead, listen and learn about your students from their own mouths, writing, actions, and responses to what happens in the classroom. Then, appreciate them for who they are, and use what you have learned about them, to help them see value in themselves, in what they already can do without assistance, and what they can do with some guidance and encouragement. Finally, there are few things better than being able to appreciate, encourage, and positively affect the lives of young people, no matter their background, their struggles, their successes or their reputation. Be that kind of teacher, and you will never fail to enjoy your life in teaching young people. "
I would be interested in hearing how student teaching goes, or did go, for you. I absolutely loved my months of student teaching, I can still remember most of those students, and a lot of the interaction and learning that occurred in our classroom together, from almost twenty years ago.
