Walking into his fifth hour science class in mid-February with a weary sigh, a Free State student–I’ll call him Max–slouches into his same old chair in the back of the room. The bell rings, and in walks a woman too young to be his teacher and too old to be a fellow classmate.
“Good afternoon, class,” she announces. “I’m your new student teacher.”
Max and the rest of the students sit up in their chairs. An energetic and newly educated university student in the classroom is sure to add some spark to fifth hour.
Student teachers, like Max’s, bring a fresh atmosphere and innovative ideas to the classroom, and they in turn gain vital experience that will serve them well when they truly kick off their careers. In order for everyone to reap the benefits of this symbiotic teaching-learning relationship, however, students must be open to cooperating with aliens from outer space (aka college).
Unfortunately, some high school students are reluctant to leave the familiarity of their current teacher for a new face, convinced that anyone so close to them in age will be unable to help them academically. Students set themselves up for failure when they pass judgment before even meeting their student teachers, as negative thoughts will hinder any help that might have come their way.
Student teaching not only provides university students with experience but also supplies younger students with different learning styles that will encourage them to view materials in new and interesting ways. A student teacher who is also studying graphic design, for instance, may create eye-catching worksheets for visual learners, while another who specializes in science will have up-to-date knowledge about scientific studies to share with the class. While the switch from teacher to student teacher may unsettle some high school students, it is important to remember change is often a good thing, and as long as they remain optimistic, they will gain as much from their student teachers as their student teachers gain from them.
That young woman from KU—the one standing in front of her fifth hour science class for the very first time—has already resolved to take on the vast responsibility of teaching the nation’s youth. She just might turn out to be the kind of educator who inspires students to become rocket scientists and brain surgeons, but in the meantime, entering the room with an open mind will allow students to connect with this student teacher and with others they may meet in the future. Mutual respect can go a long way in boosting understanding and confidence, not to mention grades.
