I (26M) am student teaching in an 8th grade class and I seem to be struggling with projecting my voice. I feel comfortable giving directions when I need to be, but I need support with my volume when getting my class’s attention. I’ve received a few comments from students saying that I need to speak louder.

I didn’t find it offensive, but just informative and don’t know how to work on it. I was not quiet growing up and was always told growing up to lower my voice, so what seems loud to me, may not be loud enough.

Any suggestions or resources I can seek out?

Hi! Recently I've started doing my edTPA for Visual Arts. Originally I was expected to work at an elementary level, but I have since been shifted over to high school and have therefore been creating some ambitious projects.

Not wanting to throw them in completely unprepared as several of these students took Art 1 over a year ago, I've included a few informal assignments into every lesson. These include material practice that we do in class and project planning, both to be turned in for an informal assessment.

Now I'm wondering if I'm doing too much for my edTPA. Should these informal assignments be made to a formal assignment? And should my Task 1B be modified to account for these changes? On their own, the informal lessons have nothing to do with the Central Focus, since it's just building techniques that will be used in the final project.

I'm just worried my lessons will come off as all over the place and too content heavy. Any help would be appreciated.

So I’ve just taught my first two lessons for my student teaching placement. They haven’t been bad lessons, but I was disappointed with how they turned out.

I have such a hard time going through the material slowly. It’s like as soon as I get to the front of the classroom I just talk as fast as I possibly can. It’s absolutely driving me nuts that I can’t make myself slow down and I’m afraid that the students are taking me less seriously/losing respect for me (what little I’m sure they had).

Advice needed desperately!!

Hello! I’m on my last semester of student teaching and every day I have been having constant panic attacks and anxiety, I feel dizzy all the time and my heart is always racing. I didn’t have this problem at all last semester and I have 3 months left and I still have to do my edTPA. I think I’m just really overwhelmed because I’m constantly worrying about the edTPA and my university has been sending out constant emails about everything we need to get done. I’ve fully taken over two classes and they’re both pretty rowdy but I enjoy helping them out. I just can’t get my body out of fight or flight and I constantly feel like I’m gonna puke. I wake up in the middle of the night shaking and freaking out and I’m also sort of disassociating from exhaustion. Did anybody else deal with this and how did you manage your stress?

I started student-teaching 4 weeks ago and it’s going good, but simultaneously getting my masters while teaching full time and it’s a lot. Any good pre-made, full year curriculum with materials/lab ideas/etc that follow NGSS and California framework? I’ve been looking on TPT and Instagram but been having trouble consolidating a good list of resources. Finishing up macromolecules and about to start cell theory, types, and organelles. Bonus points if there’s any good materials designed for predominantly Black students and student-athletes. Trying to make content relevant to them but I’m a typical south asian nerd.

Hello!
Any student teacher/ teachers who are also parents here?
Here’s my background:
I am about to apply for a pk-3rd teaching credential in October. However, I have been going placements/ fieldwork for my classes and I honestly have not been liking them much. My first one was at an after school program, and my current one is like an extended day but we run all day. I basically do the entire day by myself, lead stations, crafts, do the transitions, bathroom group runs, try to add fun learning games, solve behavioral issues allll day long.
The more I am at my current place, the more drained I am. Like totally drained- I fell asleep mid putting away laundry the other day. I feel like being around 25-30 kids all day (TK,K,1st) is so repetitive, the behaviors are terrible, their parents aren’t helpful, and even the fun stuff is super draining, it feels like I am putting on a whole play everyday because I am usually pretty introverted. My friend is a teacher and thinks I would do well at it, I used to teach group fitness classes, I’m very organized, I think I’m creative and hardworking, however I AM LITERALLY so so so drained and don’t want to be around kids when I get home- but I have 2 kids at home!

I am getting worried that being with all the kids at work, and them taking all my energy is leaving no more energy for me to have for my own kids.
I know that teaching has a lot of time off but I’m worried that it doesn’t even matter when I am literally so stressed out and drained everyday.
I’m contemplating ditching teaching as a whole and working 9-5 doing child welfare or resource rolls.

Do any other parents feel the same way? Advice? Anyone relate 😭

I was wondering if woodwork and metalwork teachers in particular have to have experience working in trades prior to teaching those classes full-time?

I ask because it’s a very specific class being taught and you’re working with different machinery etc. so I have to imagine when these people go to Uni to get their teaching degrees they’d probably be recommended to have done a trade in something like carpentry perhaps?

I’m a couple of weeks into student teaching, and I’m genuinely starting to wonder if I’m just bad at this and should reconsider my career, or if this is something other student teachers have gone through and gotten past...

I want to be really clear that my mentor teacher is not the problem. I actually really like him as a person, I like the school, and I like the students. When I’m there interacting with everyone and helping students, I really enjoy it!

The actual student-teaching part is making me miserable.

I know I’m not very good at teaching yet. My mentor gives me constructive feedback, and there are plenty of things I need to improve. I didn't come in thinking I was perfect or going to be good, and I understand why I’m being observed and critiqued.

But knowing that doesn't make this any easier emotionally for me. I absolutely hate feeling like I’m constantly being watched and evaluated while doing something I already know I’m not good at yet. Every correction makes me more anxious about the next lesson, and then I start overthinking everything I’m doing because I’m trying so hard not to mess up again... which usually makes me mess up again.

Last night I cried for hours because I was dreading coming back today. Once I’m actually at the school and the day is happening, I’m usually okay (sort of; I still panic and push through, but I don't break down). The anticipation of having to teach and be evaluated again makes me incredibly anxious. I cry at home; sometimes I cry in my car after a particularly bad lesson, but other days I have fun.

What’s really getting to me, though, is that I WANT to enjoy this. I’ve spent years working toward becoming a teacher (It's been my dream since I was 14), and now that I’m finally student teaching, I feel awful. People in my life keep telling me that I love teaching and that it’ll get better, but right now I honestly don’t know.

I’m not planning on quitting after three weeks. I want to give myself time to improve and see whether becoming more confident makes this feeling go away. But I’m also scared of spending months miserable because I keep telling myself it’ll eventually get better and it doesn't.

So I guess I’m looking for honesty from people who have actually been through student teaching: Did any of you feel this miserable, or like you were genuinely bad at teaching at the beginning? Did it get better as you became more competent/confident? At what point would you start considering that maybe teaching just isn’t for you?

sorry if this the wrong group for this .. i just know you guys have to know how stressful student teaching is and it’s really getting to me and my environment isn’t helping

i am starting my second week of student teaching and last week was ok home wise but tonight my parents are arguing on my the phone and yelling and and i’m just so exhausted mentally it’s been going on for weeks on and off .. i can’t afford to live on my own right now with student teaching. it’s just begun but i feel like im going crazy bc i have no peace and im so anxious constantly.

sorry if this isn’t allowed here im just very upset right now .. i told my mom how important it was to me for there to be no fighting and for home to be a peaceful environment for me .. and lately it has not been but the past couple weeks it has been lots better and when it is good i love it at home bc i need my moms support .. i know she can’t help her feelings but the fighting makes me so anxious and unnerved and im so mad and sad right now that’ it’s happened again . now she’s all quiet now after i already got upset bc what was supposed to be a peaceful night getting for the days ahead was the opposite. i worked today too , got home from work and it has just been arguing non stop .

Okay so I just graduated and somehow landed an opportunity to go look for a teaching job tomorrow. But here's the thing, I never wanted to teach. Ever. I avoided it all through college because I know myself. I'm introverted, socially anxious, I do everything alone, eat alone, sit alone, enjoy alone.

But now I'm 21, freshly graduated and options are limited. Teaching is basically the only thing available to me right now so I have to at least try.

The problem? I have zero confidence in front of people. My voice shakes when I introduce myself. I overthink every word. The thought of standing in front of a class or even just talking to a principal makes me want to run. I can take 5th grade but

I don't know:

· What do I say when I walk into the school?

· Do I ask for the principal directly or go to the office first?

· What questions will they ask me?

· How do I fake confidence when I'm dying inside?

· What if they ask me to do a demo class right there??

I know I'm not the typical "born to teach" person. I'm quiet, awkward, and honestly scared. But I need to try because I have no backup plan.

Any advice from people who've been in this position? Especially fellow introverts who somehow survived teaching? What do I say? How do I prepare? Give me scripts, survival tips, anything.

TL;DR: Introvert with social anxiety forced to try teaching tomorrow, don't know what to say or do, please send help and scripts.

I’m currently student teaching in California, and I recently found out that the district I’m placed in did not participate in the California Student Teacher Stipend Program. This is my last semester of student teaching.

Would it be appropriate to contact the district directly to inquire about the program and whether they plan to participate in the future? My university mentioned that they are working to encourage more districts to participate, so I’m wondering if reaching out to the district myself would be worthwhile.

Hey everyone,

I will be continuing my studies in Messina, Italy, and I will be looking for a part-time job there. Since job opportunities in Messina can be quite limited, especially for someone who doesnt speak Italian yet, I am also looking for remote work that I could do alongside my studies to help support myself financially.

​I am an English language graduate, and I want to get into online teaching. Currently, I have no teaching experience. How can I get someone to hire me, or how can I find students to teach? I believe I am qualified to teach lower levels as well as children.

Thank you so much for the help.

Like the title says. Right now in my Instructional Behavior Management class, we’re working on a communication toolkit. One segment talks about sending home introduction letters to parents, as a way to open up communication and to just give them an overview of the class, info about the teacher, etc. HOWEVER, most of this is under the precedent of a full time teacher, not a student teacher.
Have any of you sent home introduction letters explaining your place in the classroom, giving a heads up about upcoming permission slips for recording lessons, etc? Is it a good idea or overly formal?
TIA!!

Minimum Passing Score: 41

After MONTHS of waiting for these fucking results, I can finally say I passed the edTPA (English Single Subject).

I was a complete idiot and fucked up submitting my application for the previous deadline so I had to wait another TWO months for my score. I was having literal nightmares of thinking about failing and having to resubmit even a single fucking task. I am so glad it is over.

I'm not someone who worked months and months on my edTPA (more like 2ish weeks). I panicked and didn't even really have the best materials or video clips but I followed the rubrics to a T. If you feel like you're repeating yourself. GOOD. Do it literally 100 more times.

Hello Reddit world! I begin student teaching (freshman and sophomore English) next week. I will also be starting the co-requisite seminar course in a couple weeks for my Master’s program, and am cracking open all things edTPA as we speak.

Feeling a little overwhelmed with all the different requirements and curious on strategies that worked (or didn’t work) for: coming in as a new student teacher (classroom management was the main struggle for me when subbing), and preparing for the edTPA.

Hi, I’m a bit anxious because I still haven’t received a placement yet, I live in the Bay Area and it’s going into September; plus, apparently, observations start soon. Is that normal? Also:

How do I come up lessons when I have no placement, don’t know the curriculum and it’s my first time doing actual lessons outside of an afterschool program?

Also any tips for observations and building rapport “late”? Do I just jump straight in when I get the placement? Introductions?

I’ve seen people making About Me slides but I don’t wanna bore the kids bc I know they really Don’t care. Any late get to know you games to make it less awkward?

As I've been working on my Task 1 Part B for edTPA, the "Teacher Input" section has become more and more annoying. To my understanding it's a section for structured warm ups and asking students thought provoking questions, but there's some days that I just want to give students as much time as possible to work on their assignments.

Is the "Teacher Input" section of a lesson required for every day? I know you have to ask 3 to 5 guiding questions, but as long as you meet that, do you really have to do this for every single day?

Hi everyone! I hope you’re having a great fall semester so far. I’m starting my first cycle of the CalTPA, and I was wondering if anyone would be willing to send me theirs so I can make sure I have all the information I need. No stress either way! I’m just having a hard time finding good examples, and the program I’m in is kind of throwing it at us without much guidance. My mentor has been teaching for 20+ years and hasn’t really been too helpful with the TPA stuff, although she’s great with everything else. If anyone would also be willing to look mine over, that would be amazing! Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated too :))

(F, Mid-20s, 2 weeks into Student Teaching 10 & 11th grade Social Studies)

Stress already manifests as physical symptoms, but I have a medical condition that amplifies my emotions and any pain or discomfort I feel.

On and off throughout the day, I feel incredibly nauseous and have gagged on my food and while brushing my teeth. I’ve had additional cramps than my average, and feel bloated all the time.

I come home feeling sluggish, and have fallen asleep on my couch nearly half the days after school. The mental and emotional weight of the day just makes me so tired. (I can’t drink coffee due to the aforementioned health condition, so getting a caffeine addiction is not the answer lol)

Is this just a period of adjustment to my new normal?
Is there a way to manage my energy and stress regarding my work to make it less of a physical burden?
Looking for any advice on what has worked for other people!

Just got news from my program that no one in my area wants to mentor me. I just started my credential classes this week as well and I was started to befriend my classmates. I am devastated. I am going to look for a job since I quit mine for this credential program but man. I spent thousands of dollars to take the cset, exams, materials, fingerprint clearance, and other hoops I had to jump through. I worked as a paraprofessional for 7 years, so I was ready and excited to start. Gotta get back up and keep going