What Is My Experience Of Becoming An Elementary Teacher

I am now finishing up my amazing journey of becoming an elementary teacher. I have learned many techniques and strategies from my professors and mentors. But during my time as a student teacher, I have developed a whole new appreciation for teachers and all of the work that they do every day. For my first student teaching experience I was assigned to Mrs. Jackson’s third grade reading class at the South Side Upper Elementary in Picayune, Mississippi, and for my second experience I was assigned to Mrs. Lenoir’s fifth grade science and social studies class at Pearl River Upper Elementary, which is also located in Picayune. Both experiences were similar in many ways and helped me to grow into a more assertive teacher. But on the other hand, I …show more content…
During my first student teaching experience, Mrs. Jackson’s third grade classroom was filled with rules and procedures, because the students were still young and needed more structure. But Mrs. Lenoir’s fifth grade classroom was a little different because the students are older and more familiar with what is expected of them. So when I entered her classroom, I was not too sure how fifth graders would react to being disciplined. But surprisingly, dealing with older students was not so difficult. I showed them right away that I would respect them as long as they respected me. I allowed the students to speak more freely during classroom discussions and I tried to include their ideas into my lesson …show more content…
Developing these skills are not only essential in the classroom, but help me to work well in a team and be able to communicate effectively with colleagues and parents. While working with Mrs. Jackson at South Side Upper Elementary, all of the third grade teachers worked very closely as a team to develop lesson plans and discussed different ways to assist their students. On the other hand, the fifth grade teachers at Pearl River Central did more individual classroom planning. But when Mrs. Lenoir discovered that many of the students were struggling in math, she integrated math into her classroom whenever possible. Since Mrs. Lenoir has older students it is easier for her to take the time to talk with them and show interest in their life. She always responds very positively to students’ inputs and encourages them to voice their opinions. She has taught me that a teacher does not have to be overly strict in order to earn the respect of her students and that it is important to relax and just be