Reflection

In reflecting back on my original blog about my advice to myself for the first day of class, I have to say that a lot of what was said there can be still be of great use.  But most interestingly, the things mentioned in that post are very similar to the things mentioned in the post right before this one.  There is a strong focus on the students and the interactions between the teacher on a personal level.  Getting to know the students is key.

From what I've observed in my practicum, it is easy to achieve this if the teacher is very sociable with his/her students.  The students will feel comfortable in the classroom and the teacher will receive so much information about their personalities and what they express in their work.

Some more advice that I can give myself is to expect just about everything from the students in terms of their personal lives.  The students will be an open book, and they will not be afraid to talk with you about anything.  Personal relationships, school, stress, and family issues are just a few of the things you can expect to talk about with your students.  You need to be prepared to say the right things, and to be a good role model to the students.  They will look up to you, and they will come to you for advice.

Contacting their parents about your concerns will be necessary also.  If a particular student is worrying you in any way, you should contact his/her parents and discuss the matter with them.  But, depending on the circumstance, it might be best to contact the school counselor first, or discuss it with your coworkers who have this student in their classes as well.  Also, do the same for when the student is impressing you in a positive manner, the parents will love to hear that their student is doing well in your class and they will likely tell this to their child which will benefit the student in many ways.

Being a teacher isn't just about writing lessons and grading work, it's about being a mentor and a role model to your students.  You will learn a lot about your students, and you will have to teach them many more things in life than just art.