So I just taught my first lesson to first graders! I was teaching with a partner, so we both took turns. We were teaching about 10 students with special needs about less than, greater than, or equal to signs, as well as the number line. In order to show them how to use these signs, I used something I found on YouTube There's this video that treats the signs like an alligator's mouth, and that the alligator always eats the bigger number. The students found this to be extremely easy, however. It wasn't until my partner and I gave them some problems on the number line that they began to struggle. With two of the students I helped, I think it was reading the problem that caused them to struggle. The students were pretty eager to finish their work and leave, mostly because it was Friday and they wanted their Friday Treat.
After co-teaching my first lesson, what are my thoughts? First, I was railing on myself because I thought I sounded too monotone. I didn't speak as much as I thought I would. Plus, I felt like I didn't enjoy the experience as much as I should have because I was so stressed about it just a few hours earlier. Naturally, I started to question whether this was the right career path for me and naturally, I started to dwell.
After speaking with a student teacher, I realize I forgot something that I should always remember. I'm not going to be perfect. I'm not going to be comfortable standing up in front of a class right away. I'm going to need practice before I finally am comfortable. One thing I want to convey to my students is that even their teacher makes mistakes. I want them to know that it's okay to make mistakes because that's the only way they'll learn. I care so much that I want to be perfect and flawless, which I now see could end up being my downfall.
From this latest teaching experience, I have learned to relax and just go with the flow. If I can't learn to enjoy life as it comes, how am I going to be happy teaching?
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