I have felt the same when I was asked to teach math.  I turned that down because I felt I would be doing a disservice to the students.  I struggled through Native Studies, however, as it was close to one of my teachables, History.  I am glad I did, though, because I love teaching it and am now becoming qualified in it.  Issues like this come up to see how we handle them, and may, in fact, bring exciting new opportunities.

You’re lucky you are on practicum, as there are associate teachers in place to assist you.  Practicum is meant to throw you in to see what you’re able to do.  You will NOT be penalized or seen as incompetent if you ask for help.  The phrase at my teachers’ college was “teachers helping teachers,” and I see it happen every day.  We need to ask for help; we cannot do it alone, especially when teaching courses we are unfamiliar with, which, unfortunately, happens regularly.  

Good luck!  Believe in yourself!

I have felt the same when I was asked to teach math.  I turned that down because I felt I would be doing a disservice to the students.  I struggled through Native Studies, however, as it was close to one of my teachables, History.  I am glad I did, though, because I love teaching it and am now becoming qualified in it.  Issues like this come up to see how we handle them, and may, in fact, bring exciting new opportunities.

You’re lucky you are on practicum, as there are associate teachers in place to assist you.  Practicum is meant to throw you in to see what you’re able to do.  You will NOT be penalized or seen as incompetent if you ask for help.  The phrase at my teachers’ college was “teachers helping teachers,” and I see it happen every day.  We need to ask for help; we cannot do it alone, especially when teaching courses we are unfamiliar with, which, unfortunately, happens regularly.  

Good luck!  Believe in yourself!

You can’t worry about those factors.  Choose whatever path you are most interested in and comfortable with.  I was similar in age to you when I started teaching, and it’s not that big of a deal.  As long as you are respectful, firm and create clear boundaries, students will know their place.  If they do not, there are supports in place in schools for the situation to be dealt with.

Good luck!

You can’t worry about those factors.  Choose whatever path you are most interested in and comfortable with.  I was similar in age to you when I started teaching, and it’s not that big of a deal.  As long as you are respectful, firm and create clear boundaries, students will know their place.  If they do not, there are supports in place in schools for the situation to be dealt with.

Good luck!

After getting some hate mail about teachers being the worst people on earth and that they are taking over tumblr, the student oasis, thank you for this 🙂

After getting some hate mail about teachers being the worst people on earth and that they are taking over tumblr, the student oasis, thank you for this 🙂

I would talk to the teacher to explain your concerns.  Politely talk with them to say that their teaching style is not meshing with your learning style, and that you are hoping there are some other options available, because you really want to improve.

I would talk to the teacher to explain your concerns.  Politely talk with them to say that their teaching style is not meshing with your learning style, and that you are hoping there are some other options available, because you really want to improve.

If you feel this way, politely express your concerns to your teacher.  Your teacher may not necessarily realize the effect he or she is having on the students.  The situation will not change unless the teacher is made aware.  

In my short teaching experience thus far, I have noticed that the abilities of the students year to year has been decreasing.  What I mean by this is the capabilities of my first ever class of 11 University Preparation students were capable of doing a number of things that, according to curriculum, they should have known and understood well before grade 11; the following year, the same grade level knew less, and the year after that the students knew less than the second group, and so on, forcing me to go back to basics before I could teach new concepts.  This happens with every group I teach, regardless of grade or level.  Teachers expect students to know and understand certain concepts before the students get to a certain grade/class, because, according to curriculum, they should have already accomplished certain tasks; unfortunately, however, this doesn’t always happen, frustrating the teacher who is trying to fit in everything they are required to teach (which is a lot!)  I am not trying to excuse your teacher’s comments, as I can understand their effects, but what I am trying to do is explain the perspective of the teacher for expecting certain things from students.

Please talk with your teacher.

If you feel this way, politely express your concerns to your teacher.  Your teacher may not necessarily realize the effect he or she is having on the students.  The situation will not change unless the teacher is made aware.  

In my short teaching experience thus far, I have noticed that the abilities of the students year to year has been decreasing.  What I mean by this is the capabilities of my first ever class of 11 University Preparation students were capable of doing a number of things that, according to curriculum, they should have known and understood well before grade 11; the following year, the same grade level knew less, and the year after that the students knew less than the second group, and so on, forcing me to go back to basics before I could teach new concepts.  This happens with every group I teach, regardless of grade or level.  Teachers expect students to know and understand certain concepts before the students get to a certain grade/class, because, according to curriculum, they should have already accomplished certain tasks; unfortunately, however, this doesn’t always happen, frustrating the teacher who is trying to fit in everything they are required to teach (which is a lot!)  I am not trying to excuse your teacher’s comments, as I can understand their effects, but what I am trying to do is explain the perspective of the teacher for expecting certain things from students.

Please talk with your teacher.