Experiencing a Student Teacher by Amanda Sangalli

Not most classes will get student teachers so not everyone knows what it's like to have one in a class. Luckily our class has been fortunate enough to actually get to see what it's like. At first, it was a little weird to have another person in the classroom, let alone another person teaching. Because it is already January, this whole school year we've been adjusting to Mrs. Kopp's teaching styles/habits and we have just become so used to having her teach us. Of course it was a little unusual to have someone else teaching us and just having Mrs. Kopp sit back and listen just like one of us students, but the experience of having a student teacher has helped a lot. It helps us get a better understanding that not everyone we have as a teacher is going to teach the same ways we're used to. It was nice to see a variety of teaching styles first hand from day to day. Also, most high school students never really have a teacher that's right out of college so we were able to see the difference between a brand new teacher and someone whose been doing this for years. Although it was a little awkward to answer questions or get situated with the change, it helped us learn new things in a different way that we are used to. Thankfully, we had a student teacher that was eager to teach us and passionate about what he was doing and not just someone who doesn't care. Having a student teacher in the classroom was kinda awkward at first, but once we opened up to the idea of it, we were able to realize how much this experience will end up benefiting us