Teaching while enrolled in a teacher credentialing
program can put some weight on your shoulders. To the many teachers who are
just starting out, the journey will be long and challenging. I am a participant
in this journey.
It is close to the end of my first semester at SJSU. I am a graduate student enrolled in the mild/moderate Educational
Specialist Credentialing Program. I knew I had to make some vital changes to how I managed my time. I am currently taking 15 units and teaching 6 classes . When I
reflect on this semester, I think about my growth as a teacher and a student.
As a Teacher, I went into a situation blind. I
learned that I will have to teach four different subjects the week before
school was to start. I found myself searching for curriculum for all of my
subjects over the weekend. I did not get the support I needed, I soon ventured
from classroom to classroom at the school searching for curriculum. I found the
resources needed to begin teaching. I
grew a bit this semester, I know where to find resources, how to manage my
classroom, The needs of a English Language Learner, How to differentiate
Lesson, Develop an IEP, and a host of other tools to teach our young adults. I
have grown and continue to grow.
As a Student, the workload is tedious, yet valuable.
I spent the last few months learning about the many styles available for classroom
management. I know my management style
will change from time to time, a tweak here and a tweak there, and address the
needs of the entire classroom. Assistive Technology is an important resource
for providing students with disabilities the personal independence they need to
have success. There will be some hard times, some days I don’t want to do
anything. There will be days that I will procrastinate, turning in that
assignment at the last minute. But I can say I have grown, and I continue to
grow.
