Internship

I can’t help but notice all the status updates on my Facebook and all of the blogs showing up on our ECMP 355 homepage about internship placements and the excitement that comes with that! It forces me to remember last summer as I was waiting for my news about what school I would be in and who my cooperating teacher would be. I could not wait! I am slightly envious in regards to the new and exciting things these interns are going to be experiencing in the fall. Internship will be full of opportunities and has the potential to shape the rest of your education career! So, I will use my internship experience to give you some pointers about your upcoming journey, some of which I’m sure you’ve heard before and hopefully some which will be useful:

1. Get involved.

Do as much as you can! Take some supervision shifts. Here’s why: you get to put yourself out there and interact with the students outside of the classroom setting – helping them get more comfortable with you is crucial for the short amount of time you are there. AND! You also get paid! It helps take away from the lake of income during internship. I was in a nice little debt at the end of it. Also help out with sports teams or productions, depending upon what you fancy. The more extra curricular you do, the more you will benefit.

2. Don’d be scared.

I know, it’s really hard to do yet easy to say. For the first class I taught, I was nervous, extremely nervous. This lead to a dry mouth and me speeding through the material at an alarming rate. The students know you are an intern, and have been warned about your situation. They know you are there to learn so feel a little bit of comfort in that.

3. Be real with your students.

Students are smart. They can see through a fake persona. It is best to be who you are and let your strengths come out. This will help you feel comfortable at the front of the class as well as make it much less taxing on you. If you are yourself, there is a much better chance the students will like you!

4. If you have a bad day, don’t worry!

Bad days happen to interns and veteran teachers alike. Just because one day is bad, does not mean that the rest will be. The worst days are often followed by the best so just be resilient. Sometimes, you can’t help when something goes wrong, most of the time it is not your fault. You can’t plan for everything and will sometimes have to improvise – a skill you will hone over the course of internship.

5. It’s not as bad as you think it will be.

I was worried going into internship that I would be at the school from seven in the morning to seven at night and I would have no life outside of my internship. This is not the case. You will be busy, don’t get me wrong, but you will have time to yourself and what ever else is important in your life. It is achievable by everyone, including you!

6. Your coop is your friend.

They are not there to make your life a living hell. They are there to help you. All teachers have gone through internship and know how difficult it can be. Be open with them and make sure they how you are doing and what you are struggling with. They will help you along the way and make sure you have all of the supports you need.

7. Take some “you” time.

Internship will be stressful. Make sure that you take some time for the things you enjoy, it will keep you sane. This benefits you and your students, if you are too stressed out it will have an effect on your teaching. I found that Friday night was a perfect time to unwind, take advantage of it. Whether it is having a beer with some friends or simply unwinding with that special someone, you are going to need this time!

8. Have fun!

Enjoy your time at the school. If you think of it as a heavy burden which you simply have to trudge through to the to the light at the end of the tunnel, you will be in trouble! This mindset will change everything you do from teaching to interacting with fellow teachers. Having fun and a positive mindset will make the world of a difference.

Well, that is all the wisdom I can seem to muster. Hope some of these ideas will help you as you move towards internship. If you have any questions at all, feel free to comment and I will do my best to answer! Good luck with internship!