r/StudentTeaching

Hi, I made this one. I've played Wordle-likes for years and always wanted to build my own, but I never had an idea that felt like mine.

The push came from a strange place. Half of what I read these days is written by AI, and it's never short. Every email, every doc, twelve words where five would do. At some point I said the phrase out loud, long story short, and realised it was a game.

So: you get a twelve-word sentence. You rephrase it in exactly five of its own words. Real English, same meaning, your job is to work out which words carry the sentence and which are just dressed up to look important. Scoring is Wordle style, blue for right word in the right spot, orange for in the answer but elsewhere, grey for out. Five tries, one sentence a day.

My wife and my brother were the playtesters. An early version let "the" beat proper words in the answer, which felt awful to lose to, so the answers now always favour the concrete word. That one change ate a whole weekend.

My mentor teacher seems great, the school seems great, I met with the evaluator and they seem great. Overall, I have nothing to complain about as of yet however for some reason this period of time leading up to student teaching has been awful mentally.

I’m just not really looking forward to “working” full time for 3 months basically unpaid. Feeling senses of envy looking at other degrees that wouldn’t have required something like this. Feeling low on motivation and optimism about the whole thing. I keep trying to tell myself that I’ll make the best of it but that pride quickly fades into dread. Anyone gone through this/ have any tips?

Veteran teacher w/a new student teacher. I set up a desk and introduced this young pupil to curriculum, Admin, Canvas, grading, IEP’s, et al. She is VERY young and committed to stapling, printing, copying, rebuking the kids. Smirks when I get technology wrong, which is hurtful.
I teach in the GT program (7th grade). I have talked to her about using polite language and urged her to get to know the students. I think there’s potential…
My problem? She is not only wanting the classroom to be a police state, but is completely disinterested in ELA content and honestly? How I teach. Her assignments are generic and unrealistic (asking 7th graders to answer 25 writing Q in 10 minutes. Not content-related, incidentally). She is not willing to grade after hours, and in facts believes that grading student writing equals a check mark. I kinda think she might have to learn the hard way. I don’t want her to have a negative experience but she does actually throw shade; again, hurtful, because isn’t this year an opportunity to learn, say, a bit of figurative language? (During my lessons, her back is turned. ) I’ve heard loads about student teachers having bad experiences. Anyone have advice for a struggling mentor? Thank you.
UPDATE: I’m so grateful for this community. Student Teacher was huffy this morning (I had vetoed a crappy assignment, despite, ‘I need it for my class’ and ‘I don’t plan to READ them, but I have to do this for my CLASS!’) and rude to the kids. During our Prep I explained that her performance was not up to par, that I didn’t think I could necessarily trust that she knew/was learning the content, and that she needed to model kind behavior. She cried and got defensive but this afternoon I saw her actually speaking to students and observing my lesson. Turns out she has less than 2 yrs of college and loads of pointless online modules. I TOOK THE ADVICE HERE. I will have direct, firm convos from here on out. I’m also asking basic questions:’What do you want the kids to learn? And, ‘What did you learn from my teaching today?’ ‘Do you feel confident that you can write an academic paragraph?’ ‘Do you consider ‘grading’ actually reading student responses, or just checking them off?’ (A: ‘A check mark.’) Many more convos to be had…..Gratitude, y’all! Thank you!!!

hi everyone,

i just started my placement for my second semester of student teaching. I am teaching 10th grade world history and the kids are a handful but that is to be expected..

my real issue lies with the university supervisors requests. she wants a full edtpa style lesson plan for each and every lesson, with a full written reflection on every single days work and a weekly overview of what I am doing. Is this too much to ask? no one else in my program has to do this much work for their supervisor. I am working two jobs and genuinely am just at a loss of when I am supposed to do this work. Planning is one thing and it is time consuming enough but writing out a full " students will open up chromebooks" every single lesson for each anticipated action seems outrageous to me. I am struggling so much. She also told me she wants the lesson plans for the week and a half of lessons I have already taught rewritten in the edtpa style format. I think this semester is going to kill me

This one is for first year teachers in California. Preferably working in TK-6th grade/elementary and/or DLI. What made you stand out most to get onboarded this year do you feel? What kind of experience you had? Did you build relationships at other schools? Know someone in a district? With such low hiring numbers this year especially in SoCal I wanna know how you did it.

Trying to prep for getting hired next school year and seeing what steps I should take to stand out. Taking all the advice possible!

Hello. Just wanted to reach out after my last post about interacting with parents.

https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentTeaching/comments/1vmvxyr/comment/p3i6jps/?context=3

So I ended up being a fly on the wall on my first day. The first day of school was quite chaotic with parents going in and out of the classroom and wanting to interact with the lead teacher (rightfully so). They weren't aware of a student teacher so I was basically a stranger. I tend to be more reserved and with all the chaos happening it felt strange to just insert myself. I didn't want to overstep and get in the way of the lead teacher.

A letter was sent home so hopefully all parents are aware of me by now. My lead teacher will also introduce me again during her slide presentation at back-to-school night next week.

Do you have any advice on putting myself out there more? Maybe stand by the door as families are coming in to greet them? I also don't want to overstep and do too much.

Last time I posted on this thread to express my concerns with student teaching I was met with hate and sarcasm! no kind words or words of encouragement! These internet thugs were prejudice and rude! no matter where you go on the internet you’ll be met with adults with the mind set of vicious teenagers! Because they see one person being rude they follow suit! reminded me of the teachers I had growing up and everything I NEVER wanted to be!

Anyway one year later and I graduated with my masters in education top 10 (Magna cum laude) with admission into an honor society! I sought out help, understanding, and reassurance from my “fellow teachers” during one of the most difficult times of my life! Student teaching isn’t for the weak and neither is this site! So thank you! To every grown adult behaving like the kids they are at heart! To all the vile nasty comments I received! I want to thank you for making me push harder! I made it through student teaching and those kids love me til this day!

I am a high school science teacher who will be welcoming my first student teacher into my classroom this fall. I want to provide her with the best experience I can, and don’t have a good mentor teacher from my student teaching days as inspiration. Please tell me about things your mentor teachers did that you really liked/found helpful, things that you didn’t like, and/or things you wish they would have done. Any and all information will be helpful!

I also teach two different AP courses, so if you have/had experience with a mentor teacher teaching those kinds of classes, your specific experience with those will be helpful as well.

Thank you!

I just finished my first week of student teaching and I’m about to begin my second. I have spent 3 days with my teacher so far and there are a lot of concerning things I’ve noticed.
Here are a list of all the things that have thrown me off but I’m not too sure if I’m being overdramatic about it or making a big deal out of nothing.
For context the teachers & staff in this school seem to absolutely ADORE my mentor teacher and every time I mention I’m placed with him they always have good things to say.

I am placed in 2nd grade by the way! & I am doing a full school year of student teaching with him as my mentor and this is what I’ve seen in just 3 days!

1. On the first day of school right after he did students introductions (asked for full name and favorite subject) he then called on students and asked them to name and point at the worst kids in the class. Some kids did his task and he would simply laugh. Then he called on a girl and asked her the same question and then once she refused to answer he said “I’m surprised the girls aren’t answering this, usually they’re the ones to love the drama and gossip”

2. On the first day of school there is a little girl who cries very easily, will scream, and is very very sensitive. I understand that she shouldn’t be coddled and rewarded for her misbehaviors. However he got in a full on screaming match with her at recess, yelled at her to go to the office. She refused to go so he just simply walked away and took the whole class back inside. Thankfully she ended up following. A couple moments later the little girl hits her shoulder on the brick wall in the hallway and she begins to cry. He once again begins to scream at her saying “I don’t care” “I’m not dealing with this” “go to the office” Things of that sort over and over but mainly repeating “I don’t care.”

3. On the first day of school we have a student in the class who has autism. He likes to speak when he’s not called on, he talks to the students next to him, and he plays around with things a lot. My mentor teacher is aware of this student and his home life from past teachers and this students siblings he’s had in the past. Soon after introductions he then proceeds to tell the entire class with the student sitting there, “class we’re going to play a game all year and it’s called ‘let’s ignore ___(students name).’” He has since said multiple times throughout the 3 days “remember our game students” “remember we’re playing our game, ‘ignore __ (students name)”

4. On the first day of school a student went to ask him to tie her shoe and he refused. He said you are in 2nd grade you should know how to tie your shoe. Then proceeded to tell her to get back and line and told her go home and learn how to do it or get her parents to help her. The little girl looked very upset about the way he reacted and instead came to ask me for help.

5. He simply flats out tells the students to “shut up”. He told a kid he had no brain, told a girl who said her neck hurt “I don’t care go sit down” he told the students in his 3rd class that “the last class is much smarter than you guys. I’m not comparing the smartest kid to the smartest kid I’m comparing you guys as a whole” (For context for this comment in this school they just started departmentalizing.) It also just seems he has obvious favorite. A boy was upset because the classmate next to him kept saying mean things to him. My mentor teacher just told him he has to learn to ignore it and just told the student to listen to stop getting distracted. Then a couple hours later another student had a very similar complaint and he hugs the little girl and allows her to move seats and gives her a piece of candy.

He has done nothing rude or mean to me as a student teacher. He rarely speaks with me and leaves me alone most of the time throughout lunch, specials, dismissal, etc. But it’s just really really effecting me the way he kind of dismisses and diminishes the children in the classroom. The area I’m teaching in is very low income. And from what I’ve gathered from staff and the students themselves majority of them come from broken homes. So it breaks me heart seeing some of the things he does. He has been teaching for 10 years in this school so I’m absolutely not undermining his teaching ability or thinking I know more than he does. But I don’t know I’m having a hard time feeling comfortable in this classroom.

And this is not my first time being placed in a classroom. In my past years in college I did 90 hours in a kindergarten classroom and about 115 in a 5th grade classroom. And neither of my coaching teachers acted in such ways. But I’m just not sure if im being overdramatic or making a big deal out of these things. Especially since all the adults in this school seem to see nothing wrong with his comments and actions.

My professor and director of my program have said to come to them with any concerns so should I talk to them about it? I’m very close with my professors so maybe I should talk to them just to get another teacher/ professional opinion? Because I really am confused on this school and teachers behavior.

What do you guys think?
(Please excuse all grammar mistakes & typos I am half asleep typing this)

For some context, I'm in a 4 plus 1 BMAT program, and I'm doing all my clinical work in my 5th-year (that's just how the program works here, idk). I'm placed in an inclusive classroom with 2 teachers in second grade. I'm excited but also so, so terrified about messing up or burning myself out. I'll be in the same room 2 times a week in the fall and then every day in the spring, so I'll really get to know my teachers and class. My CT seems to be a seasoned teacher and (rightfully so) has been enjoying her summer break, so I dont really know what to expect. I have experience in a preschool for the past 3 years, but I know student teaching is its own beast. ANY advice would be helpful!!

Thought I was getting an early teacher placement this Fall teaching English, but my program accidentally assigned me to be under the wing of a special education teacher. As someone that is physically disabled and was temporarily placed in the system I have a soft spot for those kids, but I’m totally unqualified for it.

Had a similar situation with my Spring 2026 placement. Didn’t get one until early March while the rest of my peers start mid January or February. Left me dangling on a thread trying to catch up. Didn’t help that my supervisor had a very intense personality (ex: hated it when I through in a joke here or there), was overworked with 10+ students, and was teaching art (like her kids actually signed up to be in her class). Not to mention my MT (mentor teacher) whom we shared similar interests, but she was expecting someone to match her energy. Like she’s more of an energetic go getter, whereas I’m more calm and introverted. She (my MT) didn’t seemed to be in the right place to mentor being a dancer, and debate coach on the side. Couldn’t get actual advice or feedback until we finished up the semester and told me not to come back.

On the upside, my supervisor (who taught English) seems a lot more sympathetic and on it than the last. She has emailed the head of my department, placement, and the school I was supposed to be placed at since I have clearance. Hopefully it works out well, especially since the I know the head of the department and he is a stand up guy. Just got survive whoever I get, or even if I get someone

Hi Reddit,

Truthfully I'm not the best at writing reddit posts or post in general so please bare with me for the informalities.

I (22) am currently using Teachers of Tomorrow to pursue teaching as I felt that would be a good decision for me after graduating with my bachelors in May, although now I'm worried I'm making the wrong choice.

For context of what got me inspired to go back to school: I was attending college at a local college for elementary education, I had done one semester class where I shadowed a 1st grade class, assisted with the students and got to watch the day by day a 1st grade teacher goes through. The semester ended and I found myself attached to the students and even got emotional once the whole experience was over.

Heres the issue, I didn't know how to react to feeling of attachment and got scared and eventually dropped the major and perused communications in the after bouncing through several other majors. After I graduated with my undergrad I began to work an office 9-5 that's making me go insane. After awhile of some internal reflection on what career paths I wanted to go down on. I remembered how the shadowing and the course I took made me feel. I felt fulfilled and like I was in the right place for once. I eventually ended up researching and seeing what I could do to get my teaching certificate and found teachers of tomorrow. I've talked to a mix of my support group and family about this career change and what inspired me to go back and theres mixed emotions. On one hand of the spectrum there's the statements of "I wont make money off this" and support is mainly there so I can have a career set in place at the end of the day, then theres the opposite side where there unlimited support but almost feels echo chamber-ish. At the end of the day when I go to do my classes I feel almost defeated as I feel that theres no actual support and I'm making the wrong decision that everyone else sees but me. I feel hopeless and defeated at this point and feel like basing going back to teaching off a semester experience is also not making my point look great when I discuss why I want to pursue teaching. I feel insane and like I'm just in my head but whatever funk i'm feeling now has got me rethinking what I'm doing. Any advice in how I should proceed?

How do student teachers handle lunch and recess when you aren’t very close with your co teacher?

Following the teacher around the playground during recess seems awkward (if roles were flipped I’d probably appreciate having some time away from the student teacher).

And for eating lunch, if we both need to eat at the same time, it feels weird forcing my co teacher to interact with me and equally awkward to deliberately eat somewhere else where they aren’t present.

For me, I look at lunch and recess like “free time” where co teacher and student teacher are allowed to be independent and not “a team”, but how to do that in a way that is natural, respectful, and not deliberately avoidant?

So this is the beginning of my 2nd year of teaching. I teach secondary. I had a kid who was constantly trying to undermine my management for the first 2 classes, so what I’m thinking of doing tomorrow is, since she left something in my class I’m taking it to her personally where her 1st period is. However, I’m also confronting her there for her behavior, and if things get bad I’m thinking of sending her to admin to change her classes to get her out. Elective class, which is why. Penny for thoughts?

Long story short, during the final lesson at my first internship, the 7th grade classroom was completely chaotic with none of the students paying attention.

It's my fault. I have a hard time demanding people to listen to me because I'm like an "Alright, whatever floats your boat" kind of person but I understand it's something I have to change considering the field I am in.

My next internship will be at a different type of school with older students. I went for an interview the other day and they told me that they would like to have me working at their school because I seem like a nice person (their words, not mine; I would never say positive things about myself in true pessimistic nihilist fashion).

If anyone has tips to ensure that the next group of students will pay attention, I'd like to hear them!

I’m not sure if this post is appropriate here and if this something to be worried about, but I (26M) have been having trouble making friends at my school placement.

I’ve been at my school site for the past 2 weeks for professional development and honestly, I have been feeling lonely. Particularly where to sit during PD and when it’s lunch time or during a break. Though there have been opportunities to talk to people, I’m not quite sure how I should go about developing relationships and making friends.

Staff members and members on my grade team have approached me to say hi and check-in on how I am doing with the program, which has been nice. There are some times where we have conversations that are not brief. However, I am not sure if those are invitations to join them during lunch or during breaks. Plus, it seems like the majority of people already have their groups that they hang out with.

I want to note that my mentor has invited me to eat lunch with him and some of his friends a few times, which is nice, but I do not want to solely rely him for all of my social interactions at school. My mentor also has a lot of other responsibilities such as being the lead for my grade and has been pulled by admin to help support them, so I haven’t been seeing them much.

This leads me to being in the room just working on stuff for my program and for the classroom, so it can look like I do not want to socialize with people and no one wanting to approach me.

I have had trouble making friends all of my life, so I am used to this feeling, but I don’t like feeling alone and I want to try and build relationships and make friends. I can be sometimes socially awkward, so that may be a reason, but I am working on becoming better with social interactions.

There are a few teachers who work at my school who have done the same program I am currently in (My mentor did not complete the same program,) so I am not sure if I could seek out advice from them or if it would be weird to bring it up. There is another resident at my school site in my same program, but there always with their mentor. I know it’s still early and school has not even started yet (I start Monday,) but it’s a yearlong program and I am already struggling with keeping up with coursework, so I’d really want some connections at my school site to help me through it.

I just do not know what to do and wish these things came easily to me.

Hi! After some struggle with my placement, I’m now going to be student teaching at a high school. My student teaching experience in a high school environment is minimal at best, and I was wondering if anyone had any tips for it? This is mainly for classroom management, as well as lesson planning. Anything would help!

Hello. I start my student teaching placement soon and would love to hear if you all had any advice on meeting or interacting with parents. Super excited to meet the littles, but parent interactions have always made me anxious even when I was working as a para.

Students will walk to class with their parents on the first day of school so I will likely meet every child's parent. Do I just smile and say "Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Ms. X and I'll be student teaching with Mrs. Y this year"? this seems so silly lol but please help. Thank you! <3

I finished student teaching, but as schools open up I haven't been able to grab a job. Furthermore, my substitute position isn't working out as hoped as people are grabbing jobs faster than I can. Is there still hope for a full time position, as I've seen others say? Is there anyone here that got hired after the school year started?