Student Teaching Placement Reflection

My student teaching placement took place at Chester Area School in the 2018-19 school

year. I was very fortunate to have great cooperating teachers to learn from in my student teaching

placement. In the first semester of student teaching, I was in a 4th-grade classroom with Mrs.

Biagi. In my second semester, I was in middle school math with Mrs. McDonald. While teaching

at Chester Area School, I also had the opportunity to be the Assistant boy’s basketball coach.

The things that I learned and the experiences I had will always be with me in my future teaching.

4th grade was in my first semester of student teaching. It all started with an open house in

August. This was a great opportunity to get to know some of the students, as well as the parents.

It is always a great way to start to the year by creating relationships with the students. Mrs. Biagi

and I co-taught in the 4th grade classroom. We would plan together and teach together. This was

very helpful in planning as it brought in new ideas. It also helped the students in the classroom

having two teachers being there for them. I also did my teaching work sample during my first

semester. My teaching work sample was a science unit over the human body, and the kids

absolutely loved it. The labs that were involved in the unit really helped the students understand

and see what we talked about during our lessons. The growth that the students made during the

unit was huge, I would say my teaching work sample was a success. 4th grade was a lot of fun, I

also had a chance to create a Breakout Edu with the 4th graders. They were given a mission and

had to solve puzzles and find codes to complete the mission. It was very fun.

During my second semester in middle school math, I worked with a wide range of

students in 6th – 8th grade. These students were awesome. How I worked my time into teaching

middle school was by taking one class at a time. I mostly had 6th grade throughout the semester.

There was a variety of different topics that were taught in all grade levels. I had to get creative
with technology since I was limited to one subject. The main technology app I used was Desmos.

There were so many activities to do in this software that allowed extended learning for students.

I would also participate in the activities with the students. The middle school students were a

very fun group to teach. The middle school teachers were also great to have around as I learned

from them and their techniques in the classroom. My cooperating teacher was a great mentor for

the second semester.

Assistant boys’ basketball was a great opportunity to have while I was student teaching.

This was a great experience to see if I would like to coach while I am teaching. This opportunity

gave me the chance to see what it is like to coach and teach at the same time. Coaching also

allowed me to work with high school students. Learning the ins and outs of coaching and also

working with other coaches broadened my communication skills.

One of the biggest parts that I learned during student teaching was discipline. This is

something that is taught to you in college, but you cannot really do it until you are in the

classroom with students. I had to learn while student teaching, but I have grown in it. Students

need discipline – you need to be direct with them. Once I let them know what my expectations

are, then they behaved for me. Discipline really helps with classroom management, and that is

what created a safe environment in the classrooms that I taught in.

I had a great experience while student teaching at Chester Area School. I am grateful to

have had great teachers to learn from. What I have learned during student teaching will carry

with me into my teaching career. I have enjoyed the time at Chester and can't wait for the next

step in my life.