Get Inspired!

Student teaching comes with many challenges, but many more rewards. It is easy to feel challenged and discouraged because teaching is hard work and it takes time and practice to perfect one's teaching abilities. However, student teachers need to learn to push through the hard times and believe that the challenges they face will only make them better teachers. That doesn't mean student teachers need to suffer through the challenging times. In contrast, student teachers should embrace the difficult times and use them to find inspiration and motivation to improve. There are many ways to do this - talking with POSITIVE colleagues and peers is most helpful. Motivation and inspiration comes to me through exercise, spending time with my family, doing something active outside, writing, and listening to music. Student teachers need to figure out something they can do each day to help them stay fresh and energized about their decision to teach. A great gift to yourself or a student teacher friend is an inspirational ipod playlist. Your playlist can have many themes related to teaching: strength, helping children, making the world a better place, happiness, or, one of my favorites - the "you rock" playlist. Choose songs that represent the theme, make you or a friend smile and most of all inspire you to keep getting better!