The most important part about being a teacher mentor is that I learn a lot of new things. I love fresh new ideas coming in and watching the joy in the children and my student teacher’s faces. As I age in this field of practice I tend to gravitate to lessons that I know have never failed. Which in a lot of ways makes good sense. Prep is faster, successful outcomes are more guaranteed and teaching is very effective and on point. On the flip side it also takes away from the possibility of new, very cool, experiences for the students.
For a very long time I was just solo in my room. I found it the easiest way to keep things on routine and behaviours under control. I knew what every decision was because I was the only one making them. Last year I was asked if I would consider a student teacher was I ever glad that I said yes. I couldn’t have been happier and will continue to say yes from this point foward.
Becoming a Teacher Mentor can really help you to get out of your Comfort Zone.
The next important part about being a teacher mentor is that you get the opportunity to really observe your students. Normally during a day I would make sixteen hundred decisions. Be almost in “robot mode” as my mom calls it keep everyone safe and learning. When you are immersed in the busyness of your day, it easily becomes difficult to truly observe individual needs.
Having someone come into the room and teach while you support and take it all in gives such a wonderful new perspective. One that we really all need especially after we have been teaching for a number of years. It encourages tweaks to our practice and also allows us to take in new classroom management strategies that we may not have considered in the past.
Letting go of our Illusions of Control
Another really important reason to be a teacher mentor is the ability to shed our illusions that we are the only ones that can do the job. Some may be irritated by this one but it’s a real truth to consider. If we are being honest having “control” over your classroom behaviours really isn’t a thing. We work hard, build solid relationships, offer independent choices that build on critical thinking and if we are lucky our students make mostly good choices. Just kidding they become a pretty great group of little humans that we get to enjoy teaching new things to.
Some teachers may find it really difficult to let go of what they feel are the most important lessons. They may think things must be taught in a certain way for learning to ensue. It’s really not a good reason to keep our knowledge to ourselves though. I must confess this has become me with my reading instruction over the last few years. What better reason could there be to share this knowledge and help feed the minds of our future educators.
Give them the winning lessons, give them the systematic phonics instruction, show them the way of scaffolding and consistent instruction. Then take all they have to offer and implement that too. Watch them grow into incredible resources for our future generations. The sky is the limit if you want it to be.
Giving yourself the freedom to teach in different ways.
Last but certainly not least being a teacher mentor is important to our students. They need to learn that different adults have different rules. To help them understand this in a supportive environment while also teaching them to have respect while taking a step back is invaluable. So with all that being said you should definitely take the next opportunity and run with it. I feel so much better as an educator because I did.
With Love, C.
If you are like me and are always looking for new and fun ways to fit in phonics with your students. Check out my Phonics, Write the Room right here.
