Trepidatious

I'm trepidatious.
I'm always trepidatious before working with a new college student. It's not because I've had poor experiences, in fact I've had many many wonderful people in my classrooms over the years. I worry because I always wonder if I'm good enough to be their teacher. I wonder about this often enough with my own high school students never mind a budding teacher. This person who needs guidance and inspiration along with encouragement, stability, flexibility, understanding, and TIME. Oi! Why do I do this to myself?

I do it because, in teacher speak, it makes me a more reflective practitioner. It makes me think about the "why" in what I do. Why do I great my students by name whenever I can? Why do I keep snacks in the closet? Why do I teach drawing at the beginning of the school year? Why do love teaching? All these things that after a few years of teaching I just did and couldn't really remember why. When I thought about the why I reconsidered a few of my practices. Some have stayed and I have adopted a few practices that I've admired from other teachers who shared their why.

Why am I blogging about this? I could join the masses with a food blog, I could start a blog about successful art lessons, or some other such typical blog. I chose this topic because even after 15 years of teaching and more than that many student teachers, I'm still trepidatious. If I am, so may be others. Other excellent teachers who are fearful or hesitant to help a college student make the transition from student to teacher. I don't blame you. It's one more responsibility heaped upon your plate. However, our craft (yes craft!) needs to perpetuate it's greatest practices and how better than to teach them to the next generation of teachers?