Words from your own peers about what they have learned and struggled with, and what they still have to learn

"I need to set clear parameters for behavior-----for myself as well as the students. Routines will really help me feel less stressed, and will help my students have a learning environment."


"Sometimes, even when you don't think you have reached them, you have in ways you do not recognize. I am thinking of [one student], I thought she didn't like my class at all, and then last week she says, This class is the only reason I come to school at all.? I was totally blown away by her comment."


"I have taught? many classes through the years in both volunteer and professional settings. Those classes seemed to go well, but I always knew they were missing something. Having been through this course, I believe those missing elements were clear, concise practices and procedures and effective, engaging lesson plans."


"The thought of the actual ˜online courses' made me a bit nervous for the simple fact that I graduated from college long before online courses existed, and I did not know what to expect. However, this process has really opened my eyes to a whole knew avenue of learning. Having a real entrepreneurial spirit within me, I have envisioned so many ways to utilized online learning”for homebound students, in maternity homes, and of course, within the traditional school setting. I have found numerous web quests for my students to try, and I am putting together some ideas for designing a course. I think that this is the future of education, and you can bet, I will be right in the middle of it!"


"Time management is one of the most important factors of teaching as well as taking on-line courses."


"The best advice I can give myself is to be patient. I know that I demand perfection out of myself, and I know that I have not been perfect this semester. That is hard to swallow. But, I need to remember that I am learning, and I am growing and that I will develop and mature as time passes"


"I feel that the most important lesson I learned was the implicit one, which is teachers need to consider every aspect of the teaching act, from stage to script to performance and, perhaps most importantly, be sensitive to reflection on performance and outside reviews."


"I learned that there is much more to grading and assessment than a simple letter grade. I learned that assessment is not just for the students. It is for me, the teacher, to understand if my lessons are effective, if the students are learning, and what needs to be altered in the future. Assessment needs to be intentional, as well as goal-oriented."


"Being a great teacher doesn't happen over night, but having the will to learn and using different methods in teaching can make you a lot better teacher."


"Online learning is the ultimate hands-on experience--especially in the setting that the T2T students are in. We are in on the job training. Each Module could be related to what you are doing everyday and receiving a pay check for. In college, you take classes to get a diploma, in T2T we are learning to improve our art and craft of teaching. We aren't simply practicing; we are in the big game."


"Advice:

Your first year will be hard. Take that as an encouragement. You are not alone in your feelings.
Be patient with yourself. You will make mistakes, and that is okay. Just make sure you learn from them.
Find someone in the school who can offer you sound, wise and true advice on everything from lesson plans, to working with the administrator, to handling the classroom.
Make sure to take time off. If you are married, go on a date once a week. If you are single, get away from everything with friends or family. Take time off- it is a good thing."

"..remain calm when it seems there is too much to do and to keep on top of the assignments. "


"The more time you spend studying and working on a course like this, the better results you will see in the classroom as a teacher."


"Teaching is not about you as a teacher; it's all about the students. Giv[e] the students the best chance to learn by setting high expectations in your classroom."


"Fulfillment begins to come later than you might expect. Be open to becoming aware of student needs. Be prepared to help those who lag behind. Students often live in challenging environments. They need the structure and support than can come from a caring teacher."


"Find good people that care about you and your success that are in the teaching profession to support you in your new career. The best is to find someone who is an experienced teacher of the same content area to give you pointers and help you along the way with your questions."


"Take time to enjoy your successes. If you enjoy your students and enjoy your subject” you will have fun teaching, your students will learn, and there will be good days. Not all days are good by any means, but ENJOY those days."


"As difficult as it is to learn, teach and have a family at the same time, adding yet another commitment such as coaching can be arduous. My advice to up and coming alternative certifiers would be to, if at all possible, focus only on teaching and earning your license until the task is accomplished."


"Presuming that the time management component is in place, the best advice I can give is to take their time when doing the webliographies. There are such amazing websites out there that new teachers can benefit from if they will just take their time to look around. The professional literature, research models, lesson plans, and just general information available on websites are just staggering in depth and volume. I would tell the next group to flag some of these sites and revisit them often as they reflect on how they might enhance or revise their lessons in subsequent years."


"It would be helpful to make a connection with another student in the class so you have someone with whom to talk about the class material and assignments and get your questions and concerns answered."


"Learn to roll with the punches. The school at which you will be teaching will doubtlessly try to get as much help out of you as possible in many different areas. This will limit your time to be spent on other things (course work included)."


"I plan to reflect on the positive attitude of my mentor and remember her enthusiasm for teaching."


"Soak in as much as you can from the beginning, because you will need all of the concepts that they throw at you. Plan your time wisely, so it doesn't get away from you. And enjoy teaching! As you teach your students, they will also teach you” more than you can ever imagine!"


"I would also suggest of finding someone else to talk to that is in the course because they will most likely face the same obstacles."


"I would recommend setting a schedule of daily homework, whether it be textbook readings or online coursework. Job requirements seem to take more time then expected, and it is easy to find yourself with little time to accomplish much. With a daily schedule, even if a day here and there comes up when you have to miss, it won't completely throw you off your learning groove."