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Your professors are lenient people. They will strive to accommodate and assist you in anyway. As long as you put in the effort, they will be able to support you during your teaching experience.

You also are surrounded by fellow intrepid explorers in your cohort, so do not hesitate to ask for advice or assistance. They will be going through similar situations so reach out and help each other.

It can be very helpful to seek assistance from professional teachers within your school. They went through the student teaching experience, so they can relate, but they also have years of experience to impart.

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You have studied how to be a teacher for quite a while before jumping in into student teaching. Both the summer and fall classes. When you modeled teaching through bad behavior with your classmates, that gave you good prep for the classroom (those situations were usually more extreme than you’ll have to deal with anyway). Lesson planning should also be easier by using the template and examples your professors provided you with.

You have far more time to meet your mentor teacher and the staff at your school than most student teaching programs. In this program you work with and observe your mentor teacher during the fall semester which gives you much more time to acclimatized yourself with the school and its culture. This will also help with understanding your mentor teacher’s teaching style and practices.

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Keep the stress level low and the oxygen level high

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Keep the stress level low and the oxygen level high

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Space travel may seem like a lot of pressure, but don’t let it get to you. Being an Astronaut seems rough to everyone that is not an Astronaut. However, once you are up there in the black, your training will come naturally to you. Just remember to take a breath (and keep an eye on that oxygen meter).

Good luck in your adventure to the stars, keep a good mind set and you will be fine up there.

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We can't take care of our students if we don't first care for ourselves. Stay aware of your emotions as you go through this program, and know when to take a break. Pushing too hard will only result in burnout, so be kind to yourself and engage in acts of self-care on a daily basis. Know when to ask for help if you're overwhelmed, and stay connected with your fellow cohort members, because they know what you're going through.

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Summarizes how your cooperating teacher is helpful with everything!

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Summarizes how your cooperating teacher is helpful with everything!

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Starting out:
- What are your concerns as you begin this experience?
- What are my goals for this summer? This program?
- What have I done lately to relieve stress and focus on my mental health?

Internship/student teaching:
- What areas do I want to focus on while observing my mentor teacher?
- Was this lesson successful? Why or why not?
- Were all of my students able to access the learning? If not, how can we change it for next time?
- How am I building relationships with each of my students? Can I name at least one thing that is unique to each of them?

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I was someone who HATED asking for help before doing this program. Do not be nervous and ALWAYS ask for help. Teachers are the nicest people on the planet and are always willing to give you help when you ask.

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Stealing is OK in teaching. Teachers often take quizzes, tests, worksheets, etc. from one another. Its likely the information you are getting from your cooperating teacher has been passed down to them at some point. Ask them to use those resources - it takes away a lot of stress!

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Start talking to others in your department right away. Like your cooperating teacher, they have plenty of advice for you. Also, don't be afraid to talk to administration and let them come observe your classroom.

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Trust the people around you who have experience to share. If you were going to space for the first time, you'd want to rely on those who had been there in the past. Similarly, teachers have been doing this for some time, so if they have advice - take it!

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You get the chance to be with these amazing group of passionate educators. Cohort members supported me when things got tough, changed my perspectives, help me solidify the teacher I want to be, and gave me insight and understanding that will help with all my future professional relationships because they were willing to show up so authentically and with openness to what we could be together.

Need ideas for connecting virtually?
- Host a Zoom Happy Hour
- Play a game like Houseparty or Jackbox.tv
- Hammock hang in the park
- Find something, but whatever you do, don't pass up the chance to meet these humans who have the potential to shape your whole career and become life-long friends

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As you begin your program, think about things that "Fill Your Tank." Wendy taught me (and she is so right!) that there is no "balance" in teaching. When we are in the thick of the school year, we instead need to check in and see if we are running on empty, and prioritize ways we can give ourselves enough boost to keep going. Here are some ideas I fell back on. Note that most of them require asking for help/space/time from others because education is a process that only exists within community.

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How my support system made all the difference in my journey to a becoming a teacher

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How my support system made all the difference in my journey to a becoming a teacher

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The people who form your support system will become more crucial than ever during this upcoming year. Here are some ideas and testimonies to how important life-support is in space travel.

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Here are some tips and tricks for success in this new world of teaching.

Prepare for liftoff!