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Well, I have said and have fought to get some student observers (collegiate) in my classroom. Last year I had not a single person. Usually I have maybe one person, often they've seen quite a bit of middle school Latin at a different school, so they think it's all the same.
It's not all the same.
I like to think of it as the difference between innovative teaching and traditional teaching.
My new UTeach observer has me hopping with lengthy questions--good questions, more of which I'll post here later. I have two other observers coming as well, which I'm thrilled with.
It's either feast or famine. ANd there goes my conference period for getting work done. But it will be worth it. Otherwise, we'll have more programs closing around me.
There are some people that are happy to have their little teaching jobs. They do no Latin club of any sort. (Hey, I don't do much because I have my own kids and can't stay after school, but we do some contest prep before school and at lunch.) They don't come to teacher meetings. They don't really want anything other than their 8-4 job. They say they have a life outside of teaching. And I agree, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE A LIFE OUTSIDE OF TEACHING. Have hobbies, read books, play a musical instrument, take up soccer. You can't be 24/7/365 a teacher.
HOWEVER, unlike English or science or social studies, what happens with Latin programs at other schools effects your program too. We have to be invested in the classics community as a family. We just must.
Therefore, I finally got my student observers (and in a year when I'm so pressed for time I think I might scream some times). BUT I'm thrilled.
If you aren't sure whether you have time enough to have observers or student teachers, remember that if you don't invest now, you may not have a job later.
It's not all the same.
I like to think of it as the difference between innovative teaching and traditional teaching.
My new UTeach observer has me hopping with lengthy questions--good questions, more of which I'll post here later. I have two other observers coming as well, which I'm thrilled with.
It's either feast or famine. ANd there goes my conference period for getting work done. But it will be worth it. Otherwise, we'll have more programs closing around me.
There are some people that are happy to have their little teaching jobs. They do no Latin club of any sort. (Hey, I don't do much because I have my own kids and can't stay after school, but we do some contest prep before school and at lunch.) They don't come to teacher meetings. They don't really want anything other than their 8-4 job. They say they have a life outside of teaching. And I agree, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE A LIFE OUTSIDE OF TEACHING. Have hobbies, read books, play a musical instrument, take up soccer. You can't be 24/7/365 a teacher.
HOWEVER, unlike English or science or social studies, what happens with Latin programs at other schools effects your program too. We have to be invested in the classics community as a family. We just must.
Therefore, I finally got my student observers (and in a year when I'm so pressed for time I think I might scream some times). BUT I'm thrilled.
If you aren't sure whether you have time enough to have observers or student teachers, remember that if you don't invest now, you may not have a job later.
