I have completed my first 7-week student teaching experience and I am into my fourth week at my second experience.
Music educators are certified K-12, so we complete two student teaching internships in one semester. One in elementary school, and one in middle or high school.
I did my elementary experience first and it was amazing. I had a wonderful cooperating teacher, a 32-year veteran. She was an amazing resource, and I learned so much. I left there feeling like I could walk into my own classroom the next day! It was a bit overwhelming somedays, especially when you are teaching full lessons to each grade level. And the lesson plans were non-stop...I was writing lesson plans in my sleep!!! I did manage to avoid getting H1N1, and any other illness for that matter.
I did however, catch a case of bronchitis during my first week at my second placement which is in a middle school Chorus class. (The school was crawling with cases of H1N1, but I had gotten the shot so I was covered!)
Aside from that, it has been awesome so far. I'm going into my fourth week. The kids are really enthused, and I am having a great time teaching theory and rehearsing music. It's actually helped me sharpen my accompanying skills! We are working on the winter concert, and I am super excited because I am guest conducting one piece for each grade!!!
That's all for now!
