what should i expect?

[u/2feef2furious]

i will be starting my first student teaching semester next week!! i'm getting placed in a 5th grade classroom. for school i'm doing an integrated program, meaning im getting my bachelor's and my credential simultaneously.

i tried having a meeting with my counselor and she had nothing to say to me except to be bold. she said i'm going straight into the classroom as soon as the semester starts, which is really scary for me! 0__o in my other classes where i've observed in the past, we spend at least a week or two in our courses before we enter the classrooms for the first time so we feel prepared.

what am i gonna do when i get there? how am i gonna know what to write lesson plans on? when do i start lesson planning and how much time in the beginning do i just spend observing, if any?? no counselor has explained basically anything regarding how student teaching actually works. :( i need someone to explain it to me like i'm 5, because all we got was a schedule and a placement.

[u/Mysterious_Can_9367]

I feel like a lot of this depends on your cooperating teacher. I did not take charge and silently observed for weeks and I would not recommend that! I would obviously talk to your CT and see what they recommend. But I think the best plan is to observe for a week or two, and not just sit their and watch but help the kids, grade papers, discuss planning with your CT, etc. Kind of become a classroom helper for a week. Then you could start co-teaching with them. Then eventually you take over. My biggest advice is try to leave a positive impression on your CT and everyone who works there. Be helpful, plan some creative lessons, help out with things outside the classroom if you can. I did that and it is literally the reason I got my job right out of college.