The past several weeks have been great. I have gradually taken over all of the classes and I do not feel as overwhelmed as I thought I would. Of course, I have still had days where I want to cry and walk away from the computer (I am teaching virtually), but most days are good. On the days that are good, I am reminded of many concepts that we have discussed in class readings, discussions, and experiences. I especially remember the concept that art should be personal, passionate, and should give students freedom to make their own choices. In each of my lessons, I allow for these things and this is where the joy of teaching truly comes in. On the days that are hard, I remember that my classmates are going through the same thing.
As an individual, the biggest thing that I am learning from these experiences is that as a teacher you must be very prepared, but still be able to roll with the punches. This is a difficult balance. Generally, I just keep going, no matter what happens. I try not to let my mistakes get me down, and I own up to them when I do make mistakes. I also own my successes and allow myself to feel proud of all that I am doing, so that I have the energy to keep going. As a future teacher I will remember these experiences and act accordingly. I will always practice proper planning and be flexible. I want to work on my preparation, diving deeper into questioning for my students. I want to keep up my strong work in being flexible.