Seeing Challanges as Opportunities

On the first day of my student teaching at Antietam Middle/Senior High School my cooperative teacher, Mr. Chad Shalaway, was absent due to bronchitis. Because I could not get more familiar with him, I spent as much time as possible getting to know my students. This was a fantastic opportunity because I feel like they have more respect for me now that I have shown interest in their lives. And it will help me to better understand the student body for which I will be planning lessons and activities, especially after my initial concern learning which classes I would be teaching.

            Chad teaches three sections of computer graphics, two sections of photography and two sections of painting, and when I learned of his schedule I was initially apprehensive, because I didn't feel qualified to teach the Computer Graphics course. I have some experience with Photoshop and iMovie from my digital media class at Kutztown University, however I felt like that was ages ago. So the first day I set my nerves aside and entered the classroom without any preconceived notions as to how it would pan out.

            I spent the first day of my student teaching talking with students about their artwork. I asked them what projects they had completed, which projects were their favorite, and which ones they disliked or found difficult. After seeing many of their previous projects I was eager to begin working with my students because they have shown a tremendous amount of progress, after only two marking periods. However when a question arose during the first period computer graphics class I felt somewhat helpless. I had never used Adobe Illustrator before and the student was unsure of how to complete the next step in their celebrity portrait project. After reading through Chad’s instructions for the substitute, Mrs. Moon, I found no guidance, and did what I saw best for the student. I opened the floor for any other students who understood the next step to help their peer. Unfortunately, none of the students had learned it yet, and the students had to wait until Chad returned the next day. This was a paralyzing moment for me; I struggled the first day because I felt as if my one purpose in the classroom was unfulfilled. However, as the week progressed I became more and more familiar with the program. By Thursday, I was able to guide all the students through transforming their Andy Warhol inspired self-portraits. And although I had initially doubted my abilities, I feel confident and positive about my first placement here at Antietam School District, and I look forward to my next challenge whatever it may be.