Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Student Teaching Soon :/

mae2014
mae2014
I'm about to begin the last year of my grad program for teaching. So far it has been a great experience and I know that teaching and working with children is my passion and it is definitely something I want to be doing. In September I will be student teaching for the semester. I know I still have a couple weeks, but I'm getting really nervous about it.

I have moments where I am really excited, can't wait to start, and have all of the confidence in myself that I could possibly need. Then I turn around and have moments where all I can think is there is no way I am ready for this and I just can't see myself up in front of the classroom. I think part of it is that I just don't really fully know what to expect. It makes me nervous that this is a new experience, but I guess I have to start sometime. I've been thinking about why it is making me so stressed and I've come up with quite a few reasons. I'm worried about not doing well, about what the teacher is going to think of me, how the kids will respond to me, if I'll be able to write lessons that are going to work well, what I'm going to do if a lesson isn't going well...I could probably come up with many more things.

I'm trying not to worry about it so much because I don't want to go into this being so stressed about it, but that is something easier said than done at the moment. I know once it begins it will get easier for me and I won't feel so stressed and nervous, but right now most of the time when I think about it, I can't help but worry. I'm probably over thinking it too much and worrying more than I need to be, but I guess because this is something that is important to me I want to be able to do well.

Does anyone have any advice on how to not be so anxious about this? I want to be able to feel confident in myself that I really can do this, but the stress is just starting to build up and it's getting to me.
deleted_user
deleted_user
You will do great! If you didn't care you wouldent be worried.

Just remember like I tell my son that you don't get really, really
good at something without practice. It will take a little adjustment, and there will be a learning curve, but for kids, heck! just keep a smile on your face, and stay positive.
And remember no one is perfect out of the gate. But if you can stay
positive about your experience, if will make up for whatever glitches there may be in your learning curve.

Good luck, you sound like you will be a great teacher!
(Just think, some just don't care! you are already a step ahead of those teachers)
Lisa
mae2014
mae2014
Thanks so much! That was actually very encouraging for me :) I need to keep reminding myself that it is a learning experience and that no one is expecting me to be perfect. I think getting myself to fully believe that is going to be a little challenging. But I'm going to do my best to stay positive and have fun and take every experience that happens during this time and learn something from it.
Reed31
Reed31
Remember that there are teachers who suffer from migraines, epilepsy, fibromyalgia and every other problem known to man. You aren't expected to be perfect or never have anxiety - and if you have an attack, you can step away, catch your breath and when it passes, get back to it.

I would suggest NOT putting pressure on yourself to never have anxiety but to have a plan and the support you need - just like anyone with any other health condition would do.

Anxiety is common among teachers. In fact, the academic world is a good place for people with anxiety because you have more control than other jobs. Most teachers work with students only about 185 days a year, leaving about 1/2 the year for doing work from home or away from students.

It's also a wonderful way to have fun and learn new things all the time. It's also such a great thing to see kids learn - to be a part of them discovering something they really love and could one day pursue as a career.

Kids can also be fantastically accepting if you are respectful of them and have good boundaries.

I have a feeling you're going to be amazing! Let us know how it goes.
JudyFZ
JudyFZ
My father was a teacher for 28 years. He always said the first year was really hard but the second year was one of his best. Just remember that teaching is hard and it takes time and practice to feel comfortable. You should also remember that this kind of anxiety is "good stress" and it will help you perform well. No one is perfect, you will make mistakes. Try to think of your mistakes as opportunities to become better, shake them off and just keep going. Focus on getting to know the students and enjoy them. That way, you will think less about yourself and how you are doing. I know you're going to be great!
mae2014
mae2014
Thank you Reed and Judy! I think as both of you pointed out I just really need to remember that no one is expecting me to be perfect. I really am such a perfectionist with my work, especially when it's relating to school. I'm that student who gets frustrated when I don't get an A on every assignment. So going into something like student teaching where I know I'm bound to make some mistakes is a little bit scary for me. I guess anticipating making mistakes isn't making this much easier either. I really do know that I can do this. I worked in aftercare, at a daycare now for a year, and as a teaching assistant at a summer camp recently so I have experience making lessons and teaching. I know I can work with the kids and I don't think the actually teaching is making me stressed. I really do think it's more of me worrying about doing things wrong and making mistakes. I need to try and redirect my focus to the positive things, to the excitement and the fun I will be having instead of always thinking about the parts of it that scare me. Thanks for the advice and encouragement :)
barnowl
barnowl
I student taught high schoolers Spring Semester. I suffer from severe social anxiety. In the beginning it was a challenge and I was admittedly awful. I would turn red, shake and speak fast in front of the class. It got easier. If you have a good mentor she/he will help you improve. What helped me the most was video taping myself on an iPad and watching it back later. The content is the easy part, the classroom management is the hard part. Remember you are the adult, but they like to feel heard and appreciated. The will challenge you because you are in a sensitive position. Never confront head on...escort outside the class and handle business there. I usually turn the first correction into a joke. Ex: Exaggerated hand on hip and shocked face: "Joe! I know you aren't texting in myyyyy class!! You'd never disrespect me ever!!! I'm your favorite teacher." followed by a smile. Usually works. Anyways feel free to friend me and I can totally help you if you ever need it.
mae2014
mae2014
Thanks bar bowl. I give you a lot of credit for doing high school. I couldn't do that. I will be student teaching in first grade for a few weeks and then in fourth grade. I really like working with younger kids. It's not so much the teaching that I'm nervous about. It's more the anticipation and the fear of making mistakes. I could definitely are how classroom management could be the hard part. I have a feeling that will be especially true working with the younger kids. That's for the advice :)
mae2014
mae2014
Sorry for the autocorrect on my phone *barnowl
faithhopeandlove30
faithhopeandlove30
Hello! I just came across this group today and I'm really glad I did. The title of your post really caught my eye because I am in the same situation as you!! I, too, am doing my student teaching this fall and have been really anxious about it. Everyone keeps telling me I will be fine and I'm sure I will be (just like everything else I have been through and made it through!) but I've had the SAME exact thoughts as you have about it all!! I swear I could have written your post! What I keep telling myself, and what I will tell you, is that the cooperating teachers that we are working with are there to help us. They know we have never taken over a classroom before and do not expect us to be perfect! They are there to help guide us and give us advice as we find our way. The only way we are going to be successful teachers is by practicing :) You are going to be amazing, I just know it. Just try to have fun each day and don't over think things. And, as far as lessons failing? I've had those fears too...but guess what? Sometimes they WILL fail haha! I've talked to a lot of teachers about this and they laugh and reassure me it's all part of the process. I've been known to be a perfectionist and hate to fail at anything, but again, it's part of the process. Knowing that I can make mistakes and get back up and keep going is something I have been working on for a while now. Best of luck to you and keep us posted on how you do (and, again, I know you will be great!!!!)
mae2014
mae2014
Thanks, you made a lot of good points in your response. It's actually really nice to know that someone else feels the same way about student teaching as I do. I feel like I am definitely overthinking and worrying too much, but it's hard not to. It's something that is really important to me so I just want it all to work out well. I know that no one is expecting us as student teachers to be perfect, but I tend to expect myself to be. I also am very much a perfectionist, especially when it comes to things relating to school which doesn't help the worrying.

Good luck to you with your student teaching as well :)