SOME CHALLENGES OF STUDENT TEACHING

Apart from the challenge to master the subject matter well, student teaching is very demanding physically and emotionally.Therefore, it is extremely important for the student teacher to be in good physical condition before getting involved in student teaching.Contrary to the time when the student was an active receiver of knowledge,now he is the deliverer of knowledge and this requires dispensation of strength,energy and physical health.It is a known fact whether one is teaching or not, maintaining good personal health is the responsibility of any teacher.It has been observed that good health facilitates more energy and enthusiasm for the job, while the physically weak and tired teacher has been found to be less effective.

In most cases,starting any new thing is usually beset with  stress and strains.Student teaching is not devoid of this.This has been observed to be true especially during the first week of student teaching , while the student is trying to get settled.Another period when this anxiety is developed is during the evaluation of student performances.Some student teachers react abnormally to the presence of their invigilators or supervisors and may start to make mistakes.It is appropriate for the student teachers to understand that it may take some of them longer periods to adjust to the situation than others.However,where a particular student thinks that he has a problem of adjustment, this should be brought to the notice of his class teacher or college supervisor.

Usually,the first week is full of stress for the student teacher.Because of this he feels very tired emotionally and physically,towards the close of the day.But persistently and gradually, he becomes adjusted to the situation.Teaching , like so many other jobs is very involving and each student teacher needs to know the extent of this involvement with a view to recognizing his personal limits.

Specifically, the following teaching aspects constitute a challenge to the student teacher in his decision to teach:

1)      Teaching affords the student teacher varied and interesting opportunities to use his intellectual and creative abilities,technical knowledge,qualities of leadership, ingenuity,patience and others.

2)      Outside the classroom the teacher’s time is not always his own. In spite of the heavy teaching assignment,the teacher will be sought by the students  for participation in extracurricular activities or for personal references.He will be required by the school system to help in some administrative duties and he is also obliged to participate in some , if not all, professional activities.

3)      At time a teacher must live in a community in which he works.In most cases, he may find the place deficient in cultural, social,housing and transportation facilities.

4)      The teacher has many facilities to be mentally active,disseminate knowledge, and increase his knowledge in his own specialized field, as the profession will demand a certain amount of further  studies on his part.

5)      It is possible that in some communities,the members may attempt to encroach on the teacher’s personal life.They may dictate on the type of dress, code of conduct, his recreation or even his religion and may bring pressure to bear on the teacher who does not meet their particular requirements.

6)      Generally, not many school buildings are ideal or even up to date.At times, the teacher is assigned to large classes with inadequate equipment and facilities such as lack of seats, lack of space or accommodation for the students, lack of teaching aids such as chalk, and other materials.The teacher faces the challenging mission of convincing parents or the school board to establish better schools in which all learners can develop their full potentials.

7)      My Society is developing   a respect for superior and inspiring teachers.At the same time, a number of students have great affection for the competent teacher.Thus, the teacher will have the satisfaction as well as the responsibility when teaching to know that he is working with human personalities.

These are some of the challenges faced by student teachers.It is worth noting that some experienced teachers also have similar challenges. It will be normal for such  a teacher to read this article in order to improve on some of these short comings.