 So this is we're gonna call what should we call it like the student teacher tag? Yeah. Yeah, I think that sounds right. Okay, so we can't see ourselves, but we're definitely All right, everyone so this is Jessica She is my student teacher this year and my first student teacher ever But we spent a little bit of time together already. So um, but we're gonna dig into the questions So we're just gonna go through the questions. There's like 22 of them And we're gonna try to do it quickly because we are on our prep right now. We don't want to Take too much time. Yeah. Okay. So first question. What are your names and where or what do you teach? I'll let you go first Teach in the East Valley. Yep name Jessica What do you teach? Oh Currently in full takeover for science three days a week like she's mentioned and I'm Charlotte and we yes, we teach in the East Valley and I teach fourth grade science and social studies Okay, so number two when will you graduate and when did I graduate? Okay, so I'm gonna graduate in December of this year 2023 a little bit off by a semester kind of awkward But yeah, I'm excited. I have one more semester After this and I actually graduated in December of 2014 So I'm also a December one, which you know All right, so what school college did you or do you attend? We both went to ASU. Yep ASU. Go Zebbles. I went to NAU for one year So also go Jax. I did like Mesa Community College, Yavapai College Oh, yeah and ASU. Yeah, I did a few years at community college too. It's the way to go to my school to get some credits in. It's cheaper Okay, number four describe your program Like okay, so I think what they want to know is so every program is different How long do you student teach? How many days do you student teach? Like what is your student teaching program like? Right, so this is interesting because I heard rumor on the street Is that they're changing it after this semester and there might be less even less in teaching that I already have So I've already done Two semesters of interning. So that's more just like observations. So I did one semester in Sixth grade and eighth grade with some STEM electives in there And then I did one semester in turning the beginning of this year and in fourth grade And then we like requested that we I stay here for the rest of the year for student teaching So you have two semesters of interning and then two semesters of student teaching Your first semester of student teaching is three full days a week Which isn't what I'm in right now and then next semester is five full days Yes, so Regardless your last semester you're teaching full-time a lot of people try to find Paid positions for that but it's not a guarantee So during your last semester you're basically just teaching you don't really have any more classes So when I student taught it was the whole year the whole last year and it was four days a week the entire time So the one day it was like it whatever like your district's Half day was or their early release was the day you would go to class So they tried to they've tried to partner with districts that all had the same Like day off or like half day so that the student teachers could go as like Wednesday we would go All right, so right now this is question five how many classes are you currently taking versus how many will you take next semester? Yeah, so right now they're all online But there's zoom meetings twice or three times a week So I have my student teaching course that goes with this and then I have three other classes with it and then next semester It'll just be a 12-credit one course that goes with my student teaching. I think it was very similar to mine except the whole year I think actually the whole year we had multiple classes because we would go to class that Wednesday And it would be multiple classes that day All right, so question six do you work a real job in addition to student teaching I do I work Where I work at but I work at like a community center Like an HOA. It might be associated with an HOA Don't get mad at me. I don't make the rules But yeah, and then seasonally I also work out like a farm and we like sell pumpkins and do like Christmas light show Okay question seven how did you meet how did this get set up? I can answer this one So Jessica like she mentioned before she had been interning here with a couple of the other electives teachers in different grade levels and They just asked me and Like I feel like it was like July. Would you like a student intern? I had already had two interns previously So I was like sure that sounds great like they come one or you know once or twice a week and they just hang out and So I said yes, and I think it's because they knew your interest was in STEM science so our print my principal was like, oh, yeah about this would be great for that and then We were able to kind of like click when she came and so when it came time for her to like Venture away and do student teaching. She mentioned she wanted to stay in the area and I was like well Do you want to just stay with me? Like you already kind of know what's going on and so I mean, I think she wanted to say I think You never really said like yes, please That was like before we've created our little bond But yeah, we sent emails and it got set up so that just could stay with me for her student teaching And so this is my first time mentoring like an actual student teacher Which I think it's been it's been really great. Yeah Okay, number eight. What has been the highlight of this process and the biggest challenge you go first I feel like the highlight is like the result of the biggest challenges because like when your student teaching you're really just like Diving into the unknown. Honestly, especially when it's like, okay, do you want to lead this block now? Which it's like, yeah, I need to because I really want the experience, but it's like What do I do like, you know what to do, you know all the terms and everything but it's like, okay, let's just do this So I feel like my highlight has been just like Really growing and like getting more comfortable just like presenting content and like, you know Just finding my own space in the classroom and everything But that's also been the biggest challenge is like just going for it and like putting in the effort to improve in that Yeah, I think like you hit it like the I think your highlight kind of matches my highlight and your challenge matches my challenge The biggest highlight has been watching you Like come out of your shell because when you first arrived, you were kind of quiet and like you just were kind of reserved Which is very normal and throughout this process you have like blossomed into this like big blooming flower And that's also like you said one of the challenges like me having to push you to do that Like saying, okay Jess, you're gonna lead the last class Like, okay, I can tell she's uncomfortable like I could tell she's a little nervous But I'm gonna push her anyway So that's been a challenge for me because I'm not typically one like with adults to be like, okay, let's do this Why don't you go do that like kids? I can tell what to do all the time But like adults it's a little bit harder So it has been chap was challenging to get you like started But now that you have like it's been so nice to see you like oh, this is you This is who you are like you've come into your comfort zone and blossomed and it's really nice to see What is something you wish you could change about the experience or your program? About my program or your experience about my experience I guess graduating in December is a little bit awkward because If you were to graduate at the end of a in May in May Yes, then you would be in the same classroom student teaching three days a week and then five days a week with them I've just been lucky that I've been able to be in this classroom for the full year But a lot of my peers they switched in January and then they had to do the student teaching with a whole new group Whole new teacher and everything so it just made it unfamiliar But that's kind of it just depends on when you're graduating Other than that I feel like my experience has been really good especially compared to a lot of people I've just been lucky with my placement and everything. So, yeah Only thing I would change is I like wish you guys didn't have to take classes at the same time as your placement like I wish you could be here Monday through Friday and You know maybe like an after-school class or something like that Just so that you can really see the entire process And then I also wish there was a way for them to make it so that you don't start student teaching until the beginning of the school year and then The end you know what I mean like I know like timing is weird and you kind of have to do it that way But like you said a lot of your peers are like they had to start over in a new class in January And then they're going to see a completely different You know thing at the end of the year. It just would be nice if it could be like the whole school year One full swish So you can see how it really happens. Yeah. Yeah, you were definitely lucky with that. Yeah Okay, number 10. What is the biggest thing you have learned from one another? I guess I don't know. Well, obviously I've learned a lot from you Make sure it's still recording watch for sitting here. Okay, we're good. Um Biggest thing like your biggest takeaway If you want to think I can share mine. Yeah, you can share yours. So You have a lot more patience than I do Like and you're so sweet about how you Like react to certain things. I think that I'm just like a salty seasoned teacher at this point. Don't get me wrong like I Definitely try to be like more patient with certain things But like I've noticed you are a lot more patient than I am Like your ability to Like save your frustration for later and then talk about it with that child Whereas I'm very direct and I'll like get it in the moment Typically I'm like a squat down and talk to that person kind of gal, but at this point in the year. I've been a little bit more like Like right up in the business Um, which I don't love and I've been trying to tone it back because you've been inspiring me to do it So my biggest takeaway is like your patience and your ability to respond in a more like calm Manor not that I'm like, you know a banshee or anything in the classroom, but like you're You've inspired me in that way um Yeah, I guess behavior management wise kind of the same thing like your boundaries are very Set and I'm such like a people pleaser like if they say please with like puppy dog eyes I might be like, yeah, I'll make an exception for you But you can't do that no because when you make exceptions then they take advantage of it even if they don't mean to Um, so I've really learned that your boundaries are really firm. I really like like don't stalk me rule Even though I'm not the best at keeping up with that. You'll get better. You'll get better But like yeah, just learning really firm boundaries and not being a pushover like I I'm usually I used to be a pushover I am a people pleaser just like you and it's so hard to separate Your people pleaser personality from Your classroom management because it's true Like they could look at you with puppy dog eyes and you're like, okay fine But if you do that, they're gonna know they can like push the boundary So I'm glad that that's your biggest takeaway because it's a big one. Okay. This is where the fun ones come in So what is the others go to lunch? Yours is usually like a wrap of some kind I look like a a whole wheat tortilla or something like that You toss in the microwave and you always have chips in dip. Oh, yeah, always And you're like way healthier than I am she usually has like chicken and like vegetable Vegetables you like sweet potatoes. I do like sweet potatoes a lot and like chicken and Do you have vegetable usually have like some baby carrots? Yeah Um, very seldom do I see Jessica with like snack food like me. I'm snacking all day I'm surprised you don't when I get home. Do you okay? It's a snack attack All right. What is the others go to beverage? You're switched up a little bit Oh, yeah switched up a bit. Yes. So after winter break Or no spring break after spring break when you went to Nashville You were like, I'm not drinking coffee anymore. Which is okay Whatever, but you were like drinking like mint tea. Yeah Mint tea and then you tried the chai. It wasn't brewing. I don't know. It was a whole issue But we try to drink a lot of water. We drink our energy drinks. Everyone's so Our alani news. We love them I haven't seen you with it in the last couple of weeks You switched back to coffee But I have I do have a cup. I'll drink both I'll drink a coffee in the morning and then I'll I'll just give you my answer That's all right. I was gonna say it anyway Yeah, you drink coffee and alani new and I learned that her favorite drink is raspberry green tea Oh, yeah raspberry raspberry sweet tea from texas rothouse Have you ever tried um the raspberry green tea from dutch? Yes I love it. Do you have like a raspberry coconut one or something? Ooh, I'm gonna try that coconut one But yeah hers is coffee water Alani new and that's usually I don't feel anything I see. I've seen you drink two alanis though in one day Oh, yeah, that that was a rough day for you, huh? I was like, I'm just like that night I think it was when it was conferences and we were here until like 7 p.m Oh, and I was like I'm cracking open another one cracking another one Luckily you could sleep with that though. Not me. I'd be like that Okay, name the others biggest pet peeve in the classroom Like you tell them what bothers me the most and I'll tell them what bothers you the most Okay mine for you Is when you say something like Okay, everyone stop talking Or like you're starting to give a direction and you forgot to like call for their attention You do this cute little thing where like you'll stop and you'll go It has to be when like you you've given directions And none of them are listening and you give this face like Are you guys kidding? I'm just like if you guys but then you figure it out and you're like, okay Now I'm gonna get their attention and then it's fine There's probably other things that peeve you more, but you don't show it. No, that's pretty accurate Yeah, I'm like, okay if you guys didn't listen then you're on your own I'm like, I don't feel bad. That's what I say. I'm like, I don't feel bad if you mess it up Um, you're better Time wasting I would probably say When they're just like in la la land and then they had the whole warm up time to like sharpen their pencil or whatever And then it's after and they're like I don't know. Yeah, I think that's it like time wasting For sure and the pencil sharpening thing like hits it on head like you had five minutes to sharpen your pencil Why are you standing up now? And sharpening it. Yes. Yep Okay, name the others most used phrase I have here is ready Look at me That's your favorite. I do I take your eyeballs. Yeah, look at me Because they don't look at me like turn your body around. Yeah, that's your most used phrase I guess I do say that a lot, but there's nothing wrong with it. It's just your favorite Yeah, that's mine I don't know I feel like I say, let's go ahead a lot Yes, let's go ahead and yeah, that's true You can't control others due to you I do say that a lot. You can control how you can react to the situation Um, okay, this one's for you. How do you balance work school and life? I don't Um, you keep like an agenda and write everything down or I love google calendar I have it all color coded and then I also have a whiteboard Um calendar right next to my desk that I also have color coded and then I have my planner that also has It's like all in three different places. So I always know where I need to be Um, and then I always am changing my work availability, but like you just have to find what works for you Yeah, um, and then I'm always making to-do lists. Like I don't know. I feel like the typical stuff lists calendars or And just yeah, you have to prioritize like when you feel burnt out You have to just go like pause for a second and get a little treat or whatever So I'll do that thing where I'll work for like 50 minutes like take a five minute break or whatever Like last night. I was like, I'm stressed and then I went and got ice cream. Oh, there you go That's how you fix it. We call it retail therapy. That would be like food therapy. Yes, I think it works. That's true Um, the next one is mentor. How do you balance work and mentorship? So I feel like Because this is my first time really like mentoring a resident So I've tried and you can correct me if I haven't done a good job at this, but I've tried to be very like in the moment Cognitive thoughts like expressing them to you Like at the beginning I would say things like so the reason I did this or I said this is because And I feel like it's important to communicate like your purpose and my purpose in this partnership So that they understand that when I stop to tell you something it's for a reason And I feel like they've done a good job of like Like they just listen. They don't really like say anything but I think being Like after school we have a lot of time to like Decompress and like reflect on how things go And I feel like if you use your time wisely like your scheduled breaks your lunchtime your prep Basically any free time you get to like reflect on how either I modeled something or on how you Delivered it like that's an easy way to balance Your like I guess just speak out loud as the mentor like speak out loud Of speak your thought process kind of like when you're teaching students how to do math like I'm thinking about this Like make sure you speak out loud and don't keep things in because Your intern or your resident is not gonna know Because if you're not saying it you're just thinking it they're never gonna know and in order for you to coach them appropriately you should be like Always talking about your thoughts out loud. That way they can really pick up on like, okay That's why she did that or this is what she was thinking when she did that and I even admit my mistakes too like I When I make a mistake with management or if it's an instruction I make sure to tell you like I shouldn't have done that or like maybe I could do this better next time So I think just being very open with your thought process is very important. Yeah I'm gonna do like a So we had to come back and finish filming this way later. I think it's been like chewy Yeah, since last time we sat down to film this but we're gonna finish it Okay, we think we stopped on question 16 So 17 is what is your dream position? That's one because I'm already doing mine My dream position don't know because I don't have a lot to compare it to But I guess fourth grade science and social studies Landed that though. Don't worry about it. Yep. She did. We'll have to explain at the end. But yeah Um, what is the easiest or hardest part of student teaching or mentoring I can go first so you can think about um, the hardest part which it hasn't been hard because of Like jessica's abilities, but when you have a student teacher you have to give up your power um, not only of managing the classroom like I Sometimes I feel like I intervene a lot but it's Like sometimes it's necessary But like giving up the power not only of the control of the room But also like giving someone else the reins of being responsible for teaching your children what they're supposed to be taught Now luckily i'm in a very unique position because jessica is interested in science She goes above and beyond to make sure she learns the content before she teaches it um, and so I trust her with The information she's providing my students now there have been like friends of mine who have had student teachers that have not been that way It's like they're having to like spend time teaching them how to teach something rather than just Them saying okay. This is what i'm gonna do this day. Here's my lesson plan. Here's what we're gonna do And then okay go ahead and do it like I feel like you're very Like you have it together you have the content knowledge you have The consistent behavior management like I don't really have to worry about giving you The power in the room because you're able to maintain it and you're able to deliver what needs to be delivered yeah, I guess something similar like the hardest part is Like the the power balance especially because the kids at first are used to only your word counts and so you really have to like Demand the room and like make sure that they take you seriously and be really consistent So that's really hard to pick up especially when you're like new you want them to like you you don't want to be like me Um, because then they don't respect you so it's a balance and then the easiest part Um, I don't know probably For me, I guess like The easiest part is probably Making connections with the kids. I guess just like walking around the room and like They're just happened to be open and like sharing stuff with you And so it's just easy to like reciprocate that energy with them Yeah Yeah, and this has been a good opportunity for you to see how valuable it is for them to be able to have that time in the morning with you because I feel like And correct me if i'm wrong, but like our home room Is like one of the only home rooms that Doesn't have drama within. Yeah, like pretty much all of our home room students get along with each other It's kind of like a little family like some of them bicker But even when like one of them says like clap twice if you don't like so and so Like so and so is not mad about it. It's just like a joke and everyone gets that And so I think that like you've had an opportunity to see how socialization can really affect a home rooms morale and not only that but like produce a special bond between you and them Yeah, like we have very special bonds with our home room. I mean we have bonds with all of them, but um Taking that time to to build that relationship is really really important. Yeah, the dynamics are very different Stay in touch after this year. I hope so. Yes I think so I think so I hope so. Yeah me too. Um, is there anything that says like did you get a job or something? number 22 Well, so Jessica, why don't you tell them because it's kind of it kind of goes along with this Yeah No, it's actually kind of a weird how weird how it happened. It was kind of like my fairy godmother came down One of the instructional coaches. We were doing standardized testing Very godmother and she came in and she was like we need a home monitor And so I was actually selected to watch the restrooms. I was just so blessed with that Job yeah, I'm told to watch the restrooms during state testing And then she just started talking about this open fourth grade science and social studies position And then all of a sudden people were like texting behind the scenes Like she was like texting like the dean of students and then like I got the interview set up and then all of a sudden Now I have a job at fourth grade science and social studies at a different school. Yeah same district Um, so yeah, it's exciting. But yeah, so we will keep in touch because Yes, we're still gonna be sharing a lot of things and if jessica needs me or like needs any input or like needs supplies or whatever I'll be here. I'll be there for you So yeah, I hope we stay in touch. Yeah What is the funniest thing you've seen your mentor or your resident do I know mine Okay, you should say yours mine is when um the dojo challenge is that you Get sturdy Get sturdy at recess and she was out there in her robe because it was like pajama day And her crocs on and the funniest part wasn't even her getting sturdy and being all into it It was that she stopped and she put her crocs in the sport mode I'm so clipped here That got me really good. It's like one of my favorite. It was the sports mode I think I did it without my hands too. I like kicked them into sports mode I don't remember but okay yours definitely beats mine. I mean, I don't have like a specific moment But you make me laugh every time she says something like You guys are really annoying me right now Like she is honest with them like you're being really annoying Really obnoxious and I just sit back there and I just giggle because I'm like Most teachers don't say things like that. I mean I say things like that like I'm very honest with them and so You'll go up and be like you guys are being really annoying right now Like she'll look right at the two people and be like you guys are really being annoying right now And I just laugh every single time yours definitely beat mine for sure But don't worry. You'll have your moment to dance in your robe Or if the kids get you in your t-rex costume, that's gonna happen before the end of the year All right, this one's for me And it's kind of a random last question but it's fine mentor. How do you provide feedback to your resident? um, I try to do this like Not in the moment like when you're teaching I try not to do this I think sometimes I interject But it's not like to correct you it's like to add on to what you're saying. Um, which is team teaching But in between each class if there's something I feel like she needs to add or change or fix I always try to say it and then she typically fixes it between that first and second block and then by the third one She has it. So, um I used to every time you would teach I would take notes Um, and then I would just give them to her and then she would write things down in her notebook Um, and that was really good But then it got to a place where my notes were just consistent And they were mostly positive feedback So I didn't feel like I needed to keep them anymore And then it just turned into like more instructional like like content level stuff Like today when I had you add like Or we talked about how electrical energy can be transformed into a different kind That's something you may not have thought of before or you're like, you know, it was coming but Like if it went that direction that it's okay to go there. Um, so yeah, do you have anything else you want to add To that Oh, you'll ask me You'll kind of like especially when I'm in full takeover for science You'll ask me a lot like You were like, do you want to still do the flashlight lab tomorrow because they were like so crazy today? Yeah, telling me to kind of take it away from them and I'll be like, I don't know They were kind of fixed it or whatever and then you'll say you're nicer than me Which means you probably shouldn't do it And they didn't earn it. So I was kind of like Do what you want to do but like Yeah, like think about if they earned it or not I always like want you to have that choice and like I also want you to learn from your own failures and mistakes too You know, like, oh shoot that didn't work like or oh man, I shouldn't let them do that Or oh man, like you totally changed your game like every single time today But it's because you learned from What And that's what teaching is like a lot of what I do is like on the fly It's made up in the moment and that's okay. That's your creative juices flowing That's why it's the art of teaching because things can be made up on the fly and if it works, it works And if it doesn't, oh, yeah but Yeah, so That is our Self made with the help of you guys Student teacher mentor tag So if you want to join us in on this tag, make sure you tag us in the description or not in the description Tag us down in the comments so we can see your video Because I'm sure Jessica would like to see those not only that but some of her classmates might need to see it because Yeah, maybe they're mentors. I don't know but I hope you guys enjoyed this video and we'll see you in the next one Bye guys