What does it mean to mentor?

November 6, 2007

Note: This post was made after the journal entry was written.

Today's visit to Walhalla was to meet with my teacher about the lesson I am teaching tomorrow. Both she and I would prefer that I teach the next section, but the timing did not work out right. I am very concerned about making the lesson captivating. I'm afraid I will lose the students within the first few minutes of class because relations are not particularly exciting. To keep them engaged, I have planned a few activities that I hope will keep their attention as well as help me help them learn.

I mentioned a few of the plans I have for tomorrow to Mrs. Screws, and she didn't seem too thrilled by some of them. I think my plans to let them do group work concerned her. I don't think she trusts me to control the class. It is really discouraging to hear that she doesn't have faith in me. I know I have a lot left to learn, but it would be nice to know that someone believed in me.

It's been this way all semester--she is always very negative. She always tells me all the "dirty" little secrets of the teaching profession and how hard it is. Then she justifies her comments by telling me that she wants me to know what I'm getting into. I appreciate her honesty, but as my mentor teacher, I think it would be nice if she said something positive. Isn't she supposed to encourage me and give me helpful insights into teaching? To me, a mentor should be someone positive. A "glass half full" type of person. Mrs. Screws is a pretty good teacher, but her negativity is a bit of a downer. If she's so unhappy in this job, why does she do it? It's not like she doesn't have other choices.

If nothing else, I have learned that I need to stay positive if I'm going to survive student teaching. But, I'm not satisfied with just surviving. Surviving doesn't benefit my students or me. I want to thrive. I want to succeed. I want to wake up looking forward to the day--not dreading it. This is going to be a challenge with Mrs. Screws, but at least I know now what is facing me.