Inspired by Preservice Teachers

This week I am heading to the South Carolina Association for Middle School conference in Myrtle Beach, then will head to the North Carolina Middle Level Education conference in Greensboro, NC. These conferences provide insight and inspiration for teachers, administrators, and for the preservice teachers an opportunity to be introduced to middle level education on a much bigger scale. 

I  am so impressed with the passion and hope CMLA and other middle school preservice teachers bring. At the National AMLE.org conference (This conference takes place in the fall every year.) preservice teachers spent an entire day focusing on their needs, their ideas, and it culminated with a service project where they packed book ages with snacks for kids in Philadelphia. 

We, as educators, need their inspiration. They are the future. 

Last night, a group of preservice teachers shared their insights and passion with other student teachers about edtpa, a new national portfolio tool used to evaluate candidates’ abilities to plan, demonstrate evidences of respect, rapport, student engagement, deeper thinking, and assessing student learning. This panel of student teachers in their 8th week of student teaching came to my introduction to edtpa class and shared their insights. The following is a note I sent them. 

Dear Shawn, Lauren, Mary, Rachel, Emily, and Alex,

Thank you so much for sharing your inspiration about edtpa last night with my students. You were so clear, so helpful, and so passionate about your own views of how this process has shown you that you are prepared and ready to advocate for all students; that you recognize that teaching is about knowing all of your students and finding ways to consider their needs; that assessment is formative and that giving feedback is so important; and that the theories, knowledge of students, and best practice strategies play out everyday in your teaching. I also appreciate the candid reality that this process is rigorous, takes hours, and has given you confidence. 

It was so refreshing. Thank you for your love of teaching, your belief that you will make a difference, your passion. 

My students said you have given them a clear message that 1) this is doable and 2) they can do this! We will all celebrate March 26 with you. You all rock! Thank you. 

Sincerely,

Nancy

Advice:

1. Preservice teaching is more complex than it used to be. We as educators in the field need to find ways to support and encourage them. 
2. Our preservice teachers who are early in their programs need to hear from our student teachers. 
3. We need to share their stories and encourage them to participate in conferences that will inspire them and invite them into an educational profession that is passionate about working with young adolescents. 

The preservice teachers’ voice will be heard this weekend at these state conferences. We need their voices!!