Student teaching questions?

Has anyone here performed any type of student teaching? I planning on being a mid and high school science/math teacher.





I heard my student teaching lasts 14 weeks and apparently you can't (or won't have time to have) have a part time job while doing this?





It totally fine with that if that's true, but I just making sure it's really true. (That you don't have time for any other job, ect.)


I understand and it's probably a good idea so you can concentrate on the lesson plans.





Do you all just save up in advance before doing this? Any type of job in particular you can do on the side- online job ect that any of you have done?








I'm in New Mexico and I am doing Western Governors University Online.

Student teaching questions?
Ok, this isn't an answer, but a question, that maybe you can answer in an extra comment (please!)





How have you liked your WGU experience? Were they very good in helping you find a place to student teach?





I'm thinking about them, but I want my degree to be accepted.
Reply:yes
Reply:Student teaching varies on your program. I did 12 weeks here in Utah, teaching 8th grade integrated science. Check with a ed person at your institution to find out.





Working is tough, but it is possible. I did about 5 hours a week. I know some people that did 20. So, if you can find a job with flexible hours and you don't need too much sleep, go ahead and try to work a few hours a week and/or save up as much as you can. I saved up about $2000 and got outside hel pand made it.





I would say make sure you get set up with the right site teacher. Find a person that you mesh with and will let you use/modify their lesson plans! That will make your life MUCH easier.
Reply:My wife says a person can't student teach and have a job at the same time. You have too much planning and stuff to do at home.
Reply:I have a student teacher working with me in my classroom now. Yes, they told her she shouldn't have a part time job, but still she does. She has to work super hard to get it all in, but she manages to do both. I'd say about 50% of the student teachers I've had do have part time jobs and student teach at the same time. (Many don't tell their college advisors.)





Ideally, it would be great if you could devote 100% of your time to student teaching. Economically, I can see why it's impossible for many.





If you do keep your p/t job, you'll want to be sure it doesn't interfere with your student teaching, as that is your primary responsibility. Try to work weekends / non-school nights whenever possible. If you put in more than 10-15 hours per week, you'll probably be over-exhausted.





Hope this helps.
Reply:Your student teaching experience should entail a lot more than just the teaching. Yes, you'll have a lot a responsibilities there...they start gradually, but eventually you'll be doing everything. Here in Michigan, there's a lot the student teacher must do for the college's requirements for this time as well. Student teachers I've had were required to do a specified number of hours of tutoring, observing other classrooms, keeping a journal of everything, meeting one on one with their professors, attending a class two nights each week with all the other student teachers...just to name a few things.





I think it wise that you not even consider a part time job. This will more than keep you busy. I honestly believe my practice teachers had more to do than I did!
Reply:You will be pretty busy with all the extra work you will have outside the classroom, but I don't know how they can stop you from having a job. I've never heard of such a thing. I didn't do student teaching as I was already teaching when I went for my certification. The teacher just came to my classroom to observe me. So, I don't know if it's true. It just sounds strange to me. As for online jobs and that sort of thing, I'm a stay-at-home mom now and I've looked with no success. Most of those kinds of jobs are scams. Good luck!
Reply:I student taught last schoo year in Virginia. The rules vary by school here. I couldn't hold down another job while student teaching, but my husband, who went to a different university in VA did, during his student teaching.





Again, my "internship" lasted for ten weeks, his was longer.





As far as finances, I was able to use the excess FINAID granted for household expenses during that time, but we did put some cash aside, since we knew I wouldn't be working for a major part of the semester. I didn't work until I was finished with the student teaching part of the semester, after that I got a job at a school part time teaching math as a PRIME instructor (think Title 1 program) at an elementary school. Which I started the Monday after my student teaching ended. Honestly, I was glad I wasn't working on top of all the planning, grading, and other various things I had to do during that time.





Good luck with your student teaching!
Reply:I am a Teacher in Texas and did my student teaching there too. I think the question of having a job is that you will basically be doing a job - you will be doing the job of a teacher for the 14 weeks - so you will be keeping those hours. In general - I would think you could have a part-time job that was "after" school hours. However, I would check with my mentor teacher - as there may be some after school meetings and activities that you are expected to attend. If you cannot have a job - then I would suggest saving up and planning advance for your expenses.
Reply:It really depends on the school and the teacher you will be paired with. The school where I ended up doing my student teaching (I did high school math) had a VERY organized curriculum. Everything was on disk and it was really easy to do lesson plans. "Yesterday we did notes 4-2 and assignment 4-2. Today we are doing notes 4-3 and assignment 4-3." The only planning I did was to work through the notes and assignments myself the night before. The school that I teach at now is really different. I was handed a textbook at the beginning of the year and told that there weren't enough books for all the students so I would have to supplement. That's a lot of work to have to create or find notes and assignments every day.





Try to find out who will be your mentor teacher and get with them to see how much work you can expect to have every day and if you will have to grade papers every day. You will probably at least be able to work some on the weekends. I wouldn't plan on being able to work during the week.





My sister is also a teacher and for the first few months that she was teaching, she worked a second job waiting tables on the weekend to pay off some of her bills. It was really hard on her, though, and she eventually had to quit.
Reply:I dont know how New Mexico does things, but I did my student teaching in Mississippi. I did not work while I student taught. Student teaching is full time work. Then to excel, I did lots of work at home to make sure I did a good job. I even spent my spring break preparing lesson plans. Although, I am sure some who dont need as much sleep as me could find time to work on the weekend. I did have a relationship while student teaching and spent quite a bit of time on the phone with the guy because it was long distance, so I guess I could have used that time to work instead if I had chose. But you definately will want extra time to prepare your lessons. So I guess its what fits your lifestyle. Its nice to not work while student teaching though.