Student Teaching Expectations and Goals

I have been teaching long-term substitute positions for the past three years while completing my Master's in Elementary Education. On February 5, 2018, I being the final process of Student Teaching. I am fortunate to have my own 2nd grade classroom on this journey. I have so much more to learn and always ready for advice and criticism. I am looking forward to extra guidance from my professor and two amazing colleagues as I take on this amazing, yet grueling world of teaching. Here is what I hope to accomplish during my student teaching: I need to learn more on how to differentiate for my students' needs. I have 25 students with a wide-range of capabilities. How do I manage my time wisely? How do I stay sane and not get burnt out? How do I give them everything that they need without compromising my own family's needs?A big goal is to find out what differentiation method works best for me. In turn, what works best for me will work best for my students because I believe in it. This follows many of the objectives stated in our syllabus, but with a twist. I want to learn what methods and implementations work best for my students, BUT also for myself. I have to find teaching ways that are my own and unique to my classroom. That is where the magic of teaching comes in. Yes, we have state standards that we must meet, but we also have our own brains and creativity to make those standards are own. On a different note, I have very high expectations of my students and I often question myself if it's too high. I look forward to tackling that persona teaching trait. Overall, I feel very comfortable and ready to have my own classroom next year. That being said, I am ALWAYS open for suggestions and ideas. I love getting advice and can handle criticism. My goal is to simply learn as much as I can and gather up as much advice as I can from three different women: my professor and two on-site teacher supervisors. They are all different women and I am lucky to have a wealth of knowledge and patience waiting for me.