How to build confidence before teaching your first lesson
Avery Jensen
McKay Student Ambassador
Special Education
Teaching lessons can be an intimidating part of the practicum experience! Before starting my practicum, this was the part I was most nervous about. I have always had a lot of experience working with and helping students with disabilities, and even tutoring! But I knew that teaching an effective lesson was something completely different. That being said, it is definitely not as scary as it might seem! There are so many things you can do to prepare so that you go into that lesson feeling confident and ready to go. Here are some of my personal favorites:
PRACTICE BEFORE
I know this might seem obvious, but how many of us actually do this? I used to go into lessons or presentations with a “just wing it” attitude. This isn’t bad, but when you are new to teaching lessons, practicing it alone or with someone can help you organize your thoughts and make any adjustments to so it flows better. When I am nervous for a lesson, I practice at least once beforehand, and it immediately helps me feel more confident.
DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR STUDENTS
Before teaching a lesson in your practicum setting, you will have opportunities to get to know your students and the classroom environment. It is super important to take advantage of this time to get to know them and learn about their interests. If you know what they are motivated by, you can incorporate that into your lessons, which can help them stay engaged. Nothing builds confidence more than seeing that your students are engaged with what you are teaching them.
USE ORGANIZED LESSON PLANS
We are so lucky in our program to get so much guidance from our professors on how to build lesson plans. It is super important to pay attention and listen to them because they do their best to set us up for success! Having your plan organized will help build your confidence because you will know exactly what you need to do when you start teaching.
INCLUDE THE SAVIOR
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the Master Teacher. As we look to Him for guidance, He will help us. He knows our students better than we do and He knows what they need. Whenever I feel anxious before a lesson, I say a prayer and I feel comfort. Trust in the Savior and trust yourself! Building confidence takes time, and that’s okay! Practicum is a place to learn, try new things, and even make mistakes. The more lessons you teach, the more comfortable you will become. Trust in the Savior, trust what you have learned, and remember that you are there because you are capable of making a difference for your students.
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