Throughout my college experience this far, I have taken the time to reflect on my journey. I noticed that I was on my own when it came to picking classes, attending professional developments, and preparing for my upcoming classes. Not always because I didn’t have the help, but because I chose to make the decisions on my own. In this post I am going to talk about some things that you should think about while in school to become a Elementary teacher.
Some things your professors might not tell you while you’re in school
- Collect children books
One thing that I have done since freshman year is collect children’s books. I not only plan to provide them for my future students, but I also currently use them to write lesson plans for class. This could be a costly task but it doesn’t have to be! There are many great ways to start your collection. Here are my favorite (and cheapest) ways to find great books:
- Thrift stores
- Scholastic warehouse sales
- Family members
- Facebook Marketplace
Most thrift stores have a children’s section where there might be a large amount of books. Each book could range from .50 cents to 1 dollar! This is my number one, favorite way to get books for my future classroom. I also like to visit the scholastic warehouse sale which is thrown, I believe, twice a year (May and December). This is when the books are Buy One Get One FREE! This could still be pricey but you’re potentially finding great books and crossing them off your wish list! Extended family is also a great way to find great books. Two members of my family were teachers and they passed down some of their books to me. Lastly, Facebook market is a great resource to not only use to find great books but also other things you could put aside for your future classroom! Although previously owned books might not always be in the best condition, it is a cheap and effective way to find great quality books to provide for your future kiddos!
2. Go to as many Professional Developments/workshops as possible
Another thing that I have been doing since Freshman year is attending different workshops and Professional developments on topics I find interesting. Not only do you learn so much from attending these, but you also often receive free resources. This also looks great on a resume!
3. Take care of yourself!
While being a Full-time student and working, it is often hard to put yourself first. With that being said, you must look at your schedule and put aside time where you might go hang out with a friend, or spend the night in and watch TV. Although I wasn’t the best at this, I wish someone would have told this to freshman-junior year me.
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