Math teachers have lots of problems.  

A few things that I learned about myself with my first teaching experience were:

• Be kinder to myself
• Don't take things personally
• There is always more time
• Don't rush
• Remember that students are here to learn
• Don't expect the students to listen to everything I say
• Follow through
• Be prepared to repeat what I say in different ways
• Always work towards improving
• Things won't be perfect the first time
• Expect the unexpected
• Mean what I say
• Listen to understand
• Be open to making mistakes and adjusting things that don't work
• Be confident

The first day I taught I was extremely nervous. Even though I have spent several days with these students before and knew most of their names I was still nervous to be in the spotlight.  I taught that my first day was decent for my first day of ever teaching, but my cooperating teacher said, "They chewed you up and spit you out."  This probably affected me and how I taught the next day because I thought my second day of teaching was worse, but she said it went better than my first day.  That is when I had to remind myself about my definition of "good" compared to other's definitions of "good." She said it was better because there was less talking less, and more work getting done.  I thought the first day went better because I felt more comfortable than the second day where I was frustrated and the students were frustrated and I shut down towards the end.  After the second day I was thinking that I am not meant to be a teacher and going off in my own mind exaggerating everything.  I tend to do that as a coping mechanism, and I bounce back after I go off the deep end.  In this case it was no different than other moments in my life where I struggle and start to exaggerate, and I was able to bounce back to my normal self over the weekend and come back fresh on Monday.  I apologized to the students about Friday and we went on with the days lesson.  The rest of my practicum experience went alright. Of course I would have wanted it to be better, but I learned a lot about myself and my teaching style.

I asked the students in the class to fill out a feedback form for me, and majority of them mentioned to me the same things that I know I need to work on to be a better teacher.  They mentioned that I was "nice" and "patient." Their advice to me was:

• "learn how to deal with disruptive students"
• "needs to be more disciplinary"
• "less quizzes
• "take control of the students, don't be afraid to send them out"

Now I wonder was I too nice, and should I not be nice because then people take advantage of it.  In the end I learned I was too nice and I need to be more assertive and follow through.