Laura Tucker

November 7, 2015
Overall Clinical Experience Reflection
My IMB experience reassured me that teaching is exactly what I want to do
for the next thirty plus years. I have been in and out of several schools; I would
complete my assignments and make sure I got my required hours. I loved being in
the classroom but this clinical experience was different. I remember waiting for my
placement to come in. I was so nervous and I hoped that I would be place in a
kindergarten through second grade classroom. Third through fifth graders scared
me. I have always heard the older the children, the more disrespectful they can
be . Plus, I wanted to be taller than the student were. My placement came in and I
was placed in fourth grade. My immediate thought was this is going to be a long
two weeks. Little did I know that my two weeks spent here would be my best
clinical experience. In just two weeks, I fell in love with fourth grade.
Going to meet my cooperating teacher for the first time was extremely nerve
racking. I wanted to make a good impression. She was so welcoming and friendly.
I was able to talk to her about my insecurities with fourth grade. I could not have
asked for a better cooperating teacher. She was beyond welcoming. I could not
believe the amount of independence I was given. Before my two week IMB
experience started, I was able to go the classroom two days a week for math, being
able to spend some time in the classroom before the two weeks allowed me to get
to know each of the students and to become comfortable in the classroom
environment.
My two weeks were cut a little short with two teacher weekdays and a field
trip. I decided that I wanted to spend as much time as possible in the classroom. I
spent six full days with my fourth graders. It was exhausting but it was also very
rewarding. Through my IMB experience, I learned so much. Not only did I teach a
literacy, science, and social studies lesson. I worked with several small groups of
students in math and literacy each day. I lead a guided reading small group.
Working with small groups was amazing I loved being able to help students in a
more one on one setting. Small groups allow you to target where each individual
student needs extra help or more instruction. There is nothing more rewarding then
seeing a struggling student finally master a concept he or she has been struggling
with. The students were great they looked at me, as I was another teacher. They
gave me the same amount of respect as they did their teacher. I learned the
importance of classroom management. Being a visitor in someones classroom is a
weird position to be in when it comes to management. I did not want to step any
toes. However, my cooperating teacher told me not to be scared to take or give
dojos, she told me management tactics she used and welcomed me to use my own.
My cooperating teacher gave me a lot of advice as a future teacher that I cannot

wait to implement in own classroom one day. I am no longer scared of the older
grade levels. This IMB experience was incredible and has me looking forward to
student teaching.