Which Student Teacher Will You Be? by Linda B. Pincham      Each semester, I talk to student teachers about professionalism. I share with them words of wisdom that were given to me when I was a novice teacher. Times change, but professionalism, common sense, and courtesy remain the same. The following are highlights of my presentation: • Present a professional appearance.   “First impressions are lasting impressions.” Though you see teachers around you—maybe even your mentor teacher—who dress quite casually, remember that you always want to send the message that you are a professional. Take the time each morning to dress and look the part. • Arrive early and be absent as rarely as possible.   Avoid rushing through the classroom door at the same time as your students. Arrive at school early enough to organize your thoughts and materials for the day. Your mentor teacher and your students are depending on you to be at school every day. • Participate fully in school activities.   Teaching extends beyond the classroom. Students love to see you involved and interested in their after-school activities. Attending school and departmental meetings gives you insight into the world of teaching, individual and group dynamics, and knowledge about the school and curriculum. • Use appropriate grammar and writing.   You are now a professional. Leave the slang at home! Always have your mentor teacher proof anything you send home in writing. • Observe school policies/discipline code.   Learn quickly the school policies and abide by them. It is perfectly appropriate to outline your personal classroom expectations as long as they are in accordance with your school’s policies and discipline code. Check with your mentor teacher to ensure that your lesson plans meet the school’s requirements. • Regard yourself as a learner.   Remember that you are a guest in the school—a guest who is there to learn! At times, you might know how to do things more effectively and efficiently than others. Be humble. Others observe how you present yourself to your colleagues and students. • Welcome and accept constructive criticism.   Your mentor teacher is there to help you become the best teacher you can be. Take any comments you receive and use them to your advantage. • Avoid involvement in school politics.   As a student teacher, you are a guest of the school and your stay is temporary. Don’t participate in school gossip. It can be deadly for a student teacher, especially if you are looking for employment in the same school. Others, not just your mentor teacher, are observing you and your actions. I conclude by sharing observations from other student- and first-year teachers—observations most student teachers have heard throughout their educational careers: be organized, over plan, make friends with custodial and secretarial staff members, and form relationships with parents. Finally, and much to my delight, they all show satisfaction and understanding after I read an excerpt from Amy DePaul’s What to Expect Your First Year of Teaching (1998): Nobody knows the pride I have when I talk to old friends and rather than saying, ‘I have a job,’ I say with delight, ‘I am a teacher!’ It’s so much more than a job, it’s an awakening.      —Stuart D. Chandler, fifth-grade teacher, Aurora, CO Reference DePaul, A. 1998. What to expect your first year of teaching. Washington, DC: U.S.   Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement. Linda B. Pincham is an assistant professor in secondary education at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Dr. Pincham’s research interests include middle school leadership and recruitment and retention of traditional-aged students to the teaching profession.