If you're getting ready for your student teaching or internship, you're bound to be nervous. Making a good impression from the very beginning will start you off on the right foot, and will give you the confidence you need to do your best.
Student teaching isn't easy. Not only will you learn more during your internship than you've learned in all your other courses combined, but you walk a difficult path between being a full-fledged teacher and still being a student yourself. You'll find it alternately the most stressful and the most exciting time of your life--and sometimes both at once. It helps to know in advance what you can do to keep going during the hard times and to enjoy the good times to the fullest.
What should I wear?
If you're starting your student teaching at the beginning of the academic year, you'll undoubtedly be attending inservices with your mentoring teacher. A good rule of thumb is to dress a little more casually for inservices than you would for teaching, but not quite as casually as you would for a day of setting up the classroom.
Even if your school has a Friday dress-down day where teachers are allowed to wear jeans, you might want to stick with slightly more formal khakis instead. It looks more professional--and right now you want to impress everyone in the school with your professionalism.
Use your best judgment when selecting a teaching wardrobe. Ask for a copy of your school's employee dress code ahead of time to make sure you're not violating any rules, and if you're not sure about an outfit, don't wear it. You don't need to look like a young lawyer, and you don't have to spend a fortune; just present a neat, professional appearance and you'll be fine.
What will I need ahead of time?
Every student teaching experience is a little different, so it's best to hold off on buying a lot of supplies until you know for certain what you'll need. The one item you absolutely must have is a big tote bag. Buy a sturdy, roomy one you like because you won't just need it for student teaching, you'll need it for your teaching career as well. Whether you teach kindergarten or high school economics, you'll need to transport books, supplies, paperwork, grade books, and a thousand other necessities every day. Your tote bag is your friend.
A three-ring binder with a supply of notebook paper and a few pens will also be useful. You'll need to take notes at inservices, staff meetings, grade or subject meetings, and many other times. Keeping all your notes together will help you when you need to refer to them unexpectedly. You can also keep daily reflections and a log of activities in your binder, along with notes for lesson plans and other paperwork.