Today’s post is a question I received via email this week from a student teacher feeling “ill-prepared” for her first teaching job this fall:

Hey, Laura!
I am a 23-year-old student teacher wrapping up my ST semester. Much to my dismay, I have not had the best experience due to my cooperating teacher being very gossipy, harshly critical, and a micromanager. I have managed to finish strong, but I feel a bit of imposter syndrome since my CT has not given me any control or left the classroom much at all during the semester. I feel ill-prepared to take on a classroom of my own in the fall. Do you have any advice for how to go into my first year of teaching with confidence despite the disadvantages I have dealt with?
– Jackie*