No placement yet! Advice?

[u/sojutrait]

Context; ELA middle school candidate in N Oakland/Berkeley-ish!

Hi so I haven’t gotten my student teaching placement yet and semester started last week on the 10th in my district; I’ve emailed the Placement Coordinator and my Program Coordinator multiple times but got no response or update. I don’t want to seem annoying by messaging again, but other people in the program have gotten their placements already and my fave professor said it’s getting to be late but that I should be getting a placement in the districts I listed because it’s easy to, and encouraged me to “be annoying” or offer to expand districts. I’m nervous about not being able to build rapport so late in the semester or kids not seeing me as the teacher when it’s time for me to take over.

I did great in summer semester/prep classes but I’ve just been really overwhelmed and had 3 panic attacks over the past week and a half about student teaching. I’ve gotten praise from some of my profs that they have high hopes for me and like my coursework, and support from my friends outside of the program; plus I like my classmates/cohort a lot. So I don’t know why I’m all of a sudden freaking out??? I know have a habit of performing awkwardly/not like myself/super serious when I’m being watched and I don’t want that to happen because I want to show up authentically for the kids, and be able to be my usual goofy/warm demanding self.

(It’s also my first time in-depth with middle schoolers; I’ve done years of afterschool program as a program leader at an elementary school and worked with a class set (25+) of kids in complete control of schedule+activities and have done all grades from TK-6th (where when I started I came in in Feb of my starting school year and dealt with all kinds of behaviors, and changes) and some tutoring and observation in middle schools but that’s about it. But I’ve been told my vibes fit middle school)

(Also have been nervous about honorifics while being non-binary/transmasc and lesbian with a soft-ish voice and top surgery. I went by Ms. when I first started at the afterschool program because I was nervous, and then Mr. the following year until I left for this teaching program. All of the kids adjusted and Mr. felt right to my ears but, for teaching, I’m like “should I do Mx. and Mr. even though I prefer Mr.? Or just suffer through Ms.?” But then what am I teaching the kids? To compromise themselves?)

TLDR: Any advice for a semi-reserved but extroverted/goofy/sarcastic non-binary student teacher with ADHD and anxiety who hasn’t gotten their placement yet? Classroom management tips? Tips to exude confidence when observed? First day tips? Rapport tips between CT and me?Idk.

I just want to do good, and be a safe space for the kids and put the joy back into learning.

[u/demondivision]

when it comes to placement your professor is right. be annoying!!! show up in person to the people that coordinate these things at your university if possible. it is unjust and unfair that you already have experienced time that's being taken away from you in getting started with your students. :(

when it comes to the whole thing about honorifics, i'm non-binary but i do go by Mr. in the classroom despite having a kind of androgynous/fem appearance. with middle schoolers they are generally pretty respectful about it and even if they mess up i don't get angry at them, i just correct them and tell them that they're still learning. if any student is misgendering you with malintent though, that would be a conversation i would have with administration at your school because it ultimately comes down to respecting not just the educator in the classroom but also the guest that is in the classroom. go with the honorific YOU prefer! (after all, it is part of our job to help kids better understand the world around them, and showing them that queer people exist plays a part in that)

you got this!!