Pacing and Preparation

Posted October 9, 2025 by June Kramer

I have taught youth of many ages, in a number of formats, for years. This has mostly been in an informal capacity: summer camp, after-school activities, or tutoring. But last week at my first lesson in my first practicum, I truly felt my capability.

In the minutes leading up to when the second grade class came into the library, I found myself pacing back and forth, making sure that the brightness on the overhead projector was just right, adjusting the picture books on display in the reading corner. 

I had prepared extensively for this lesson, which was a read-aloud of the book I’m Sorry You Got Mad, with some prompts for discussion about apologizing. I filled out the standard lesson plan form, and talked with my supervising librarian about strategies for the lesson. But once the students filed in and sat on their mats, I felt like I was operating a mile a minute. 

One of the things that my supervising librarian and I talked about was contingency plans for if students did not want to participate. I had some prompting questions in my back pocket, but none were necessary. Students were eager to chime in about their thoughts on apologies, on whether they’ve ever felt they owed or were owed an apology, and their thoughts on the book. To get to engage with students like that on such a vulnerable subject was a beautiful first lesson.