This is coming from the resident teaching psycho, so beware.

Use what they're giving you in class--but kick it up a notch. Definitely use those games, and don't be afraid to "go back to elementary school" if you will. Have your students do lots of hands on things. Know that the best way to have to learn something is to have to teach it--sometimes your students make the best teachers. I've got babies, mind you, but they love to help one another and lots of times my students can use "kid language" to get a point across much better than I can as an adult--they act as a sort of a translator, I guess.

Give your students lots of time to reflect on what they learn--ten minutes of lecture, then two minutes of journal/notes/discussion. Use the internet, too...there's lots of good graphic organizers and tools out there for educators. Most are free. www.enchantedlearning.com is one.

Don't be bummed. Work hard in your class. And don't be afraid to try some different things in your class. I think it's SO refreshing when a teacher tries some crazy things in their classroom--that's the stuff you remember. If my stupid cowboy voice gets my kids excited about math...I'll do the stinkin cowboy voice, you know? You'll be great!

When I was in the AP Math in College, one of the requirements were that we tutored those in the remedial program.  SO I gave it a shot.  After 4 hours with one person, she still could not radicalize fractions, she failed the test the next day, and dropped out of college.  I gave up on teaching that day.

So I can only tell you how to FAIL at teaching!  I cannot tell you how to be a good one.

~~I am learning about teaching techniques, presentation skills, how to use visual aids, games, and activities to liven up boring "death-by-PowerPoint" classes. I am also learning that this teaching gig may be very challenging, both intellectually and professionally.~~

~~Any advice for an aspiring edcucator?~~

Some basic advice for any aspiring teacher, whether it be one for kids, teens, or adults, is to be passionate about your subject, be encouraging, be interesting, and motivate, motivate, motivate...try different approaches to teaching a subject and try different ways of keeping a student engaged in learning (and you are already learning how to do that based on what you mentioned above, which is great).

Any advice for an aspiring edcucator?

Carry a bat.

Carry a bat.

A big one. Made out of aluminum, preferably. Painted Day-Glo pink, if available (so they can see it coming).

One thing to rememeber - while they may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer (comparatively speaking, of course), they will be upset and/or royally peeved if spoken down to.

Learned that one the hard way ...

No bat, they might cite me for workplace violence.

I'm just getting very down on myself, because it seems that this stuff is way harder than it seems.

My logic is this:
I'm a good public speaker.
I am a fountain of useless information.
Therefore I should be able to impart that wisdom to the masses.

But I get tongue-tied and flustered every time I'm up in front of the class.
Tomorrow (weather willing) is my final. I'm preparing for it as soon as I get off the blog. It's thirty minutes long. I decided my topic, and now it's time to get ready.

Yikes.

But I get tongue-tied and flustered every time I'm up in front of the class

I think you'll be alright, you were always the best at the briefings. You did great then, you'll be alright now.

A big one. Made out of aluminum, preferably. Painted Day-Glo pink, if available

Mine's Ford Corporate Blue. Leftover engine paint from my Mustang. And it's not lead filled, (I ran out of tire weights), but the end's sawed off a few inches and I tapped the end and filled it with zinc, which is heavy enough. Tap that bad boy on a desk a couple of times and just watch the heads in the classroom turn..........

No bat, they might cite me for workplace violence. I'm just getting very down on myself, because it seems that this stuff is way harder than it seems. My logic is this: I'm a good public speaker. I am a fountain of useless information. Therefore I should be able to impart that wisdom to the masses. But I get tongue-tied and flustered every time I'm up in front of the class. Tomorrow (weather willing) is my final. I'm preparing for it as soon as I get off the blog. It's thirty minutes long. I decided my topic, and now it's time to get ready. Yikes.

I hope everything went well for you. I'm sure it did. It's okay to not be too comfortable in front of them, you know? You'll be fine! I promise! It takes time--don't think you have to know it all the first day. Its impossible!

Yes, I did okay... I was happy with my performance, and the class was all of us aspiring teachers. It went quite well.
My visual aids were a crossword puzzle for a note taking tool (fill in the blanks when I mention a definition) and another handout. I also used some music and a big chart.
I just never realized that this is WORK! It's hard to get up and talk, especially when it's about something that you already know. That sounds crazy, but it's absolutely true.
Well, it looks like I will be getting my first class in February. So fun fun fun! Things to dread... I mean, look forward to!