Liz

Posted on 10/30/09

I completed my student teaching last semester, going for my
adolescent ed/math degrees. Through my university, we had two
separate placements, one in a high school and one in a middle
school. My middle school cooperating teacher was a nightmare! She
was unorganized and was constantly breathing down my neck. She
never gave me advice, only told me exactly what do to, but never
explained why. What made it worse was my placement ended the day
before the middle school state exam!! The two weeks leading up to
the test she was a bigger disaster than ever. I came in one
morning only to be screamed at for "lying" to her about an
assignment. So trust me, I feel for you in your situation.

My best advice is to to treat her how you want her to treat you.
Be cordial to her, super-friendly with your greetings to her. Try
to give your relationship a fresh start. Perhaps invite her to
have lunch with you and find some common ground outside of school
you could bond over. If it gets worse, I would contact your
university advisor and ask for them to run interference for you.
Your cooperating teacher might not realize she's acting in an
inappropriate way, and might need a little guidance herself. And
trust me, the actions you have described are highly inappropriate,
not normal at all!

Do you have a second placement too? If so, there might be hope.
My second placement was amazing and I had a chance to work with a
wonderful, supportive teacher where I learned so much about
teaching.

GOOD LUCK!

~Liz

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