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by Jeanette

Jun 6, 2012

I'm a recent graduate and I have been actively searching for a teaching position, hoping to teach by the next school year.

During my practice teaching I had constant issues with my cooperating teacher. I completed the semester without seeking a different placement, but in hindsight I wish I would have found a different one because my co-teacher and I did not part ways on good terms.

The issue I am not having post-graduation is that I can't use my former co-teacher as a reference. I have several good references- former professors and practice teaching supervisors- but my co-teacher always comes up during an interview.

I need advice on how to address the issue with my former co-teacher without sounding negative or making it reflect badly on me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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Kam There is still time to smooth the relationship with your cooperating teacher. I know you are thinking UGH! NO WAY!!, but things may not be that bad. Let some time pass this summer until the stress has subsided. (I've done something very similar after a bad experience with one of my former supervising principals).

Contact your former cooper...See MoreThere is still time to smooth the relationship with your cooperating teacher. I know you are thinking UGH! NO WAY!!, but things may not be that bad. Let some time pass this summer until the stress has subsided. (I've done something very similar after a bad experience with one of my former supervising principals).

Contact your former cooperating teacher, briefly apologize for anything you may have done and thank him/her for time & guidance. Then, mention you are applying for positions and politely request a reference letter (not necessarily a "letter of recommendation"). Most people ultimately want others to do well in their future endeavors. If s/he says no or doesn't respond, then at least you tried to make amends.

After I completed an interview, I knew I'd have to mend fences with my former principal. So I wrote a brief e-mail to my former principal, congratulated him on a recent accomplishment, and thanked him for helping me grow professionally. Then, I mentioned I was interviewing for a new position and would hope that he'd support me. I never got a reply back from him, but he did provide a phone reference which got me hired out shortly thereafter.

I am now careful about whom I work for. Some supervisors are not worth the pay and benefits. Life is too short to deal with their issues!!! -Kam

On 6/06/12, Jeanette wrote: > I'm a recent graduate and I have been actively searching for > a teaching position, hoping to teach by the next school year. > > During my practice teaching I had constant issues with my > cooperating teacher. I completed the semester without > seeking a different placement, but in hindsight I wish I > would have found a different one because my co-teacher and I > did not part ways on good terms. > > The issue I am not having post-graduation is that I can't > use my former co-teacher as a reference. I have several good > references- former professors and practice teaching > supervisors- but my co-teacher always comes up during an > interview. > > I need advice on how to address the issue with my former > co-teacher without sounding negative or making it reflect > badly on me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Jun 15, 2012

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DifferentiateTHIS! Here's some advice; Find another profession. This one turned to hell. It's completely unnatural to have 2 teachers in the same room anyhow. God help us all. I here it was a nice, normal job 20+ years ago....

Jun 18, 2012

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To Differentiate This On 6/18/12, DifferentiateTHIS! wrote: > Here's some advice; Find another profession. This one turned to > hell. It's completely unnatural to have 2 teachers in the same > room anyhow. God help us all. I here it was a nice, normal job > 20+ years ago....

I disagree. Teaching has become a profession that demands collaboration wit...See More

Jun 20, 2012

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MrsB On 6/20/12, To Differentiate This wrote: > On 6/18/12, DifferentiateTHIS! wrote: >> Here's some advice; Find another profession. This one turned to >> hell. It's completely unnatural to have 2 teachers in the same >> room anyhow. God help us all. I here it was a nice, normal job >> 20+ years ago.... > > > I disag...See More

Jun 22, 2012

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Renee G First of all, since this is the first time I've ever posted on this board, let me say that I am a retired teacher. I came here to see what's going on in the new generation of teachers.

Whatever you do, don't lie. Not to an interviewer, and also not to yourself.

This is a time for deep, honest personal reflection on your experien...See MoreFirst of all, since this is the first time I've ever posted on this board, let me say that I am a retired teacher. I came here to see what's going on in the new generation of teachers.

Whatever you do, don't lie. Not to an interviewer, and also not to yourself.

This is a time for deep, honest personal reflection on your experience. Think about WHY you and your supervising teacher had "constant issues" and be honest about how much you contributed to those issues. I am not placing judgment here' in fact, there are always people in any profession which whom one will bond, and those with whom one does not get along.

If I were you, I would make a list of things she did to contribute to the bad feelings, the things you did, and also all the things you both did that were good. Then focus on those good parts without denying the bad ones.

In an interview, when asked about your student teaching experience, be honest without being negative: "I'm sorry to say my student teaching experience was not positive for me. My supervising teacher and I had different philosophies about [whatever] and it was difficult for me, BUT.... I was particularly good at [whatever]." Give examples, if you can, of student behavior, responses, outcomes, etc. For example, maybe your supervising teacher was a big proponent of worksheets and you are more the "active learning" type. You can state that in a positive way, to give a reason for the underlying mismatch.

But again..... be honest with yourself first. You have not stated any specifics in your posts, so we do not know what the issues were, but really, when student teaching you are supposed to be learning from the supervising teacher, and I have seen student teachers who were kind of "know it alls" and if that was the case, you should own up to that, at least with yourself. If it was mostly a personality conflict, everybody knows that happens.

I agree with the person who said you should substitute for a while. This will give you more opportunities to gather references from veteran teachers. If you are the outgoing type, you might even, after subbing at the same school several times, ask the principal to come in and watch you for a bit. They're busy, but many do come around to the classrooms when substitutes are on duty, to just check in.

Just be honest. And good luck!

On 6/06/12, Jeanette wrote: > I'm a recent graduate and I have been actively searching for > a teaching position, hoping to teach by the next school year. > > During my practice teaching I had constant issues with my > cooperating teacher. I completed the semester without > seeking a different placement, but in hindsight I wish I > would have found a different one because my co-teacher and I > did not part ways on good terms. > > The issue I am not having post-graduation is that I can't > use my former co-teacher as a reference. I have several good > references- former professors and practice teaching > supervisors- but my co-teacher always comes up during an > interview. > > I need advice on how to address the issue with my former > co-teacher without sounding negative or making it reflect > badly on me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Jul 26, 2012

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