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Student Teaching Chatboard

Student Teaching in the Fall

by Melanie

Jul 1, 2012

I just got my assignment for 6th grade social studies this fall and am super excited.

However, I am totally clueless as to what to expect. If anyone can describe how their student teaching experiences were that would be great!

For example: how often did you teach in the beginning, middle, end; were you more like a TA or did you do...See More

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working while student teaching

by ashley

Jul 26, 2012

I begin student teaching this fall. I moved off campus to another city in order to be closer to the schools at which I will be teaching as my car is old and not exactly reliable. I am wondering what job would be best to help ensure I have enough money to pay bills and still be able to devote plenty of time and energy to my student teaching. HELP!

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oldteach On 7/26/12, ashley wrote: > I begin student teaching this fall. I moved off campus to > another city in order to be closer to the schools at which > I will be teaching as my car is old and not exactly > reliable. I am wondering what job would be best to help > ensure I have enough money to pay bills and still be able > to devote p...See MoreOn 7/26/12, ashley wrote: > I begin student teaching this fall. I moved off campus to > another city in order to be closer to the schools at which > I will be teaching as my car is old and not exactly > reliable. I am wondering what job would be best to help > ensure I have enough money to pay bills and still be able > to devote plenty of time and energy to my student > teaching. HELP!

I am a retired teacher who had many student teachers in my long career. Please believe that I understand the financial constraints on today's college students, esp. non-tradition students. However, I cannot emphasize strongly enough what a really bad idea it is to try to hold down a job while you student teach.

What most new STs don't realize is what a huge time commitment student teaching is. You will be expected to be there at least 30-45 minutes before the start of the teaching day and to remain at least 60 minutes after school, longer if your cooperating teacher requests it. You will also need to attend staff meetings, after school functions, parent conferences , PETs and PTA meetings, as well as any other function your CT asks you to attend, often in the evenings. ( This is no more than you will do as a teacher). In addition to your in-school workload, you will need to correct work, prepare lesson plans, units and do assignments for Senior Seminar, or whatever your college calls it. ( This is the companion course you take that helps you prepare your portfolio, certification applications and application packages for jobs. That usually requires 6-8 hours a week, sometimes more toward the end.) In other words, you can expect to be putting in 10-12 hour days, incl. time on week-ends.

Why is this important for you to know? Student teaching is not only your chance to observe and learn fron a master teacher, but it is a chance for you to showcase your skills for future employers, even if you do not intend to teach where you student each. There are no more important documents in your application portfolio than the evaluations and recommendations of your cooperating teachers. Those are the first things any search committee or supt. looks for.

If, after considering this, you really feel you have to work, look for a job with very flexible hours and only on week-ends. I would recommend no more than 12-15 hrs a week. I think even that will be a reach. Remember you can never, ever use your job as an excuse for not doing an assignment or not doing something well.

Sometimes, schools will hire STs to do tutoring or work in after school programs or rec programs.You might also look into Sylvan Learning. They pay very well and it is only a few hours a week.

I did have some student teachers who tried to work while student teaching. None did it successfully and most quit their job after a few weeks when they realized they just couldn't do it.

Is there any chance you can get reassigned so you can remain at home or on campus while you student teach? Whatever you decide, best of luck to you.

Aug 8, 2012

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What makes a good Cooperating Teacher?

by EssBee

Aug 5, 2012

I am going to host another student teacher in my classroom this year. I would like to know how I, as the Coop. Teacher can support the student teacher. I want to know what you expect from your Coop Teacher. My student teacher will begin working in my classroom before school begins. I'll be setting up the classroom, making copies, organizing the roo...See More

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Beth Special Needs I believe that as a CT it is part of my job to help help my student have a full and and complete teaching experience. That does include the things you mentioned and in my case the nitty-gritty of special ed as well including changing diapers, talking with parents, staying late for meetings and all the rest. I never, ever "dump" on him or her but I ...See More

Jun 18, 2013

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Coop.Teacher On 3/11/13, Respect must go both ways wrote: > I agree with all that has been said in support of student teachers. > However, it is the responsibility of the student teacher to be > equally respectful. They are there to LEARN, NOT EVALUATE! Some of > them are critical of everything. THEY KNOW! After all, THEY ARE THE > YOUNG BLOOD! T...See MoreOn 3/11/13, Respect must go both ways wrote: > I agree with all that has been said in support of student teachers. > However, it is the responsibility of the student teacher to be > equally respectful. They are there to LEARN, NOT EVALUATE! Some of > them are critical of everything. THEY KNOW! After all, THEY ARE THE > YOUNG BLOOD! That attitude doesn't work either especially if they > are hoping to sub and/or get hired full-time. RESPECT WORKS BOTH > WAYS!!! > > > > > I completely agree. Sadly, so many ST's only see the surface level of teaching and assume they know it all. Boy, will they be in for a rude awakening! I currently have a ST that is seeing teaching with "rose colored glasses" rather than seeing it for what it really is. This is going to be devastating for her and her students if she doesn't follow my professional advice. Again, I agree...respect goes both ways. > > > > > > > >> >> You should not act like having a ST is your time to flee to the >> teachers lounges everyday like my coop did. Were you interviewed and >> screened prior to being selected as a coop? This is something I am >> working towards for our department at the university I am currently >> teaching at, as we get WAY too many bad coops, that are generally >> BAD TEACHERS. >> >> Realize the sort of position you hold in your ST's lives. These ST >> are working fulltime for free and have spent THOUSANDS UPON >> THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. Being a coop gives you an incredibly >> powerful position. If you set out to attack your ST livelihood by >> devaluing them to their university supervisor, it will come back to >> you. If you threaten to not recommend them for graduation because >> they aren't your clone, then the problem is YOU not THEM. >> >> On 3/05/13, The worst CTs are the ones who are only in it for the >> money wrote: >>> On 10/27/12, marita wrote: >>>> On 8/05/12, EssBee wrote: >>>>> I am going to host another student teacher in my classroom >>>>> this year. I would like to know how I, as the Coop. Teacher >>>>> can support the student teacher. I want to know what you >>>>> expect from your Coop Teacher. My student teacher will >>>>> begin working in my classroom before school begins. I'll be >>>>> setting up the classroom, making copies, organizing the >>>>> room, etc. Is it too much to expect him/her to do the same, >>>>> guided by my suggestions? >>>>> I ask because I really want the ST to have a wonderful, >>>>> productive and positive experience with me and my >>>>> classroom - I just want to do my part! >>>> >>>> >>>> How is your cooperating teacher experience going? I am in the >>>> same boat. I have a student teacher right now after long >>>> break w/out one. I am having a hard time. My biggest issue is >>>> that I feel as if I am the one under the microscope and am >>>> very stressed out abou tit. She never asks me questions and >>>> seems not to listen to me when I share my thoughts >>> >>> >>> As in, "Oh yeah, this memo says I can make X extra dollars if I >>> let a student teacher in here next semester. Sounds good...I >>> REALLY need the money, and it would be nice to have some lackey do >>> my stapling and photocopying and bubbling in my grades. Maybe >>> she wouldn't be too annoying, or get in the way too much." >>> >>> Anyone with that attitude will do a lot more harm than good, so >>> student teachers, beware!

Oct 20, 2013

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NEW MATH RESOURCE for precalculus, algebra1, apstatistics

by peter

Aug 14, 2012

Dear fellow math teachers,

[link removed].

I know some of you have been patiently waiting 'till the countdown is over. I am happy to announce that after many sleepless nights, our website is now running.

I developed [link removed]).

I really hope that through this website, I could extend my collection of math...See More

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Hint for student teachers

by Long-time teacher

Aug 25, 2012

I'm a long-time teacher who was given the responsibility this week of sitting in on interviews for a new teacher for our team and then checking the references for the preferred candidate. She seems awesome and I'm excited about having her join us. (Yes, she was offered the job and accepted it.)

Besides hearing excellent evaluations of her ...See More

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Never, ever, ever, ever stay late for the sole purpose of "proving" anything to anyone. That's a bad use of your time, and teachers have to be very time organized.

Now getting to school on time? Absolutely! Being late for work is not an option when you've got 30 kids waiting for you to unlock the classroom door.

But staying late? Feh. Fine if there's a m...See Morestay late for the sole purpose of "proving" anything to anyone. That's a bad use of your time, and teachers have to be very time organized.

Now getting to school on time? Absolutely! Being late for work is not an option when you've got 30 kids waiting for you to unlock the classroom door.

But staying late? Feh. Fine if there's a meeting you need to attend, or kids who have earned the privilege of seeing you after school, or if there's stuff you can do at school that you can't do at home.

But there are plenty of good teachers who pack it up and leave campus five minutes after the last bell rings. That doesn't mean they're bums! It means that after being on your feet all day, teaching kids and answering their questions and dealing with their drama, a lot of afternoons you WILL want to go home, have a nap, eat a good supper, and spend time with your loved ones before you do your Evening Shift of grading papers and planning lessons for the next morning.

Besides, the teachers whose opinions are worth caring about won't be watching to see how late you stay anyhow. They'll be doing THEIR jobs, not snooping to see if you're doing yours.

And I don't know what grade level you intend to teach, but be prepared for kids who don't like school, and who aren't "always" interested, regardless of your enthusiastic intentions. Some kids may just sit there and do nothing, and other kids may show up just to socialize with their friends, make a scene, cuss you out, and say "I'm not doing this sh&t," etc. Some kids may show up to school high, drunk, or preoccupied with problems at home or in the neighborhood. Some kids will refuse to put their cell phones away, because what truly interests them is texting their friends, playing martian games, or sending photos of their nekkid boy parts to every cute girl in school.

Don't let your professors convince you that it's a cinch to engage every single child in the world. There's a reason your professors aren't teaching K-12 anymore, if they ever have, and they're usually the least likely people to offer you a realistic vision of what you're in for in the classroom.

On 2/14/13, Jessica wrote: > I am in college for education and I truly believe that the > best teachers are the ones who care the most about their > students and their interest. If a teacher knows their > students interest then they can always find different ways to > keep their students interested in activities. It is also a > good way to show your students that you care about them > because you know their interest. Also, when a teacher first > gets a job it is probably a good idea to always be on time > and stay late to show the other faculty and staff that they > are hard workers. Teachers that only do the minimum will > always receive the minimum.

Mar 5, 2013

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NO WAY should a student teacher be roped into volunteering for after-school activities! They're already teaching for free, and just learning how to do that properly is plenty enough on their plates.

EMPLOYED teachers who coach sports teams or sponsor after-school clubs are paid extra stipends for doing so. Only the most abusive school administrators would expect to save ...See Morebe roped into volunteering for after-school activities! They're already teaching for free, and just learning how to do that properly is plenty enough on their plates.

EMPLOYED teachers who coach sports teams or sponsor after-school clubs are paid extra stipends for doing so. Only the most abusive school administrators would expect to save a buck by suckering student teachers into taking on extracurricular responsibilities.

DON'T stay after school, DON'T volunteer for any slave labor gigs, DON'T get in over your heads. DO what your ST schedule says you're supposed to do, and do it well, and be on time, and be prepared.

But DO NOT be anybody's sucker. If you show up at an interview, and your record and references say "Excellent Student Teacher," that's ENOUGH. Nobody's going to ask you why you didn't coach soccer, choreograph the school musical, or hang around all day Saturday making fundraising calls.

Go the extra mile FOR THE CHILDREN, within your assigned time frame, but don't go sucking up and exhausting yourselves to impress any shady adults who probably won't remember your name anyway. Don't be taken advantage of. You'll only risk sleeping through the alarm clock, and no amount of Extra Duty will matter if your consulting teacher is tapping her foot in the morning wondering where in hell you are.

On 8/25/12, Long-time teacher wrote: > I'm a long-time teacher who was given the responsibility > this week of sitting in on interviews for a new teacher for > our team and then checking the references for the preferred > candidate. She seems awesome and I'm excited about having > her join us. (Yes, she was offered the job and accepted it.) > > Besides hearing excellent evaluations of her teaching > abilities, some of the plusses I heard were: > > She came to school, even at times she wasn't required to be > there. She even came(late)after a minor traffic accident on > the way to school. She had called her cooperating teacher > to explain why she would be late--and he had suggested > taking the day off. > She was always on time, and usually early. > She volunteered to assist with after-school activities. > She listened to my feedback and made suggested lesson > modifications for the next class period. > > Good luck on your students teaching--but really, it's not > so much about luck, but about caring and working HARD. > Because she cared deeply about her students and got to know > them, she was able to draw them into lessons by including > their interests.

Mar 5, 2013

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Student Teacher Advisor/Supervisor

by Barbara

Aug 27, 2012

Hello - I'm a retired teacher and am considering being an advisor/supervisor for student teachers (elementary). I'm wondering if you could offer me some feedback regarding some of the things your advisor does with you (or for you). Do you have any suggestions, etc? Thanks!

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