Problems with Cooperating Teacher

by donna5

Nov 17, 2011

I need some advice. I am a teacher and my husband is student teaching. His cooperating teacher wanted him to take over on day 1, he had to explain the process of gradually taking on classes to her. She agreed. She never talks to him, never gives him ideas or feedback on his teaching. As a matter of fact the only time she has stayed to see him teach is when his university supervisor came in to oberve him. The only time she talks to him is to ream him out if he made a mistake with grades or attendance. He has been in touch with his university supervisor and they told him to stick it out.

Well after 10 weeks he got his final evaluation yesterday. His university supervisor had all good ratings, his cooperating teacher gave all bad ratings, wrote three mistakes he had made and then wrote overall I think he is a good teacher. And that is all she put on the end of year evaluation. According to his university supervisor he is going to pass, that is not the concern. The concern is how ...See More

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Sara On 11/17/11, donna5 wrote:

Don't put the cooperating teacher down as a reference. Put the university supervisor down as a reference or put others down as references. They will not call the cooperating teacher unless your husband gives her name as a reference.

> > > Well after 10 weeks he got his final evaluation yesterda...See More

Nov 22, 2011

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Beckie I have been assigned a student teacher in January. I have been out of the classroom for six years, this is my first year back, but my AP assigned a student teacher to me because I am the only one with clin ed. training. I am nervous about providing a good experience for the student teacher, because I am still getting my "feet wet" as I readjust to ...See MoreI have been assigned a student teacher in January. I have been out of the classroom for six years, this is my first year back, but my AP assigned a student teacher to me because I am the only one with clin ed. training. I am nervous about providing a good experience for the student teacher, because I am still getting my "feet wet" as I readjust to being back in the classroom. I am so worried that I won't be able to be a good role model for her and I know how important this experience is. Any advise for me? I have been reading every post I can. I have not received any instructions or information from my admin or the university about their expectations yet. I have some ideas for what to do from reading the blogs. I am going to provide her a desk and a welcome basket. I am attempting to collect extra TE's so she can have those. I have created a binder with info (about the school, first day, rules for school and classroom, ect.)for her. I am introducing her on my website and in a letter home to parents, and I have told the children that we would have a second teacher in January to help us all learn. I just want both of us to have a good experience. I have been a peer teacher several times to new teachers in the past, but i have never had a student teacher before. To make matters worse, I am shy and I am concerned if she has an over- powering personality that we may not "mesh" and then it would be an unhappy time for all of us. Again, any advise or tips would be appreciated.

On 11/22/11, Sara wrote: >> Well after 10 weeks he got his final evaluation yesterday. >> His university supervisor had all good ratings, his >> cooperating teacher gave all bad ratings, wrote three >> mistakes he had made and then wrote overall I think he is a >> good teacher. And that is all she put on the end of year >> evaluation. According to his university supervisor he is >> going to pass, that is not the concern. The concern is how >> do you go about this when you go to a job interview and you >> know they are going to call your cooperating teacher, she >> is not going to give him a good review. He has many other >> positive references that have observed him teach and all >> have said positive things about him. How do you handle >> this in the job search process?

Dec 27, 2011

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kitty Advise for interns: make this experience your best and brightest teaching ever. Be creative and generous and don't appear anxious to go home at the end of the day. Be very cautious about being over-familiar with staff too soon, or at all. By over-familiar, I mean, acting like buddies or peers. Behave above reproach, and do invite your cooperating t...See More

Mar 14, 2012

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Sam I feel like I can respond to you Beckie because I'm in the process of student teaching now and who better to give advice on how to make a student teacher comfortable than a student teacher? It sounds like you are already moving in a great direction. I would have loved a desk and I have one now, but it wasn't there when I first came in and that made...See MoreI feel like I can respond to you Beckie because I'm in the process of student teaching now and who better to give advice on how to make a student teacher comfortable than a student teacher? It sounds like you are already moving in a great direction. I would have loved a desk and I have one now, but it wasn't there when I first came in and that made it kind of awkward because I didn't know where to sit. So many of us are nervous about stepping on the teacher's toes. Maybe you could write up a list of what you expect from the student teacher. I think that opens the door to communication. Always make sure you're giving them lots of praise. Have you ever heard of the oreo method? Start with a positive comment or praise, add a suggestion or something they need to improve on, and then end with another positive comment or praise. We beat ourselves up a lot because we're just learning and we will make mistakes. It's so incredibly great when you have a teacher that says, "that's ok. Here is something you did well and here is how to fix your mistake for next time." Oh, and also, maybe give the student teacher a tour of the classroom and show them where everything is. It's uncomfortable to have to go searching for things yourself. I hope this is helpful to you!

On 12/27/11, Beckie wrote: > I have been assigned a student teacher in January. I have been > out of the classroom for six years, this is my first year back, > but my AP assigned a student teacher to me because I am the only > one with clin ed. training. I am nervous about providing a good > experience for the student teacher, because I am still getting > my "feet wet" as I readjust to being back in the classroom. I am > so worried that I won't be able to be a good role model for her > and I know how important this experience is. Any advise for me? I > have been reading every post I can. I have not received any > instructions or information from my admin or the university about > their expectations yet. I have some ideas for what to do from > reading the blogs. > I am going to provide her a desk and a welcome basket. I am > attempting to collect extra TE's so she can have those. I have > created a binder with info (about the school, first day, rules > for school and classroom, ect.)for her. I am introducing her on > my website and in a letter home to parents, and I have told the > children that we would have a second teacher in January to help > us all learn. I just want both of us to have a good experience. I > have been a peer teacher several times to new teachers in the > past, but i have never had a student teacher before. To make > matters worse, I am shy and I am concerned if she has an over- > powering personality that we may not "mesh" and then it would be > an unhappy time for all of us. > Again, any advise or tips would be appreciated. > > > > > > On 11/22/11, Sara wrote: >>> Well after 10 weeks he got his final evaluation yesterday. >>> His university supervisor had all good ratings, his >>> cooperating teacher gave all bad ratings, wrote three >>> mistakes he had made and then wrote overall I think he is a >>> good teacher. And that is all she put on the end of year >>> evaluation. According to his university supervisor he is >>> going to pass, that is not the concern. The concern is how >>> do you go about this when you go to a job interview and you >>> know they are going to call your cooperating teacher, she >>> is not going to give him a good review. He has many other >>> positive references that have observed him teach and all >>> have said positive things about him. How do you handle >>> this in the job search process?

Apr 9, 2012

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Jeanette I am currently dealing with the same problem- my condolences! It was especially disappointing for me because I was really looking forward to practice teaching and collaborating with a co-teacher. It turned out to be a horrible experience for me, and now I'm trying to move on and get back into the classroom.

I got my university supervisor a...See MoreI am currently dealing with the same problem- my condolences! It was especially disappointing for me because I was really looking forward to practice teaching and collaborating with a co-teacher. It turned out to be a horrible experience for me, and now I'm trying to move on and get back into the classroom.

I got my university supervisor and other professors to write me very nice letters of reference, but even after I provide these my co-teacher always seems to come up during interviews. Some applications that I've completed also ask for co-teacher contact information. Right now I'm just hoping that they won't be able to reach her because it's summer vacation.

Anyway, good luck and stay positive!

On 11/17/11, donna5 wrote: > I need some advice. I am a teacher and my husband is > student teaching. His cooperating teacher wanted him to > take over on day 1, he had to explain the process of > gradually taking on classes to her. She agreed. She never > talks to him, never gives him ideas or feedback on his > teaching. As a matter of fact the only time she has stayed > to see him teach is when his university supervisor came in > to oberve him. The only time she talks to him is to ream > him out if he made a mistake with grades or attendance. He > has been in touch with his university supervisor and they > told him to stick it out. > > Well after 10 weeks he got his final evaluation yesterday. > His university supervisor had all good ratings, his > cooperating teacher gave all bad ratings, wrote three > mistakes he had made and then wrote overall I think he is a > good teacher. And that is all she put on the end of year > evaluation. According to his university supervisor he is > going to pass, that is not the concern. The concern is how > do you go about this when you go to a job interview and you > know they are going to call your cooperating teacher, she > is not going to give him a good review. He has many other > positive references that have observed him teach and all > have said positive things about him. How do you handle > this in the job search process?

Jun 6, 2012

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