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Student Teaching Chatboard

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 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!

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Kristen I am currently in my methods courses for Early Childhood Education. I have completed one semester with one cooperating teacher and I am about half way through with my second semester. I have worked with three cooperating teachers so far this semester. The first semester was awful because my cooperating teacher only put my teaching partner and I dow...See MoreI am currently in my methods courses for Early Childhood Education. I have completed one semester with one cooperating teacher and I am about half way through with my second semester. I have worked with three cooperating teachers so far this semester. The first semester was awful because my cooperating teacher only put my teaching partner and I down. We never received any positive feedback or constructive criticism, for that matter. The lessons we were expected to plan for were given to us 24 hours in advance, at the earliest, which made our planning very difficult and ultimately made our lessons suffer. I am the kind of person who performs best when I have received constructive criticism, so I was actually hoping for her to give me that kind of feedback. However, the only feedback my partner and I got was ugly faces or rolling of eyes. This semester has been far better than last semester, though. The teachers I have worked with are all smiles and they give me suggestions, tell me they enjoyed my lessons, and even tell me what I could have done to make something better. THAT is was a Mentor Teacher should do in my opinion. Their attitude towards me has made me want to be in their classroom instead of dreading it. I cannot wait to begin student teaching next Spring and I am hoping to have a Mentor Teacher like the ones I have had this semester. And to answer the questions about ways to support your student teacher... yes, I think it 100% acceptable to ask your student teacher to be in your classroom before school begins doing work before the students arrive. After all, that is what real teachers do. If you do not teach us what we are going to be expected to do when we become teachers, then it will hit us like a ton of bricks when we get in the real world of teaching. So, absolutely! Set the expectations for your student teacher to be there early and do normal teacher duties before the students arrive.

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! That attitude doesn't work either especially if they > are hoping to sub and/or get hired full-time. RESPECT WORKS 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!

Mar 22, 2013

General advice, for everyone involved Don't YELL, don't reply to your own posts (because that's just weird), and learn to use paragraph breaks.

On 3/22/13, Kristen wrote: > I am currently in my methods courses for Early Childhood Education. I have > completed one semester with one cooperating teacher and I am about half > way through with my second semester. I have wo...See MoreDon't YELL, don't reply to your own posts (because that's just weird), and learn to use paragraph breaks.

On 3/22/13, Kristen wrote: > I am currently in my methods courses for Early Childhood Education. I have > completed one semester with one cooperating teacher and I am about half > way through with my second semester. I have worked with three cooperating > teachers so far this semester. The first semester was awful because my > cooperating teacher only put my teaching partner and I down. We never > received any positive feedback or constructive criticism, for that matter. > The lessons we were expected to plan for were given to us 24 hours in > advance, at the earliest, which made our planning very difficult and > ultimately made our lessons suffer. I am the kind of person who performs > best when I have received constructive criticism, so I was actually hoping > for her to give me that kind of feedback. However, the only feedback my > partner and I got was ugly faces or rolling of eyes. This semester has > been far better than last semester, though. The teachers I have worked > with are all smiles and they give me suggestions, tell me they enjoyed my > lessons, and even tell me what I could have done to make something > better. THAT is was a Mentor Teacher should do in my opinion. Their > attitude towards me has made me want to be in their classroom instead of > dreading it. I cannot wait to begin student teaching next Spring and I am > hoping to have a Mentor Teacher like the ones I have had this semester. > And to answer the questions about ways to support your student teacher... > yes, I think it 100% acceptable to ask your student teacher to be in your > classroom before school begins doing work before the students arrive. > After all, that is what real teachers do. If you do not teach us what we > are going to be expected to do when we become teachers, then it will hit > us like a ton of bricks when we get in the real world of teaching. So, > absolutely! Set the expectations for your student teacher to be there > early and do normal teacher duties before the students arrive. > > > 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! That attitude doesn't work either especially if they >> are hoping to sub and/or get hired full-time. RESPECT WORKS BOTH >> WAYS!!! >> >> >> On 3/11/13, Don't mistreat your ST wrote: >>> 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.

Apr 15, 2013

?????????? You are mistaken. I did not respond to a previous post of mine. I couldn't have done that since that was my only post. I was only emphasizing a point. And yes, respect must go both ways. A little right here would help too.

> Don't YELL, don't reply to your own posts (because > that's just weird), and > learn to use paragraph brea...See MoreYou are mistaken. I did not respond to a previous post of mine. I couldn't have done that since that was my only post. I was only emphasizing a point. And yes, respect must go both ways. A little right here would help too.

> Don't YELL, don't reply to your own posts (because > that's just weird), and > learn to use paragraph breaks. > > > On 3/22/13, Kristen wrote: >> I am currently in my methods courses for Early >> Childhood Education. I have completed one semester >> with one cooperating teacher and I am about half way >> through with my second semester. I have worked with >> three cooperating teachers so far this semester. The >> first semester was awful because my cooperating >> teacher only put my teaching partner and I down. We >> never received any positive feedback or constructive >> criticism, for that matter. The lessons we were >> expected to plan for were given to us 24 hours in >> advance, at the earliest, which made our planning >> very difficult and ultimately made our lessons >> suffer. I am the kind of person who performs best >> when I have received constructive criticism, so I was >> actually hoping for her to give me that kind of >> feedback. However, the only feedback my partner and I >> got was ugly faces or rolling of eyes. This semester >> has been far better than last semester, though. The >> teachers I have worked with are all smiles and they >> give me suggestions, tell me they enjoyed my lessons, >> and even tell me what I could have done to make >> something better. THAT is was a Mentor Teacher should >> do in my opinion. Their attitude towards me has made >> me want to be in their classroom instead of dreading >> it. I cannot wait to begin student teaching next >> Spring and I am hoping to have a Mentor Teacher like >> the ones I have had this semester. And to answer the >> questions about ways to support your student >> teacher... yes, I think it 100% acceptable to ask >> your student teacher to be in your classroom before >> school begins doing work before the students arrive. >> After all, that is what real teachers do. If you do >> not teach us what we are going to be expected to do >> when we become teachers, then it will hit us like a >> ton of bricks when we get in the real world of >> teaching. So, absolutely! Set the expectations for >> your student teacher to be there early and do normal >> teacher duties before the students arrive. >> >> >> 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! That attitude doesn't >>> work either especially if they are hoping to sub >>> and/or get hired full-time. RESPECT WORKS BOTH >>> WAYS!!! >>> >>> >>> On 3/11/13, Don't mistreat your ST wrote: >>>> 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.

Apr 19, 2013

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

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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