It can be intimidating at first.
A stranger in your classroom.
Watching every move.
Looking to you for advice, feedback, and
direction.
Why do I allow this, or even welcome this?
Could it be that by contributing to a future educator’s ability to grow as a
teacher, I’m actually benefitting as well?
A
noticeable benefit to having a student teacher is the flow of new ideas,
energy, and fresh perspective.
After teaching for a long time, we can get
used to a lot of things and once in awhile, get in a rut. It’s nice to have a
student teacher with new ideas ready to try and a positive outlook on their
time with the students.
Student teachers are eager to dive right
in, try new lessons, and have an optimistic attitude. Student teachers often
energize the atmosphere merely with their presence as a new member of the
classroom.
Student teachers are expected to reflect
often, ask for advice, and adjust their lessons or approach as they learn more
about the class and the students. This is a great opportunity for us to
practice listening and thinking skills as well as give constructive feedback.
Even though student teachers are often
stepping into a classroom that is already established in terms of relationships
and procedures, they are seeing everything with fresh eyes. This can lead to
“Aha” moments for both of us as the student teacher reflects on things he/she
notices for the first time.
The
process of working side by side with a student teacher can benefit a veteran
teacher as it provides an opportunity for the veteran teacher to think and talk
through the many procedures, challenges, and decisions that are made on a daily
basis.
Working with a student teacher can help us
reflect through each decision that is made as we explain and model our role in
the classroom.
This can serve as a great opportunity for
us to challenge ourselves to think about any changes that could be made to make
our classroom an even better learning environment.
Having
a student teacher in the room increases the number of adults available to work
in small groups with students, help give feedback, and maximize teachable
moments.
A chance to work with more groups of
students simultaneously, assist students while the student teacher leads, or
even have a chance to team-teach is a benefit to both adults as well as all of
the students.
Meanwhile, the student teacher might have
some similar concerns:
It can be intimidating at first
being a stranger in someone else's
classroom.
Their watching of your every move.
A constant flow of advice, feedback, and
direction.
Why would a teacher welcome me into their
classroom? How will the students and I get along? How will I make sure to keep
students growing? How will I be a benefit to the teacher? Is this the grade
level I want to work with? How will I do all that is expected from my college
program, my cooperating teacher, my supervisor, and still be able to secure a
teaching position for the next school year?
How do we make this a rewarding experience
for the student teacher?
Model
Teaching Like a Pirate / Growth Mindset / Genius Hour.
Just as we want to craft the most engaging
and empowering learning experience for students, serving as a cooperating
teacher provides the unique opportunity to imprint excellent instructional
practices on the teachers of tomorrow. It is unlikely you will ever encounter
colleagues nearly as eager to learn from your example as when they are student
teaching.
Embody
excellence during an era of teacher-bashing.
Today's student teachers are entering a
profession that is being assailed in many corners of society. They will face
greater scrutiny, more consistent testing, and less career security than their
predecessors. We are the diplomats welcoming them to our noble profession. They
are the next ambassadors to carry the torch to future generations.
Necessitate
connections with other building / district personnel.
Our student teacher will see an awful lot
of us and our kids, but we want to make sure their experience is much richer
and broader. We want them to learn from our colleagues and administrators,
paving the way for multiple relationships and learning opportunities. These
relationships will be critical when the student teacher is ready to begin
interviewing to lead a classroom of their own.
Tie
them into your diverse, global PLN.
Many of our student teachers may be younger
and more savvy with technology, but their social media connections are usually
not of the type that will prepare them for their future in this profession. You
have connections with educators, authors, and leaders across the globe. Reach
out to plug them in.
Offer
a mentor beyond the student teaching timeline.
The student teaching timeline is densely
packed with expectations and responsibilities, but it passes quickly. Rather
than simply wishing them well, and sending them on their way, we can keep the
relationship growing. They will likely need someone to lean on in the coming
years as they transition into their career, and since we are all learners, the
relationship will be mutually helpful to each of us.
Render
a safe learning environment.
As the lead learner in my classroom, I make
the most mistakes. We embrace errors, bumps, pitfalls, hiccups and failures as
part of our relentless forward progress. Virtually everything the student
teacher will face will be new, and errors will be aplenty. They might view
these as obstacles, but the cooperating teacher will see them as opportunities
for their growth.
After weeks of leading and learning,
reflecting and relationship-building,
energizing and equipping,
two strangers are no longer intimidated at
the initial awkwardness
of sharing a classroom.
Instead, they are collaborators and
colleagues on a journey to
continued excellence in education.
When given the opportunity to mentor a
student teacher, consider all the benefits that can be gained by both sides of
the relationship. It’s a memorable experience for every learner in the
classroom.
Best wishes to our student teachers ~ we look forward
to seeing you shine with your future students!
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