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Prepping for a pre-service teacher

By Mary Bigelow

Posted on 2014-11-11

I agreed to work with a student teacher next semester, and I’m looking forward to the experience. I teach three classes of biology and an AP class at the high school and two sections of middle school science. Should the student teacher take all of these preps, including the middle school one? In addition to classroom teaching, should the student teacher take on my other duties? What else do I need to know?

P, California

Pre-service teachers can learn a lot in their content courses, methods courses, and classroom visits, but there is no substitute for real day-to-day teaching. It’s hard to let go of your own classes and have some one else take over, especially when he or she might make mistakes. You’ll find that you’re working just as hard as you did when you did not have a student teacher, but it’s a different kind of work (and a form of professional development).

Contact the college or university student teaching office or check the student teaching handbook to find out what duties the student teacher is to assume and any other suggested or required activities. Ask questions: What are the supervisor’s expectations for phasing the student teacher into your teaching schedule? What lesson plan format will the student teacher use? What are the student teacher’s content strengths and areas of certification? Is co-teaching an option for some sections? How and by whom will the student teacher be evaluated? What are the procedures if the student teacher is not the right fit for your school or classes? It would be great if you can meet the student teacher and supervisor prior to the first day to discuss and clarify these and other expectations and requirements

With the way the job market is, it might be good for your student teacher to have a variety of experiences, including some with younger students, assuming his certifications will include this level. I was assigned to a junior high situation as a student teacher and found that I really enjoyed the younger students. (I spent 17 subsequent years in the seventh grade!) Or he can decide that they’re not for him and focus a job search on high school. Even if he does not totally take over the middle school or AP classes, it still would give him some exposure to these courses.

In the real world, many teachers have multiple preps, so it would be helpful for your student teacher to understand how to coordinate planning and class activities. Perhaps co-teaching the middle school or AP class would be a possibility. It would also be important for him to have experiences with students who have special needs and to understand the requirements and documentation associated with Individual Education Plans.

I would also give your student teacher opportunities to observe other classes to see the variety of strategies teachers use and get ideas for his future classroom/lab. Even if it’s not required by the student teaching program, it can be eye-opening for him to video a class and analyze the lesson from the perspective of the teacher and the students.

He should also learn about the safety rules and procedures that are part of being a science teacher. Your student teacher should also develop an understanding of the Next Generation Science Standards and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics, and the teacher evaluation practices in your state.

Part of the responsibility of teaching goes beyond the class schedule. You could consider asking your student teacher to

  • Attend faculty meetings, department or committee meetings, curriculum workshops, inservice activities.
  • Participate in your non-instructional duties (homeroom, hall duty, study halls, etc.).
  • Assist you with managing lab materials and resources.
  • Attend student events (plays, concerts, athletic contests).
  • Attend a school board meeting.
  • Learn about the requisition and budgeting process.
  • Prepare an “emergency” lesson plan for a substitute to follow.
  • Make a presentation at a department meeting on new technology or other skill that he has.

Set aside some time on a regular basis for you and the student teacher to sit down, go over the class events, and reflect on the student teacher’s progress.

Mentoring the next generation of teachers is an important part of the profession. Thank you for assuming this responsibility!

 

Photo:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjlook/7152722/sizes/s/in/photostream/

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