Role of the Cooperating Teacher
- Help the teacher candidate feel comfortable and welcome
- Review school policies and procedures
- Encourage the candidate to get involved in school activities
- Share materials and ideas
- Assist the candidate in developing standards based lessons
- Observe and provide constructive feedback
- Know and implement the co-teaching strategies
- Mentor and guide the teacher candidateModel effective teaching strategies and professional behavior
- Be flexible; allow the teacher candidate to try new ideas
- Communicate expectations
- Be understanding and patient
- Maintain consistency and accountability
Role of the Teacher Candidate
- Come ready to learn; be enthusiastic and show initiative
- Introduce yourself to team members and school personnel
- Ask questions and discuss professional issues
- Share ideas and work cooperatively; be flexible
- Help with all classroom responsibilities
- Know your content and be a continuous learner
- Plan engaging, standards based lessons
- Know and implement co-teaching strategies
- Accept feedback and put suggestions for improvement into practice
- Be proactive in initiating communication with your triad members
- Demonstrate respectful behaviors
- Be reflective about your practice
- Be patient with yourself and your cooperating teacher
- Be a sponge; learn all you can from everyone in the building
Role of the Clinical Coach
- Provide a systematic and consistent presence during the student teaching experience
- Provide program information to the cooperating teacher and teacher candidate
- Observe and provide feedback on a regular basis
- Act as a confidant for both the cooperating teacher and teacher candidate
- Be an advocate for the teacher candidate
- Help the team build good communication and facilitate positive interactions
- Set clear expectations; be honest about a candidate’s performance
- Handle difficult situations that might arise
- Schedule three-way conferences at the beginning and end of the experience, and as needed throughout the year
- Be knowledgeable in and supportive of the use of co-teaching strategies
- Communicate with the principal and step in to help solve problems