Associate Teachers
Roles & Responsibilities

Initial Welcome to the Teacher Candidate:

Welcome the Teacher Candidate into the classroom and introduce them as a colleague to the students, other staff members, and administration.
Provide the Teacher Candidate with a tour of the school.
Provide the Teacher Candidate with a space to work/sit and keep belongings.
Provide the Teacher Candidate with any relevant school information (e.g., handbook, staff list, duty schedules).

Communicate progress to the Teacher Candidate and report any concerns or questions to the Foundations Instructor.
Ensure that whenever the Teacher Candidate is with a class of students or completing any duties (e.g., cafeteria duty, bus duty, yard duty, trip supervision), they are under the supervision of a member of the Ontario College of Teachers.
- Please Note: Teacher Candidates are NOT to act as parent volunteers or occasional teachers.
Provide the Teacher Candidate with guidance on how they can circulate or assist with individual or small groups of students.
Provide opportunities for the Teacher Candidate to utilize technology (e.g., to instruct a small group, to do a presentation, to prepare lesson plans, to share resources with the Associate Teacher or other teachers).
be open and honest with the Teacher Candidate about their progress; if they are not doing well it is IMPERATIVE that you communicate with the Foundations Instructor to be assisted with an Improvement Action Plan to support the student and to document the steps taken for improvement

Associate Teachers are responsible for three types of evaluation:

View more information and templates for Teacher Candidate feedback and evaluation.

Allow for adequate observation time at the beginning of the placement and a gradual and well-paced increase in responsibilities (see Field Experience checklists for FE1, FE2, and FE3 for ideas).
Plan activities so the Teacher Candidate can work with individual students or small groups to observe behaviours, abilities, and learning patterns and come to know individuals within the classroom.
Guide the Teacher Candidate in the development of effective lesson planning using the Ontario Tech Lesson Plan Template.

Allow the Teacher Candidate to take the lead on general routines (e.g., entry/dismissal routines, opening exercises, attendance) to gradually increase responsibility.
Provide Teacher Candidate with an appropriate topic and guidance for lessons, and establish times to review the lesson plan with the Teacher Candidate prior to teaching.