A: WI DPI rule, PI 34.15(6)(c), requires cooperating teacher to meet these criteria: 

1. Hold a Wisconsin license in the content/grades that you are teaching & supervising in, or an equivalent license where the clinical program occurs, and have volunteered for assignment as a cooperating teacher or practicum supervisor.

2.  Have at least three years of teaching experience with at least one year of teaching experience in the school or school system of current employment. 

3. Have completed training in both the supervision of clinical students and in the applicable WI Educator Standards. [To clarify, this training may be provided by institutions other than SNC and need not have been a credited course..] 

A: You should attempt to establish a collegial relationship with your student teacher at the start, even if you are still acting in a directive manner. If you feel comfortable with it, please ask your student teacher to call you by your first name. Your student teacher will not know what to call you initially and will end up never calling you by name if you do not make the first step. (Remind your student teacher that you are to be called by Mr., Ms., or Mrs. in front of pupils.)

A: It is important that your student teacher be perceived as a professional in front of your classes. Please introduce him or her to the class as Mr., Ms., or Mrs. so that the pupil-teacher relationship can be established. If this is not a norm in your school, though, then use your professional judgement. For example, some elementary teachers are referred to as Ms. Rachel, rather than Ms. Steinhofel.

A: This is a very touchy point and is best handled through conversation with your student teacher prior to the initial teaching episode. Some student teachers get rattled when they are interrupted and some perceive it as a breach of the delicate authority they are trying to establish. Others will be praying for you to save them!

 If, in the early stages, you can handle the interruption in such a way that the pupils perceive the instruction as a team effort, we suggest that you interrupt the class and get it moving in the right direction. As the student teacher continues to work with the class, however, we recommend that you do not interrupt (if at all possible). Part of the experience for any young teacher is learning how to get out of tough situations!

A: Please call the supervisor IMMEDIATELY if problems arise that cause you to suspect that your student teacher should be removed or is in danger of not passing student teaching. These situations are rare, but are best handled during the initial stages of the student teaching experience. The goal is for all student teachers to pass, so if we can nip problems in the bud early, to help the student teacher grow and get better, that is what we want to do. Sometimes this is not possible, but as educators, we need to communicate often and well to make sure we have done our due diligence in cases like this. 

A: The student teacher should follow the schedule and calendar of the cooperating teacher - meaning when you are contractually obligated to be present, then so is your student teacher. You should expect as much from your student teacher as you expect from yourself.  If bus duty before or after school is a part of your job expectations, then this is also something your ST should do. If, however, you coach a sport or advise an extracurricular, you may ask your student teacher if they want to help, but this is not a required experience for them. Students are allowed 2 absences without the need to make up days. If absences become problematic, however, please call the college supervisor immediately.  

A: Student teachers should have adequate time to prepare well-constructed lessons. They are not seasoned veterans who can "pull it out of a hat". A bare minimum of two days notice would be ideal. We, in-fact, would prefer if students submitted lesson plans to you and their supervisor the Friday before they teach the next week. This gives you and them an opportunity to read, give feedback, and revise as needed. We realize, however, that there are certain unavoidable situations in which advance planning is not possible.

A: Of course this happens. But it's important to know a few things.  First. The student teacher cannot legally take over your classes without a certified teacher present. Your school/district must assign a substitute teacher. It is a legal and liability issue. Of course, the student teacher can be responsible for instruction during the days you are absent, even with a substitute there. Try to let the student teacher know of your impending absence as soon as possible so that adequate plans can be prepared.

A: As a rule, no. Of course, if you are going to be absent and some things must get accomplished, you will need to leave some detailed instructions. Also, there are some situations where the student learns a great deal from working with a "master plan," especially when they are just starting out. However, one of the most important things the student needs to learn is how to plan and organize instruction for themselves. It might be painful sometimes, but let them try!

A: You'll have to play this by ear. Of course, if you feel the student's personal life is interfering with school, you must find a way to address the issue. Besides this circumstance, your personal relationship should always grow from your professional relationship - and it should grow to the level with which you are both comfortable. 

A: In general, the Supervisor should "take care" of you and the student teacher; make sure you have the correct forms and documents, ensure that everything is on schedule and moving smoothly etc. Most of your everyday questions will be taken care of by the Supervisor. They are your support from SNC.

 If you feel that you cannot communicate with the Supervisor, or you feel that the Supervisor is acting inappropriately in any way, please call the Director of Teacher Education immediately. 

A: The supervisor will make tentative arrangements with the student teacher who will then check with you to make sure it is OK. Then, the student will contact the supervisor and the formal visit will be scheduled. There should never be any unexpected visits by the supervisor.

A: First, please try to keep the student teacher from panicking! The supervisory visits should be pleasant - they are there to help both of you rather than to judge. Second, you might want to go over the plan for the day with the student so that the instruction is a realistic example of what the student teacher has been doing. Avoid trying to "stage" a teaching situation. If you have remained in the class while the student teacher is working, do the same when the supervisor is there. If you are at the point where you are leaving the student teacher alone for a lesson or two, feel free to leave the room. In other words, it should just be a regular day!

The Supervisor will want to talk to each one of you individually during the visit. Usually, it is better to talk to the student teacher after the observation if possible. So, try to plan some time before the actual observation where you and the supervisor can chat. This, of course, will all depend on your teaching schedule and sometimes this conversation needs to happen later in the day, via a phone call or Zoom. Regardless this is an important conversation to have.

A:  Student teachers must take over the entirity of a cooperating teacher's schedule for a bare minimum of 3 weeks in a 15+ week placement, or a bare minimum of 2 weeks in each 7/8 week placement (when a placement is split between two schools and two cooperating teachers through 15 weeks). This is required by WI DPI and state statutes for licensure.  Of course, a student teacher can be in charge of all of your classes for much longer if both parties are ready to do so!

A: Yes. The seminars are considered to be an integral part of the student teaching experience. Students need the extra support of the university through this semester, and as such, it is required. Please allow adequate time for students to arrive to placement on time (4pm). 

If something arises that you believe your student teacher should attend (e.g. parent/teacher conference, IEP, a required concert performance - for music ed students, etc). Please have the student teacher reach out to their Seminar instructor to get approval to miss. Note, this is at the discretion of the instructor, but any legitimate reasons will be allowed, especially if it is a requirement for you as a teacher.