How to Mentor Student Teacher?

Question

This semester, I'm mentoring my first-ever student teacher in my junior high classroom. So far it's going well and we are communicating about her needs and goals, but I'm interested in advice from either experienced cooperating teachers or current/recent student teachers. What secrets to success do you have? Anything to avoid? Words to the wise?

Answer 1

Congratulations at passing on your knowledge to a new generation of teachers! My first student teacher was such a trying time! It was so hard to tell her any weaknesses that I saw. I would write notes during her lectures and at the end of the day, I would ask her what she felt the best and worst part of the day had been. I would then give her my notes that had the compliments and criticisms on it. The next day, we would start the day with a discussion of what I had commented on the day before. She had it in writing, so she could go over it more than once if she needed to do so. She also knew my expectations. Make sure that she verbalizes what she hears from you. Ask her, "How do you think you can do ....... tomorrow?" Fill in the blank with whatever teaching strategy you expect from her. Good luck...and again, congrats ...and appreciation for helping other teachers.

Answer 2

You've already gotten some great advice, but here's my two cents ... give her some time alone, but don't disappear for weeks. I had a colleague do that and it caused her many problems when she had no idea what the girl was doing. Theteacher hadn't even read the term papers and could not justify or support the grades they received and the student teacher had just ended her time at the school.

I wish I had spent more time looking over my student teacher's shoulder last year. I was supposed to see her plans for the week in advance and I didn't hold her to that. She was able to plan on the fly sometimes, which I will not allow next time.

Sounds as though things are going well thus far for you.

Answer 3

I student taught 2 years ago, and I had a not-so-good experience. First, be very up front with your student teacher. My lead teacher would tell me to feel free to use her materials and feel free to do things a little bit differently than she does, but when I did those things I often felt like she really didn't like that I was. It made things a lot harder for me because I felt like I had to always second guess myself. So if there's something you don't want her getting into just say so. Also, I know it sounds silly, but always tell your student teacher what you want her to call you. You may have already esablished this, but it is weird not knowing whether you should call the teacher by her first name as a colleague or "Mrs. _______" as a superior. Also, find out if your subject/grade level is what the person is hoping to teach when she graduates. If it is, student teachers need materials. If you can, offer what you have to be copied so that she can begin her files of activities and lessons. Once you have adjusted to your student teacher and feel confident in her abilities, give her a decent amount of time alone with classes. This can really help her to feel confident about what she is doing without feeling watched. She will probably have a lot more confidence once she is able to connect with the students on her own. Lastly, (I hope you already know this) always structure negatives as constructive criticism. I had one comment written down when I was student teaching that was simply not helpful at all. A lesson really just didn't work out the way I thought it might. This comment made me so mad because it wasn't geared to help me with anything at all. It was just hurtful. Good luck with your student teacher. I'm sure it will go fine!

Answer 4

I've had two partner teachers. I'm probably a unique student in that I worked for two years as an EFL teacher before I returned to school for a B.Ed program (I had a prior degree), so I already knew a lot about teaching and what kind of classroom I wanted to create.

I didn't enjoy working with one partner teacher because her teaching style didn't allow any room for me to participate. Most of the time the students worked silently on worksheets or silent reading. For example, the students once spent two whole periods copying notes off an overhead projector. That was all they did that day. Both she and I sat at the back of the room marking during class. She didn't even photocopy any of the worksheets for me, so I only knew what the students were doing if I asked her for the master copy, went down the hall to the photocopier and made myself a copy. I was always afraid to ask her "why" questions because she never indicated that her lessons had clear learning outcomes. I felt it was more about "covering" material than learning it.

My other partner teacher created a classroom environment that had many opportunities for me to get involved. The students spent most of their time working in small groups, and I was able to circulate around the room, talking to and helping the students. She always made extra copies of handouts for me so that I knew what was going on. She also made a point of telling me WHY she was doing what she was doing. Because I knew she had clear objectives, I was comfortable asking her questions.

I think that when you have a student teacher in your room, you have to demonstrate that you have a reason for doing what you're doing. If the student teacher thinks you're just "teaching out of habit" he or she won't feel comfortable asking questions.

Answer 5

I just did my student teaching about 4 years ago and if I only remember one day it will be the day when nothing worked, but I learned the most. I had the teaching day from hell and I kept waiting for my lead teacher to bail me out and he just sat in the back of the room and pretended to ignore the chaos. When the end of the day came we sat and talked about where I went wrong and how I'll do it differently the next time. I leanred more from that day and the conversation we had than I did in college and all of the practicum classes I had. So I guess my point is, you can talk and coach only so much, then there's a point where you have to give the student teacher plenty of rope, then let them hang themselves, then reflect on that wonderful experience with them. Good luck and thanks for your willingness to help a young future teacher!

Answer 6

My teacher left me alone in the classroom a lot. I liked it for the most part. It gave me the chance to be "me" and to teach like I normally would without feeling like some adult was in the room judging me. It also gave me the opportunity to be solely dependent on myself. I was the authority, and that was good for both me and the students to know. There were times, however, where I really wished she was in there....especially with her homeroom class. They were horrible. :)

I also liked that she gave me access to her materials when planning lessons. I was able to use all kinds of things I didn't know even existed, and I was able to see that I didn't have to reinvent the wheel (that's the impression I always got in college when creating lessons).

Answer 7

Try not to lecture her.
But ASK!
Ask as much as you can and activate her in prepairing the classroom activities and ask her for reasons and thoughts about her actions and ideas.
Start her up on wath topics she finds hard and what she really likes in her study.
I have really learned a lot from being a mentor this way and gotten good feedbacks.
It has made me have to brush up my learning theories and to question my own reasons and actions.

The best of luck to you. (both)