This one's for teachers...?

Question

My teacher left my class to a student teacher and i know it's her first time and all but she sucks at teaching and i was a 90% student and math and i went down to 80 and i feel like i'm going lower since i don't understand anything she says and neither do my other classmates. Would you prefer to know how bad you are so you can improve? And how do tell her? *my original teacher isn't even in class with us...it's just her*

Answer 1

I am very sorry to hear that your class is having trouble.

I can't believe that teachers are doing this to their student teachers. I am a student teacher right now and I would want my students to tell ME if I was doing something wrong. I mean it is supposed to be a learning process not trial by error. If something isn't working, this is the time for the student teacher to learn.

However, I suggest that you stay after class a little bit one day to talk to your student teacher. From a student teacher's perspective, I know that I would feel horrible if my student went to the principal or his/her parents first. It would seem like it came out of nowhere and that would be very overwhelming for your poor student teacher who is already abandoned by the mentor teacher.

The mentor teacher needs to be in there. My mentor teacher has left me for a week and I don't even see how this is acceptable. I'm supposed to be learning from my mentor teacher...not just knowing how to do it all immediately.

Tell your student teacher what you don't understand. I try to ask my students for their suggestions when they all seem frustrated with a lesson or activity. Sometimes they won't tell me, which doesn't help anything..or they will sometimes have an attitude instead of just telling exactly what is confusing them. If they don't know, I try my best to figure it out, but not telling the student teacher is only going to make him/her feel horrible. I mean, you as a student wouldn't like it if a teacher became frustrated with your work but didn't tell you why. It is the same for a student teacher. Also, if you can think of something that your main classroom teacher was doing that was helping you learn, tell the student teacher.

Answer 2

First of all... yes, teacher's quite often leave their student teacher's alone in the classroom. It allows the student teacher to feel in control of the class and not nervous about trying new things. However... since you are having problems I would talk to your regular teacher. Let them know specifically what the problems are. Ask if your teacher can sit in on your class and observe the student teacher.
It's tough being a student teacher. This is their first chance to be in the teaching world and it can be intimidating. It may just be that the student teacher has a different way of teaching that just isn't working for your class because you're used to how your regular teacher teaches. You may want to talk with the student teacher and let them know that you are having problems. Try not to approach it as "you're not a good teacher and I'm doing worse because of it" but more, "I'm having some difficulty understanding what we went over in class today, do you have a different way of presenting it"? The student teacher is a person too, and while you may not like their teaching... they are doing the best they can and need advice, not cirticism.

Answer 3

As a teacher I would like to know so I can improve not only my performance but the learning experience for my students. If you don't feel comfortable going to the Instructor in this case or the student teacher and voicing your concern, some don't as they think it may impact on their grades, please go to the Dean or the Director of your school. This student teacher needs to know so as to improve, if the student teacher is resistant to change then perhaps teaching is not the profession of choice...the only way for teachers to improve is to listen and act upon any criticism. I know when I first started that was how I gauged my impact on the class, sure there were complaints, but I learned from them and think I'm a better teacher for it. In your complaint try not to use words such as "suck" or any other inappropriate words. Some times you'll come off as a disgruntled student, instead of a concerned one.

Answer 4

When I did my student teaching, I was left alone with the students after the first two weeks. This was to let me experience what it was like to be in complete control of the classroom and so the students would know I was the one to turn to for help and also to let them know who was in charge of discipline. My mentor teacher required me to turn in my lesson plans a week before to go over them and make sure they were appropriate and she would 'pop in' to observe me doing the job.
It sounds to me like your original teacher is not keeping close enough watch on the student teacher, or put her in control too early. Please talk to both of them with your concerns as soon as possible. Be honest, yet respectful. If this not change the situation, go to the principal.

Answer 5

Tell your usual class teacher that you are having problems understanding the work from the student teacher and would it be possible for them to be in the lesson at the same time so that they can help you if needed and also provide her with support. Teachers are meant to stay with trainee teachers at some point. Any work that you don't understand at the moment that you have done with her, tell your usual teacher that you don't understand it and can they re-go over the work with you so that you don't fall behind.

I have been in the same problem and talking to my usual teacher helped. Good luck

Answer 6

Report it. A good school will act on this. My sister's class had two accredited teachers who sucked so bad everyone was failing and they took it to the vice principal. He was easier to deal with than the principal. Both teachers were fired for failing to do their jobs correctly. I'm not saying the student teacher should be dismissed, but she is probably paying for this internship as part of her degree program and it's not doing her any good if she's not learning anything either. Both you and the student teacher are failing because of your classroom teacher and that's not right.

Answer 7

Complain - and the sooner the better. To your parents, your principal, your guidance counselor, other teachers you may be close to - and encourage other students to do the same. The student teacher needs to know - the administration needs to know your teacher has abandoned the job and you have the right to get the best possible education.

Go and make some righteous noise.

Answer 8

your teacher is abusing the privilege of having a student teacher. the whole relationship is designed to benefit the student teacher (by getting practice and expert guidance) and the students ( by exposing them to the latest methods and practices). a student teacher should NEVER be used as a substitute teacher.

if your school system doesn't act on this, report it to the university that trained your student teacher.

I wanted to add, this may also be illegal in your state. In some states, students MUST be supervised by certified personnel.

Answer 9

Bring this to the attention of the principle of your school...with evidence if possible...