Hey Teachers...any advice on teaching student teachers?

I have my first student teacher (speech pathology) all to myself for the semester. She started today and I think she'll do very well. I have shared students before with other therapists. Any advice? Helpful tidbits for me as the cooperating teacher?

Message edited 1/20/2004 4:25:25 PM.

Re: Hey Teachers...any advice on teaching student teachers?

I just finished having a student teacher. I adored her. I don't know how your lessons go, but I sat in the back and scripted her lessons. On our next prep I would go over with her what I thought need to be improved, grammar mistakes etc, but always in a constructive way, then I would always end with what I loved that she did. I tried not to step on her toes while she was teaching. If I saw her making an error or she missed something REALLY important, I would either make a discreet motion to her or I would step in but it had to be that important.

After I taught a lesson, if we had a free period before she taught I would let her 'critique' my lesson, this way she knew why I did things the way that I did. In the beginning I had her mimic everything I did. Then in about 2 weeks I had her start going out on her own and planning the lessons. I would have her explain why she chose to do what she did and go over it with her. Sometimes I would let her teach it as she had it and ask her why it did or didn't work.

Building a sense of trust, IMO is the most important. Any questions or problems feel free to FM me and I will help if I can.

Re: Hey Teachers...any advice on teaching student teachers?

I'm a Speech Pathologist in a school as well. I never worked with someone student teaching before, but I do work with another therapist. When she first started, I did have toa bit and show her some stuff, but that's basically it. What grade levels do you work with? I work with High School.

Re: Hey Teachers...any advice on teaching student teachers?

I'm with K-2 and work with the physically impaired. I also do EI. There are a couple other SLPs on here too, mostly preschool based! What school are you in?

Re: Hey Teachers...any advice on teaching student teachers?

Hi--Never had a student before but just wanted to say *good luck*!!! Im sure you will be a great mentor!

Re: Hey Teachers...any advice on teaching student teachers?

I'm in a High School in Queens. Most of my students have Language and Pragmatic problems. Very few have artic. and fluency problems. How do you like working with the young ones??

Re: Hey Teachers...any advice on teaching student teachers?

Good luck! I haven't had a student yet, but I would try to think about what my best supervisors did and try to emulate them. My CFY supervisor was my favorite supervisor. After my lessons she would offer suggestions "Maybe you could try..." or "What I've found that works is..." I had one supervisor (I won't mention any names ) who I hated because she never gave me any guidance or ideas, she just would say things like "Why didn't you do this?" Umm because I'm totally new to this! But of course I'm sure that you would not be anything like this supervisor! My CFY supervisor also shared lots of materials and books with me and pointed me in the right direction so I could find things out on my own. I also found it was helpful when I got to observe and co-teach for a little bit before being totally thrown into it. That way at least you have somewhat of a model of what to do and what is expected. In some of my practicums I was expected from day one to teach every lesson on my own. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed! What school is your student from? Are you still at the same job? Good luck!

Re: Hey Teachers...any advice on teaching student teachers?

I'm not a fan of the mimick method (although I don't dispute it...its just not me)

I think observation in the beginning is a must (even if its only for a short time)

then I think its super important to meet with the student teacher before the lesson to go over it (I am the fan of letting them write the lesson) mkae sure that it covers what needs to be covered...and let them go...

be very careful correcting the ST...she needs to earn the respect...if it is something minor let it go...

meet afterwards to discuss how it went...


I also think that the ST should have time without the Coop teacher in the room...to see how they stand up on their own...