Potential Problems Associated with Having a Student Teacher

1. Pacing—

They are still learning and cannot cover material as quickly as you do. If you have a problem with your principal and you are feeling pressure to finish the book, we can run interference for you.

2. Management—

They will probably need to be more structured than you are with discipline. It is difficult for those with less experience to balance a low structure class and teach.

3. Expecting them to do everything your way—

Student teachers realize that they cannot turn your classroom upside down. They have to fit with the style of your school. However, within that framework, let them be creative and flexible. They need to be able to try new ideas. This is the exciting part for you! You will learn new ideas from them. They need to be given the freedom to try the things they have learned in their methods courses.

4. Overprotection—

Teachers tend to be very nurturing. We want to help them and protect them from mistakes and those “University People”.

5. Feedback—

Try not to correct the student teacher in front of students or staff members. It is embarrassing to them and it undermines their authority. Just as you would want your principal to deal with you in private, you need to deal with them in private too.

6. Communication—

You HAVE to make time to talk with you student teacher on a DAILY basis. They need you to listen to them and give them feedback. They desperately want your input. Many problems can be prevented, caught early, if you will take the time to do this.

7. Not Leaving the Room—

Our students need to have 8 or 9 weeks of teaching the class on their own. During that time, they should be the only teacher the students see! If you are in the room, the student teacher will never have full control of the class. Every time the student teacher says anything, twenty or so little faces will turn to you and see if that is what they are supposed to do. Being out of the room does not mean that you can put up bulletin boards in the classroom or work on a computer, or grading papers.