The experience of working with University of Delaware teacher candidates has been enriching and valuable to many cooperating teachers. We hope this will be true for you.

You have been selected for this program because you exemplify the characteristics that constitute superior teaching. We would like to express our gratitude for your willingness to share your talents with a future teacher.

Please review the important points that are listed below.

• Planning

  1. Student teachers are required to write detailed lesson plans for each lesson that they will be teaching. These plans should be submitted to you at least two days prior to implementation. As the student teacher gains experience, an abbreviated version may be approved for use at our mid three way conference. Please initial lesson plans that you have approved.

  2. Student teachers are to keep a notebook that organizes lesson plans, observation reports, classroom information, etc.

  3. A copy of the instructional units and the Writers' Workshop Plan, if required, must be turned in to you at least one week in advance. If this is not done, a delay of the implementation is necessary.

  4. Student teachers need to do long range planning. Please assist them with this by giving firm dates for implementation of their requirements.

  5. Please allow your student teacher to develop his/her own procedures for a lesson. Assistance from you may be given in determining learning goals/objectives that are appropriate for the students.

• Conferences

  1. It is critical to have weekly conferences with your student teacher regarding the Weekly Conference Record criteria. This communication instrument correlates with the final evaluation report. Please designate a specific time to meet with your student teacher each week for reviewing this form.

  2. Two three-way conferences are to be held each semester (during the middle and end of the placement). Please bring your Three Way Conference Form to the midway conference and your completed final evaluation report to our final conference.
  

• Observations

  1. After an observation, written feedback should be given to the student teacher. Please use the "Formative Observation Form" when making formal observations.

  2. Please make several observations during the student teacher's SOLO period.

• Other Considerations

  1. Student teachers are responsible for keeping a log of observations and teaching hours.

  2. If your student teacher is doing an elementary education placement, he/she will be implementing a Writers' Workshop Project that should consist of a minimum of ten sessions.

  3. If you are a special education teacher, your student teacher will be implementing a behavior intervention project focusing upon academic or social behaviors. Baseline information should be gathered as soon as possible.

  4. Student teachers should gradually assume the teaching responsibilities. Please delegate these responsibilities on a weekly basis so that by the midway conference, he/she is teaching half of your teaching load. (Please consult the Student Teaching Guidelines for suggestions: Weekly Sequence.)

  5. Please allow student teachers to have input with making decisions regarding room arrangement, routines, unit topic selection, etc.

  6. You may want to assist your student teacher with taking pictures. These photographs will be displayed in the student teacher's portfolio.

  7. In the past, we have had problems with punctuality concerning units, projects, and reports. Any assistance from you would be greatly appreciated.

  8. Please include student teachers in the school's social activities (holiday parties, Friday breakfasts, etc.)

  9. Communication is the key to a successful experience for both the student teacher and the cooperating teacher. Please set aside time for talking formally and informally.

  
  

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