Tips in Mentoring Student Teachers

 

Tips in Mentoring Student Teachers

At some point in our career as teachers, 

we are asked to take on student teachers,

but when can we say we are ready? 

 

Being a graduate of a teacher-training 

institution, I was around teachers for my

entire formal education. I am used to

the presence of teachers and student 

teachers in my school since preschool. 

The college where I studied had its own 

laboratory school and regular teachers

and practice teachers taught us. I never

thought I'd follow their steps someday.

When the opportunity came to become

 a cooperating teacher for the first time,

I was teaching at a private Catholic 

school. I had no idea what I'd do.

I had completely forgotten my 

experiences in Lab school  

with critic teachers, as they were 

called back then, and practice 

teachers. Perhaps I was too young

that time. And now, here I was about

to make a huge mistake,

something I still regret having done

to this day. I gave my ST (Student 

Teacher) a ton of work - checking

the compositions/theme writing of my

students from my English classes. It 

occupied her time, and nothing more

was done in terms of teaching practice.

I made a mess. I failed to initiate, 

motivate and let her appreciate 

the craft she has chosen. Can I 

redeem myself?

As the years moved on and

teaching experience grew, and 

already having had many Student

Teachers with me, my only guiding

light in the field of mentoring is simply

SHARING, of what is not only a 

fulfilling career to me, but a 

vocation as well...Teaching!

Here are a few tips in mentoring 

student teachers which hopefully

can be useful:

📌 Have your Student Teacher with

        you as much as possible

 📌Prepare your pupils beforehand

 📌Introduce the Student Teacher 

        to your class

 📌Orient the ST to the students, 

        class size, daily schedule, school 

        calendar, classroom routines

 📌Provide a few practical tips in 

        handling pupils especially with

         little ones

 📌Prepare a workspace for the ST,

         a table and a chair will do

 📌Have her observe you handle

         the class for some time before

         her actual teaching

 📌Give her free rein to mingle

         with students, talk to them, 

        assist them in any way

 📌Schedule regular class observation

         and conferences

 📌Spend time planning with your

        Student Teacher

    * planning lessons can be one of

         the most most challenging

         aspects of teaching

    * talk through a lesson, 

        suggest time-tested techniques,

         methods, strategies

    * demonstrate the use of curriculum

         guides, Teacher's Manuals. and

         other resources for your grade/

        subject level

    * assist in the use of varied 

        strategies/approaches/

        techniques, assessment, questioning 

        techniques, preparation of

        instructional materials

    * give your ST opportunities to be

         creative, to plan out some new

         ideas of her own (you, too,

        can learn from her - fresh ideas 

        for your effective yet outdated 

        methods)

 📌Your ST will be observed and critiqued

 📌Jot down notes while she's teaching. 

    * It helps you to provide fresh feedback

    * Feedback Provider - one of the roles a

        mentor teacher should play.

 📌Not just tell, have your student teacher 

        experience the many aspects 

        of teaching - lesson planning, 

        teaching, testing/assessment, 

        classroom management, 

        parent conferences, school-related 

        activities

 📌Have them a better feel for real 

        classroom management, she can

         learn to handle the class while 

        you're out of the classroom for

        a short while

 📌Accomplishment of different forms

         and related work

    * orient the methods of record keeping

        the attendance, tardiness, grades,

         conduct, etc.

 📌And lastly, be encouraging!!! 😊💙💛

Definition of Terms

Student Teacher - meaning a student 

                        who is engage in practice

                         teaching. (also referred 

                         to as Practice Teacher)

Cooperating Teacher - meaning classroom

                         teachers who provide 

                        guidance and supervision 

                        to teacher candidates during

                         their field experience in the 

                        schools. (also referred to as 

                        Mentor Teacher, Clinical 

                        Teacher)

References

- shmoop.com

- teach4theheart.com

- Deped Order No.39 s.2005

Happy Mentoring💻📁📌📍📏📖📗📘📚

/EAB