I am a student teacher who is about to meet her cooperating teacher. What are some great questions I can ask?

Some questions that you might want to ask are as follows:

1. What classes will I be teaching?

2. What books/articles/reference materials should I consult before I begin my student teaching experience?

3. Do I have to follow a certain dress code (in accordance to school and district policies for professional dress)?

4. What are some of the challenges that I might face during student teaching?

5. Why did you become a teacher?

6. What standards should I familiarize myself with prior to creating my lesson plans?

7. Am I expected to submit lesson plans to you in advance in accordance with school and/or district policies?

8. Will any of the students have IEPs and/or 504s with which I must be familiar?

9. What kind of technology will I have access to in your classroom? How do you utilize technology in your own classroom?

These are a few of the important questions that would be worth your while to ask. It’s great that you’re curious about this— it shows that you care about your own growth as a teacher. Good luck!

Hiyas!

When I was going through my ST, I asked questions such as what their daily schedule was (so you know what you’ll be teaching in what order), what curriculum that is used (if elementary, what reading series, math series, spiral curriculum), how they do their lesson plans and grading (are they done on computer? will you be given planners to write them all in? do you need to provide those things? keep in mind what your University is having you do as well, if you have to submit lessons critiqued or be observed by your advisor.)

Some of the first things I did when I went into the class (this goes out of your question a little) was make a seating chart so I could memorize the students names extremely quickly. Also, I asked for a set of all the curriculum so I could take things home and get a head start of what I would be expected to teach and see if I needed to get extra info on any material before hand.

In my personal opinion the absolute best things you can do is be there early and stay late, always volunteer to do more than needed, and remember that not everyone is perfect and if you mess up somehow, it’s ok. Humans error and sometimes, with nerves and stress you’ll say the wrong thing or just be plain wrong. Relax, breathe, and enjoy your first hand experience!!!

I would ask her what time schedule she has for letting you take over the classroom completely. Will she ease you in or just let you take over?

What is her discipline policy?

What is her grading scale?

Are you expected to tailor your lesson plans to hers, or can you be creative with the curriculum (do projects and such)?

When will she be formally observing/evaluating you and on what will she be basing her critiques? Is there a rubric of performance?

What extra duties will you be performing, such a recess or bus duty, and when?

How supportive/involved are the parents at the school?

These questions cover a lot of different things and should be a good start. Different teachers expect different things from student teachers. Some are good at giving feedback and some are not. Make sure you have a set method for receiving feedback in place. And keep in contact with your university supervisor and let that person know how your experience is progressing so that both of you are aware of what requirements you are fufilling and in what amount of time.

Good luck!!

The first question I would ask would be, “Why do you want a student teacher in your classroom?”

I went through two nightmare experiences while student teaching.

The first teacher dumped the class on me and had me teach everything from the beginning, while she sat in the corner or went to the library to finish her master’s thesis, which was due in two months. This was a second grade class, but in previous years she taught third grade. I would ask her questions about teaching and she would say, “I don’t know, I never taught second grade before?”

So the second question I would ask, would be, “How long have you taught this grade/subject?”

My second student teaching assignment, the teacher treated me like his assistant, never letting me teach the class. The first time I was able to teach the class was when the university supervisor came to observe me teach. I told him I was having problems with the teacher not letting me teach the class.

This teacher was being evaluated by his principal the same time I was student teaching with him. He didn’t get a good evaluation, he showed it to me, and rightfully so. He wasn’t all that good.

You can’t really ask, “Do you suck as a teacher?” But I would try to ask if they have any awards or special honors for teaching. You might even state that you’re being evaluated by the university on your performance but you have questions on how a regular teacher is evaluated by their principal. Ask them to explain their evaluation process, as it would only help you in your student teaching. If they are unwilling to answer or are side stepping the issue, red flags would go up for me.

Contact your university education department if you have any problems with your teachers. I did with mine and the university took their names off of the cooperative teacher list.

I hope you have a better experience than I did.

Good luck! Teaching is a wonderful profession.

First of all, your cooperating teacher will likely not be able to give you any student information (such as names of problem children, etc) because it is summer, so they have not had a chance to establish any relationship with these students.

Ask about the classroom management policy that will be in place. Ask about her typical first day routine (is there something special you are supposed to wear that day?) Ask about a timeline for while you are there. For example, my student teaching was 10 weeks. I spent the first week observing. I taught nothing. The second week I taught math. Third week, Math and reading. 4th, 5th, 6th weeks-I taught everything. My cooperating teacher was responsible for nothing other than supervising me. 7th week I taught math and reading, 8th week math, 9th week math, 10th week observation only. This way you have an understanding of how you are going to be “thrown” in to things.

Ask about important people in the building (principal, other grade level teachers, names of special teachers (PE, etc).

I also asked where the “big kid” bathrooms were (I have to go a lot). I asked about lunch details (who do I pay, do I have to eat here, what options do we have). And finally I asked for a student copy of some of the text so that I could begin to see what I was going to be teaching these kids.

Good luck! I am sure your college has adaquately prepared you, so relax and enjoy!

Establish what your boundaries are – especially areas in which she doesn’t want your input or help. I had a similar experience with a teacher – I took initiative and started ‘taking over’ a few of her duties and she said nothing, so I thought she was okay with it. She waited for my 3 month evaluation and then scorched me with a bad review in that area! If I had to do it again, I’d ask first – even though taking initiative is supposed to be a good thing!

I wish you all the best in your teaching career!

What can I do to be most helpful to you?

then

do it

when you do, later, there will be plenty of time for your other questions

I come from a long line of teachers. E-me if you like.

B

congratulations on reaching the student teacher mode of your training 🙂

Questions I would ask:

what data do you collect and how do you use that data to determine appropriate instruction for your students?

what is your discipline philosophy regarding students? do you prefer to manage student behavior within the classroom or do you depend on others (counselors, administrators, etc) to do that?

are the students hetergeneously or homogeneously group? how is instruction differentiated for the students in the classroom?

It would really help if you told what you are teaching. Ask her “what is the most frustrating thing that students do?” “How can I help students that refuse to learn?” “How can I make connection with the students?”

Who are the troubled children? Do any of them have health problems i should know about? HOW many are there ? Do you have a versified group? ARe they open to strangers? WHAT are the m ain EDUCATIONAL needs of the children your teaching now? WHAT areas are they lacking?