Teachers Speak Out About Student Teaching
Read
quotes from teachers on ways they would improve student teaching.
In order to learn more about the perspectives of more experienced educators, 500 teachers in Los Angeles and Miami were surveyed about their experiences with student teaching.
The results are eye-opening and shed light on the vastly different experiences of student teachers. Look at the topics below to find out what teachers really think about their student teaching experiences.
Cooperating Teacher Mentoring Skills
Respondents were asked to judge the quality of mentoring providing by the cooperating teacher.
| 60% |
exceptional adult mentor |
| 28% |
some capacity but also some weaknesses |
| 12% |
poor mentor |
Cooperating Teacher Instructional Skills
Respondents were asked to judge the instructional skills of the cooperating teacher.
| 63% |
great |
| 29% |
average |
| 8% |
very weak |
Student Teaching Responsibilities
Respondents were asked to judge the rate their responsibilities were increased.
| 74% |
gradually increased |
| 18% |
increased abruptly and/or in a way for which they felt unprepared |
| 8% |
never increased to the degree they expected |
Student Teaching Feedback
Respondents were asked to judge the quality of feedback from their supervisor.
| 60% |
very helpful |
| 26% |
somewhat useful |
| 10% |
not useful |
| 4% |
no feedback received |
Ability to Evaluate Placement
Percent of respondents who were asked to evaluate their placement.
| 55% |
not asked to formally evaluate their cooperating teacher or their supervisor |
| 78% |
not asked to formally evaluate the suitability of their placement school |
How would you improve student teaching?
The following comments were offered by Los Angeles teachers as feedback for improving the student teaching experience:
"Cooperating teachers should have to meet basic minimal criteria, including being an exemplary role model for any new or aspiring teacher."
Los Angeles Elementary School Teacher
"Student teaching is a wonderful experience—with the right teacher...some teachers take this on because they think they can "slack", so it's important that the program be strict about its teachers so the student teacher doesn't have the same situation I did."
Miami Elementary School Teacher
"I believe it is important for the student teacher program to continue with evaluations DISCUSSED by all parties involved. I am such a better teacher for the experiences I had as a student teacher."
Los Angeles Elementary School Teacher
"Both Student teaching experiences were invaluable more so that some of the course work. Training to become a doctor is the way teaching training should be: med school courses - intern then residency with mentoring = teaching course work-student teaching-minimum of 2 years with the support of a mentor. University supervisors need to keep current about instruction and curriculum and coaching. Mentor/training teachers need to be trained in coaching strategies so that they can best support new and student teachers."
Los Angeles Elementary School Teacher
"Working with my mentor teacher was an excellent experience. Thanks to her I developed the confidence to teach the subject I feared most as a student. Now it has become my favorite subject to teach."
Miami Elementary School Teacher
"During my student teaching, I was required, in addition to student teaching, to participate in sixty hours of observation of other teachers in the school. I found this to be a very helpful and effective for preparing me for teaching. I was able to observe effective teaching practices from a varied group of teachers from different disciplines and this added to my learning experience."
Los Angeles Middle School Teacher
