The following basic responsibilities, with suggestions for meeting these, are offered to aid the cooperating teacher in helping the student teacher become a positive and enthusiastic professional educator.

Help develop feelings of belonging and feelings of respect as a professional.

1. Establish and maintain open communication with the student teacher.
2. Include the student teacher in more than the classroom environment by involving them in the regular and informal faculty activities of the school.
3. Accept the student teacher as a colleague.
4. Visibly demonstrate to the class and school personnel that you have confidence in the student teacher.
5. Assist the student teacher in the role confusion which may exist as the student transitions from college student to teacher.
6. Adapt as needed for personality differences.

Establish daily times to discuss actions and weekly times for extended conferences.

Engage in ongoing dialogue through initial conferencing which relates to:

• student teacher's background in pedagogy, content and field experiences.
• role clarification and expectations.
• orientation to the classroom, scheduling, rules, and procedures.
• information about supplies equipment, etc.
• preplanning for assuming teaching responsibility.
• initial stages of detailed lesson planning.

Engage in ongoing dialogue through developmental conferencing which relates to:

• reflection by student teacher on teaching concerns.
• discussion of specific lesson plans.
• reactions to specific lessons taught.
• analysis of teaching skills.
• evaluation of performance.
• discussion for continued improvement.
• long range planning.
• discussion on student behaviors.
• development of strategies for discipline and classroom management.
• personal concern.
• enrichment experiences.

Engage in ongoing dialogue through summary conferencing to:

• review stages of completions for established goals.
• discuss growth that has occured.
• discuss area needing continued development.
• review final evaluations.
• discuss aptitudes and attitudes toward teaching.
• have student teacher reflect on teaching as a profession.

Provide written assessments which include:

1. weekly lesson observations using the established form (forward these to the college supervisor each week) with positive aspects of the lessons taught, identification of specific problems, specific techniques for improvement, and questions to elicit the student teacher's own evaluation.
2. anecdotal notations of any recurring problems.
3. records of specific observational instruments used.
4. journal entries related to topics discussed.

Identify strategies for success, problem areas and specific plans for remediation of problems.

1. The cooperating teacher and the student teacher, assisted by the college supervisor should plan cooperatively in order to ensure an optimum instructional environment for students in the classroom.
2. If problems arise, these should be dealt with a few at a time in order of their importance.
3. Specific remediation plans should be developed to solve problems.
4. These plans should be written, reviewed by student teacher, cooperating teacher, and college supervisor, and monitored for progress.
5. After plans have been carried out, evaluate the problem-solving strategy.
6. Continue remediation with a revised plan as necessary.

Following each visit and observation by the college supervisor, arrange time for consultation with the student teacher. TIme should be arranged so that both the cooperating teacher and student teacherconverse with the college supervisor on a weekly basis.

Exhibit genuine interest in the education of teachers and maintain respect for the integrity of the College's Program. Share views related to teacher preparation with the Teacher Education Program via the Director of Teacher Eudcation or the Chair of the Department of Education.

A qualified cooperating teacher will hold an Instructional Level II certificate and be tenured in the school district preferably with at least one year in the school setting where the cooperating teacher and student teacher will work.