My experience

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My experience
By Missouri

Be there and make time for your student teacher. I have been with my second cooperating teacher for two days, and I'm not too happy right now. I loved my first cooperating teacher; she made sure she had time to talk to
me and she let me jump right in. My cooperating teacher now seems to constantly be checking her e-mail when not with the kids. She asks if I have any questions, but then I feel that she doesn't give me enough time to explain, or ask, all of my questions.
Another thing, if your student teacher is just coming off of another teaching assignment, let him/her jump in immediately if he/she

is ready. My first two days have been spent observing and grading papers mostly, with leading them to and from special class also. This is boring after spending all last week teaching EVERYTHING during my previous assignment.

Most of all, just make your student teacher feel welcome in your classroom. If your student teacher doesn't feel comfortable doing anything without asking (like getting construction paper they need), then they won't feel comfortable at all. Let them know that you are there whenever they need you. That can make a huge difference in the type of experience your student teacher has. Hope this helps!!!