Cooperating Teachers

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Home : 2003 : August : 7

Cooperating Teachers
By Kathy R. From ME

Thank you for the welcome!

One of my cooperating teachers is also younger than me, and she graduated from my same university just three years ago. At first I thought this was a huge advantage because I was going to experience
some of the same methods and ideas we each gained from our teacher education. After meeting with her a couple of times, I am beginning to become a little concerned. She voiced several times that she was a little nervous. When I asked her why, she said "she didn't want to mess me up, she didn't want to tell me what to do." What? I thought that was part of student teaching.

Guide me please I told her just that, that I want her to lead me and ask me to do anything that will aid in delivering instruction in her classroom. I told her I respect that I will be in her classroom, but that I have a lot of initiative and seek whatever I can do to help. I want her to suggest activities for me to take control of before it is my time to be fully responsible for all of the classroom duties. Having the opportunity to work with material she has already tested, and found to work, will boost my confinedce don't you think?

Do you think she is intimidated by me because of my age? What can I do or say to help her feel more comfortable around me. She is a great girl and I feel our work together will "soar" if we can get past these initial gitters.