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Lesson Plans


art on a cart + student teacher= much to juggle

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
dawn1881
Sat, 29 May 1999 16:16:21 -0400

"Just an opinion, but I think it would be a blessing to have a student
teacher to
lend a helping hand. My biggest problem is needing supplies that are in
the closet.
It always seems that something comes up and we need a piece of black
paper, or a
teacher asks to borrow something in the middle of a class, or I forgot to
bring the
glue. Having someone in the room to watch the kids while you go look will
certainly
help...Since you student teacher doesn't have a lot of papers to
read, it seems that her greatest task will be learning how to be
organized and
building files. You can work together and it could be great for both of
you.I had a
student aide one hour this year but she lost interest and id little the
last few
weeks. At least with a student teacher, he/she there'll be an evaluation
so it will
behoove that person to do their best.
"

Speaking as someone who recently went through student teaching, if I
encountered this attitude from my cooperating teacher, I would have been
outraged. There is difference between a student teacher and a teacher's
aide. If you have a student teacher, he/she is there to learn to TEACH,
not to be a gofer. And holding the final evaluation over the student
teacher's head to ensure cooperation in such a situation is unfair to
that person who should be there for teacher training. If you feel that
you cannot handle a student teacher at this time and in your situation
with the cart, then refuse. Do not waste someone's precious time and
energy when they could be in a better training environment. Furthermore,
leaving a student teacher to "watch the class" can raise legal issues if
there was ever an incident in the room while you running back to the
closet.

Personally, I would run from this situation or at least refuse to accept
a student teacher until I was comfortable with my new "cart classroom".
Taking on a student teacher when your program is in turmoil is unfair to
you and the college student.

--D. Wilson