In this section, we will provide information about the following:

1. Things to do when your student teacher arrives
2. Welcoming your student teacher
3. Policies to go over with your student teacher

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Things to do when you student teacher arrives

Please welcome your student teacher in a way that makes him/her feel a part of the center. The student teachers are very nervous when starting their student teaching semester, so feeling more comfortable will increase their success. Provide a staff or parent handbook to your student teacher so that s/he knows the policies of the center.If it has not been done already, please take your student teacher on a tour of the center. Student teachers must write an introductory letter that introduces him/her to the parents in your class. Please make sure that you (the coop) and the director reads and approves this letter before sending it home. The student teachers have been given instruction on things to include in this letter. Please give your student a copy of your daily/weekly routine. Invite student teacher to get to know students individually by interacting with them during free play, arrival time, outdoor time.It is also valuable to allow student to spend some time observing from the sideline to enable him/her to view group dynamic, patterns of interaction, individual student behaviors. This should only happen for 1-2 days or parts of a day and then student should become fully engaged.

Welcoming your student teacher

• Show them where they can place their personal and professional belongings so they feel part of the staff.
• Introduce them to other staff members.
• Introduce them to the parents whenever possible.
• If you have a parent newsletter, write a paragraph about your student teacher so families will know who s/he is.
• Invite student to attend meetings, In services, and social gatherings with other staff.
• Say "good morning" or hello every day.

Policies to go over with your student teacher

• Fire Drill
• First Aid
• Playground protocol
• Answering the Phone
• Opening the door of the center
• Students who are late, absent or being picked up early
• What to do if a child gets hurt
• Children who have special needs
• Children who have special behavioral issues and need special interventions
• Unusual family structures

Helpful links

• Handbook _^(PDF)
• Responsibilities of Cooperating Teachers _^(PDF)
• Student Teacher Dates _^(PDF)
• Student Teaching Calendar _^(PDF)
• Student Teaching Agreement
• Clearances Information _^(PDF)
• Attendance-Substitute Coverage-Absences _^(PDF)
• Health Assessment Sheet _^(PDF)