The Acorn
A Newsletter for CSB/SJU Cooperating Teachers
Volume 4, no. 10--Friday, January 21, 2022
Growing, Nurturing, and Supporting CSB/SJU Student Teachers
A Message from the Director of Student Teaching
This week's edition focuses on curiosity and creativity, and to bring us into that creativity, I would like to share a poem I found on the School of Thought website from Margaret Wheatley entitled "Turning to One Another" (2002).
There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about. Ask “What’s possible?” not “What’s wrong?” Keep asking.
Notice what you care about.
Assume that many others share your dreams.
Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters. Talk to people you know.
Talk to people you don’t know.
Talk to people you never talk to.
Be intrigued by the differences you hear.
Expect to be surprised.
Treasure curiosity more than certainty.
Invite in everybody who cares to work on what’s possible. Acknowledge that everyone is an expert about something. Know that creative solutions come from new connections.
Remember, you don’t fear people whose story you know. Real listening always brings people closer together.
Trust that meaningful conversations can change your world. Rely on human goodness. Stay together.
Great words for the time we're in!
Weeks 3 & 4 for Student Teachers
For Candidates in 12- or 16-week placements:
Week 3 with Students:
- Work with the student teacher in lesson planning (reviewing plans daily) and management design.
- Co-teach lessons throughout the day.
- Conduct ONE FORMAL observations and provide actionable feedback.
- Set goals for addressing improvement areas.
- Elementary: Allow the student teacher to solo teach 30-40 minutes per day and lead morning meetings/classroom routines adding time as the student teacher is ready.
Week 4 with Students:
- Model teaching, learning, and assessment for the student teacher
- Conduct informal observations and provide actionable feedback
- Co-teach in classes/subjects the student teacher is not leading
- Elementary: Allow the student teacher to fully teach in one subject, minimum
For Candidates in 8-week placements:
Week 3 with Students:
- Work with the student teacher in planning, preparation of lessons and materials, monitoring student work.
- Review the student teacher’s lesson plans
- Co-teach in subjects/classes the student teacher isn’t leading
- Conduct ONE FORMAL observation with actionable feedback
- Elementary: Allow the student teacher to solo teach 30-40 minutes per day, adding more time as the student teacher is ready.
- Secondary: Allow the student teacher to teach at least one section of a course, building to two sections by the end of the week
Week 4 with Students:
Model teaching, learning, and assessment for the student teacher
Conduct informal observations and provide actionable feedback
Co-teach in classes/subjects the student teacher is not leading
Review the student teacher’s goals and performance, setting new goals for the remainder of the placement
Elementary: Allow the student teacher to teach building to half of the day
Secondary: Allow the student teacher to teach up to two classes less than a full-time load, if the student teacher is prepared to do so
Quick Links
CSB/SJU Student Teaching Handbook
Student Teaching Observations (by Cooperating Teacher/University Supervisor/Director)
This observation/evaluation form should be used to complete observations throughout the placement. Six formal observations of the student teacher are required within the span of student teaching. We ask that you complete 6 for a 16-week placement, 5 in a 12-week placement, 3 in an 8-week placement, and 2 in a 5-week placement. The entire form does not need to be completed for each observation; however, by the end of the placement, each part should be addressed.Additional Forms:
Cooperating Teacher Information (if not completed in the past three years)
Feedback (weeks 2, as needed--6, 10, & 12)
Cooperating Teacher's Final Evaluation of Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher's Dispositional Evaluation of Student Teacher
Resources and Interesting Tidbits
The Most Important Mindset for Schools
Content Capsules: A Way to Create Joyful, Rich Learning Spaces
The Power of Creative Constraints
CSB/SJU Education Department
Director of Elementary and Secondary Student Teaching
Allison Spenader, PhD.
Chair
Email: jmeagher001@csbsju.edu
Website: csbsju.edu/education
Location: 37 College Avenue South, St Joseph, MN, USA
Phone: 320-363-5709