Thank you for supporting our teacher candidates. 

Iowa 281-79.14  requires that we annually offer one or more workshops for cooperating teachers to define the objectives of the student teaching experience, review the responsibilities of the cooperating teacher, and provide the cooperating teacher other information and assistance the unit deems necessary.

This workshop consists of six units and the workshop evaluation located in the left-hand column. 

We also encourage our university supervisors to complete this workshop as well since they are working closely with the cooperating teacher.  It is our hope that both our university supervisors and our cooperating teachers will find this workshop helpful when working with our student teacher candidates. 

The Field Office has worked with your human resources office and/or building principals to select you as a cooperating teacher, verifying that you have met the following criteria:

• Hold an Iowa Professional License (or comparable license from another state)
• Are certified in your teaching area(s)
• Have at least three years of successful teaching experience
• Are recommended by your building principal
• Have the disposition, desire, and ability to work with our teacher candidates
• Perform as a professional in the classroom and encourage a professional attitude and behavior on the part of the GU candidate

The workshop may be completed at your convenience, returning as many times as necessary to review the information. 

On the last page labeled Finishing Up/Evaluation, please complete the short survey to ensure we are meeting the needs of our cooperating teachers, university supervisors, and teacher candidates, and to verify completion of the workshop. 

The cooperating or mentor teacher and the university supervisor have a tremendous influence on the student teacher candidate during their semester of student teaching.  This influence includes curriculum and instructional strategies, classroom management strategies, classroom atmosphere, and perhaps most importantly, the professional dispositions that will guide the future teacher's decision-making. Iowa 79.14(8) requires that we offer one or more workshops for cooperating teachers to define the objectives of the student teaching experience, review the responsibilities of the cooperating teacher, and provide the cooperating teacher other information and assistance we feel necessary. This workshop provides additional resources to assist you in mentoring a student teacher including:

• tips and suggestions from previous teachers and student teachers
• tips and suggestions from other university supervisors
• articles on best practices for mentoring a student teacher
• opportunity to complete a "mock evaluation" using a Graceland evaluation form 

The student teaching experience helps teacher candidates to develop the skills needed to become reflective leaders and teachers.  This challenge provides an opportunity to develop appropriate attitudes and understanding, and to acquire knowledge, skills, and techniques under the guidance of an experienced classroom teacher, the university supervisor, and other team members. 

Student teaching is a full-time experience. Student teachers are strongly discouraged from being involved in any coursework or other activities that might interfere with the completion of student teaching responsibilities. As a full-time experience of 14 weeks (70 consecutive days), student teaching should be the central focus of the professional semester.

The student teacher has been given a handbook that contains all information and instructions they will need to successfully complete a student teaching placement.   This handbook includes information about the entire teacher education program, Below is the Teacher Education handbook. The section that covers student teaching may be accessed here:

Student Teaching Syllabus

Program Handbook