Cooperating teachers play a significant role as the pre-service teacher’s model and mentor sharing their expertise and educational experience. They are a vital part of our student teaching program assisting us in developing motivated future teachers.
Cooperating teachers provide encouragement, advice and example. They engage pre-service teachers in ongoing conversations about teaching and learning, encourage pre-service students to ask questions and gain independence, provide regular feedback, assist with the development of teaching skills, monitor and assess the pre-service teacher’s growth, and explore perspectives that might be new to them.