School Partners: Cooperating Teachers
The Cooperating Teachers Experience
Throughout the teacher candidate experience, the Cooperating Teacher and the Teacher Candidate should function as a team to engage in cooperative planning, teaching, and evaluating.
During the early part of the experience, the Cooperating Teacher will handle the major responsibility for planning, teaching, and evaluating students. Beginning with orientation, the Teacher Candidate will progress through an observation and participation phase before assuming full teaching responsibility.
Observation
Before a Teacher Candidate assumes major responsibility for teaching a class, they should observe and participate in the classroom (both yours and other teachers’). To be effective in this role, they must have specific items in mind to look for during observations of the regular teacher and the pupils.
The Cooperating Teacher assists in the observation phase by:
- Discussing daily lesson plans
- Emphasizing the necessity for flexibility in planning
- Noting motivational techniques employed
- Indicating possible techniques for closing the lesson
- Suggesting variations in teaching procedures used from day to day
- Familiarizing the Teacher Candidate with routine classroom duties apart from the actual teaching
- Discussing individual differences, special needs, and ways of handling these within the classroom
- Discussing discipline and classroom management
Written Observations
During a 16-week student teaching placement, Cooperating Teachers are responsible for a minimum of six formal written observations for their Teacher Candidate. An 8-week placement requires three formal written observations.
These observations should be shared with the Teacher Candidate and their University Supervisor. In addition, each Cooperating Teacher must complete a written final evaluation of their Teacher Candidate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Qualifications Are Required To Be A Cooperating Teacher?
To host a Teacher Candidate for student teaching, Cooperating Teachers must:
- Have 3+ years of teaching experience in their field
- Be licensed in the requested area
- Secure the approval of the building administrator
Some districts also require tenure in order to host teacher candidates.
What Compensation Do Cooperating Teachers Receive?
Cooperating Teachers are given stipends for hosting Teacher Candidates. According to Minnesota State regulations, these stipends are $75 for hosting an 8-week student teaching experience and $150 for hosting a 16-week student teaching experience.
Cooperating teachers should complete stipend forms with the Office of Clinical Experiences. This paperwork will be mailed to you for signature.
Often, the formal written and signed agreement between the school district and St. Cloud State requires these stipends to go into a district pool of professional development funds. Sometimes districts will redistribute stipends directly to the teachers, and in some cases, the OCE sends stipends directly to the Cooperating Teacher. Contact your district Human Resources office to find out more specific information.
How Can I Sign Up To Be A Cooperating Teacher?
Contact the Office of Clinical Experiences at (320) 308-4783 or oce@stcloudstate.edu.
Please include the following:
- Name
- Email address
- School
- Years of experience
- Licensure
- Grade level
- Subject area
What Types Of Field And Student Teaching Experiences Are Available To Host?
Teacher Ccandidates can find a wide variety of field experiences across grade levels and subject areas. Please refer to the link below for more information.
What Paperwork Is Required When Hosting A Teacher Candidate In Their Student Teaching Experience?
In addition to the formal written observations (see “Written Observations” above), Cooperating Teachers are also expected to meet with the teacher candidate and sign off on a midterm evaluation. At the end of the student teaching experience, the Cooperating Teacher will also complete a final summative evaluation, including a written narrative documenting the Teacher Candidate’s experience and demonstrated skills.
These forms can be found in the Student Teaching Handbook, found on the Student Teaching page under “Resources.”
Specific College of Education and Learning Design departments may also have additional requirements.
EdTPA: How Do Cooperating Teachers Support Candidates?
Developed for educators by educators, edTPA is the first nationally available, performance-based assessment for beginning teachers. The PDF below offers information and guidance to P–12 teachers as they partner with preparation programs to support candidates completing edTPA.
Cooperating Teachers can also find more information on the edTPA page.
Where Can I Find Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Forms?
- CEUs for Hosting Elementary Education Students (PDF)
- CEUs for Hosting Secondary Students (PDF)
- CEUs for Hosting CFS Students (PDF)
- CEUs for Hosting Special Education Students (PDF)
- CEUs for Hosting PE/DAPE Students (PDF)
- CEUs for online Co-Teaching Foundations training (PDF)
- CEUs for Practicum Programs (PDF)