Student Teacher Dilemma

[teachintroubl]

I am an experienced teacher who works in a great school. Of the 3 student teachers I have had in the past, there have been nothing but hardworking, enthusiastic candidates. Unfortunately, my current protoge is really, IMO, in the wrong field. She is attractive, professionally dressed and nice enough, but sites everything as "...hard, 'cause I have to write a lesson plan!" or laments that she cannot pass her state basic teacher exams (taken multiple times unsuccessfully). When my primary students ask her questions, she often cannot answer them, esp. the gifted ones, and gets flustered. She also does not appear to enjoy what she is doing. To make a long story short, even after long talks and postitive reinforcement, reflection...etc., I am not sure I will be able to give her a good evaluation. How do I go about this without destroying her chances for a career? What if my expectations are just too high?

 

[Dina]

Not meant to be

I've had a similar situation. All of my student teachers were enthusiastic and hard working except for one. She arrived late, left early or was absent whithout letting me know. She made poor attempts at lesson plans. Didn't have a clue about actually teaching a lesson, even after observing me several times. I practically did the whole lesson plan for her and went through it with her, when she was to be observed by her supervisor. You would think she would be trying to make a good impression, but it just didn't seem like it mattered to her much. I couldn't in all honesty give her a good evaluation or recommendation.

 

[teachintroub]

How to word it?

How does one word the final evaluation then? I suppose I need to talk with her university supervisor about it too. I too have had to walk her through each lesson plan and practically write all of her observation lessons for her. She is not familiar with any education lingo. My other student teachers always wrote down daily notes in their "journals," and asked me about any unfamliar jargon they heard. By the next day, they would tell me that they researched the ____ and had learned all about it. This girl will never be hired in our school district and I honestly think she is in the wrong field. She ACTUALLY mentioned to me, of all people, that she is excited about teaching to get summers off. Would you have ever told your evaluator that???!

 

[Dina]

Amazing

I was only allowed to give her a letter grade for her student teaching. Later, a principal from another one of our schools called me for a recommendation. I was torn about what to say, but in the end I did her and the students a favor by giving my honest opinion. I felt she wasn't ready to really commit to doing a good job. I learned later that she moved out of state and got a teaching job in that state.

 

[bertie]

learned the hard way

I've also had to write that hard evaluation. With the help of my principal, we worded the evaluation very carefully, starting with her positive qualities and then mentioning the most important of the many areas that still needed work. Those included more thorough lesson plans, awareness of grade level curriculum, and working on improved grammar (she still said "I seen you guys" and "I done that yesterday" but she didn't feel that was inappropriate) Anyway, we worded it so carefully that the message was diluted, and she was HIRED the next year!!! To work in my very same school!!! So look at it this way - very soon this person could be teaching your own child. I urge you to say it like it is - that's why she's in your room, to find out the truth. And the profession of teaching and the students of the future deserve the best people we can prepare....not the ones who want summers off. (OFF? where did she get that idea? Has she ever heard of Professional development, long term planning, professional reading, upgrading, etc?).

 

[teachintroubl]

Thanks!

Thanks for the advice. It really has helped tonight for me to stop worrying about what awaits after New Year's Day holiday ( I have to face her again ), and when I should be concentrating on my own plans! The idea that she could be working in my school is frightening, and not just for the kids! Our parent community would eat her alive if she were work with her students the way she does with mine (they correct her grammar too--isn't that a cooincidence?). I also appreciate the notion that my principal might assist in my writing of the evaluation narrative, as she is great with diplomatic language. Again, thank you.

 

[c green]

Hard to do

I know I would dread this, but I do think you need to be honest but tactful. Definately talk to administration, if they'll be supportive, and you want backup. I'd phrase it in terms of where she is right now, not 'She Will Never Be Able To Teach'. This person needs more practice, more experience, better grammar, etc., is a reasonable critique.

See about offering her some other ideas, if she's open. We have a woman who's a paraprofessional in our district, who actually has a credential, but didn't feel she had some necessary skills to take her own classroom. She's great at what she does, and has worked out a way to get a couple years of student teaching before branching out. Of course, if she sees no problem with her performance, she may not want to take advice.

But you know, I kind of like getting the summer off--maybe not OFF, but a whole different routine, and some time to get other things done.

 

[KW]

Student teachers

We want to be encouraging to student teachers (and I've had several), but there does come a place where you need to be upfront and honest. I would continue to encourage and mentor her--but be very honest in your evaluation. The teaching profession thanks you!!!


Incidentally, where is the college supervisor in all this?

 

[Bonnie gr. 2]

Sometimes the college looks the other way

Most of the student teachers we've had in my building have been very good. There have been a few that had some issues. In one case, a teacher did not want to pass the student teacher. The college insisted, eventhough the co-operating teacher wrote a negative evaluation. I went to a workshop about mentoring student teachers last year, presented by the same college. They said that they want to know about problems and they will not recommend certification for a candidate who is inadequate. But we have seen that is not true.

I had one student teacher who often came late, since she travelled a distance. She arrived between 10 minutes and an hour late on a number of occasions. The supervisor did not think this was a problem. This student teacher could not read something to the class unless she practiced it. When I wrote her evaluation, I worded it carefully. Although she was weak in some areas, I was able to say that she showed growth in those areas. She had shown grown but was not necessarily where I would have liked her to have been.

By the way, I have never had a school contact me for further information on any of my student teachers.

 

[CDHElmo]

CDHElmo

This is a tricky one... I would definitely get back-up from your admistration on this one. I agree that s/he should help you fill out the student teacher's evaluation. Can you schedule a meeting with her professor/supervisor and lay the cards on the table about how concerned you are? I would even go so far as to bring in the principal in on the meeting, if need be. You are not doing this girl or any of her future students (if she gets that far) by not being honest with her. I am sure you can find some positive traits she possesses (maybe she is good at reading aloud to them, maybe she has a good sense of humor and is sensitive towards children). Remember that an evaluation will follow her in her career (at least for a while), so get some support.

 

[MusicTeach]

Grade Level??

What grade level do you teach? Maybe this person would be a good teacher, maybe she just needs younger students. I am a first year teacher and did my student teaching with a middle school band, and I felt very comfortable with that group. I don't feel as comfortable with the group I have now, they are more challenging. I love coming and working with my elementary kids (k-2), some things I learn from them help me in my upper level classes. Maybe this girl needs to be around younger students so she feels more confident in herself???

 

[teachintroubl]

Grade level not this issue, I think...

Thanks for asking MusicTeach, but I teach the 4th grade and the ST"candidate is already telling me that she doesn't think she "...can handle any younger than 3rd." Her next assignment comes in March and she will be with K-1- or 2. I actually suggested that she consider getting her credentials in specific subject of interest and poss. teaching middle school. The real problem may lie though in her lack of background knowledge. Have you ever met one of those teachers that just doesn't seem to have had exposure to a lot? I'm not saying that every teacher needs to be an intellectual, but shouldn't they know how to pronounce names of countries, NOT have to practice reading a children's book before they pick one up for a read aloud, be able to answer 4th grade math questions...etc? Isn't a love of learning what we're supposed to be imparting on the young?

This is why I'd originally asked if my expectations were too high, but another coworker today described my ST similarly. After talking to her about how to differntiate within a lesson plan, the specialist described my ST as "VERY green." It's hard to tell her that her specific areas for growth are to prepare for the background knowledge necessary to teach the lessons for which she is responsible. Could I write, "This student teacher, like any of us, would benefit from a thorough study of the curriculum content specific to the need of her students."?