Portrait of Success: Cooperating Teachers and the Student Teaching Experience

Current research on student teachers and the student teaching experience often has neglected the point of view of the cooperating teachers. Through interviews with 20 cooperating teachers, the researcher obtained data on how cooperating teachers define a successful student teaching experience and what they believe could enhance their success as student mentors. The data from the interviews confirm certain trends in these perceptions, including the importance of a “mutual learning relationship” between the student and cooperating teacher. Cooperating teachers also called for greater support and collaboration from the university community, defined by (a) improved communication about university expectations, (b) more courses and inservicing for cooperating teachers, (c) more input from cooperating teachers about the content and delivery of methods courses, and (d) more input from cooperating teachers in the development of teacher education programs. The author concludes that more effective teacher education models must be informed by a larger data base of information from cooperating teachers and that collaborative teacher education programs must include the voice of the professional who works closest with the student teacher.