Cooperating Teachers and Schools

Resources for Current Cooperating Teachers

Thank you for hosting a North Central student in your classroom! Below you will find a number of resources to assist you in making your pre-service teacher's experience a valuable one. If you have any further questions or comments, don't hesitate to contact us.

Evaluation Forms

It is essential that all evaluation forms be filled out and returned to the student or the education department in a timely matter. The student's grade is dependent on the receipt of these forms.

Guidelines for Cooperating Teachers

Student Teaching

The student teaching program at North Central University is based upon the principle that theory is most effectively learned when it is linked with practice; therefore, the methods courses are accompanied by clinical experiences in the respective methods areas. Student teaching, which is the culmination of a gradual induction into teaching, is full time (full day, every day) for a total of fifteen weeks (typically, two seven-and-a-half-week sessions at various grade levels).

In addition to keeping the same schedule as that of the cooperating teacher, the student is expected to participate, if permitted, in all professional activities in which the cooperating teacher engages. It is hoped that the intense, practical nature of student teaching will give the student a realistic pictures of the teaching profession. All of the student's field, clinical, and student teaching experiences are broad, varied, and practical, designed to give the pre-service teacher a variety of experiences with diverse populations, instructional approaches, and curriculum organization.

For specific guidleines regarding the student teaching experience, please see our Student Teaching Handbook.

Clinical I

Each clinical experience consists of six days spent in a classroom setting with an experienced cooperating teacher. Clinical I occurs in the fall of a student's junior year and is the first time that a student has been given the responsibility to teach a lesson in the school setting. The clinical students are expected to participate in all areas of classroom responsibility. The cooperating teacher, along with the university supervisor, helps to guide, assist, and evaluate the pre-student teacher. The cooperating teacher can expect to mentor the student, who is at the novice level.

For specific guidelines on hosting a Clinical I student in your classroom, please click on the appropriate link below. (Music, English, and Social Studies guidelines will be added soon.)

Clinical II

Each clinical experience consists of six days spent in a classroom setting with an experienced cooperating teacher. Clinical II occurs in the spring of a student's junior year and is the second time that a student has been given the responsibility to teach a lesson in the school setting.The clinical students are expected to participate in all areas of classroom responsibility. The cooperating teacher, along with the university supervisor, helps to guide, assist, and evaluate the pre-student teacher.

For specific guidelines on hosting a Clinical II student in your classroom, please click on the appropriate link below. (Music, English, and Social Studies guidelines will be added soon.)

Clinical III

Each clinical experience consists of six days spent in a classroom setting with an experienced cooperating teacher. Clinical III occurs in the fall of a student's senior year and is the last clinical experience before full-time student teaching. The clinical students are expected to participate in all areas of classroom responsibility. The cooperating teacher, along with the university supervisor, helps to guide, assist, and evaluate the pre-student teacher.

For specific guidelines on hosting a Clinical III student in your
classroom, please click on the appropriate link below. (Music, English, and Social Studies guidelines will be added soon.)

Resources for Prospective Cooperating Teachers

Greetings from the Department of Education at North Central University! We are a four year accredited university located downtown Minneapolis in the heart of Elliot Park. We offer an accredited teacher licensure program for grades K-6 with an endorsement in grades 5-8 Communication Arts or Social Studies. We are also in the process of adding licensure programs for Communication Arts (5-12), Social Studies (5-12), and Vocal Music (K-12). In the near future we also plan to add Mathematics (5-12) and Instrumental Music (K-12).

We are so glad you are considering working with our students. I am sure you will find that we have some of the finest students in the Twin Cities area. As you consider becoming a cooperating teacher, here are a few benefits you can expect:

Benefits of Being a Cooperating Teacher:

1. Mentor a pre-service teacher
2. Clock hours for re-certification
3. Gift certificate remuneration for clinical cooperating teachers
4. Monetary remuneration for student teaching cooperating teachers

So how can you help?
The following is a brief introduction to our pre-service experiences.

Freshman / Sophomore Year

Foundations Field Experience
Students who have declared Education as their major volunteer one semester for 15-20 hours at area schools assisting one-on-one with students to determine if education is a good fit for them. These students have not yet applied or been accepted into our Education program nor have they had any teaching methods courses. Cooperating teachers give students opportunities to help students one-on-one or in small groups with reading, tutoring, or seatwork.

Junior Year

Clinical I (Fall semester) & Clinical II (Spring semester)
Each clinical experience consists of six days spent in a classroom setting with an experienced cooperating teacher.

 

The clinical students are expected to participate in all areas of classroom responsibility including:
-- teaching lessons assigned by the classroom teacher
-- attending meetings
-- correcting papers
-- all other daily activities of the classroom teacher

 

The cooperating teacher, along with the university supervisor, helps to guide, assist, and evaluate the pre-student teacher. Keep in mind that Clinical I is the first time that a student has been given the responsibility to teach a lesson in the school setting. The cooperating teacher can expect to mentor and guide the student, who is at the novice level.

 

Senior Year

Clinical III (Fall semester)
Same as Clinical I & II. Cooperating teachers can expect a higher level of skill and experience.

 

Student Teaching 1 & 2 (Spring or Fall semester, 7.5 weeks each)
Seven weeks of integrating a pre-service teacher into your classroom, eventually giving them full leadership for two weeks.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

If you are interested in working with us at North Central University, please confer with your school administrator and e-mail the following information to Wendy Wirtz, Director of Career Placement:

___ Yes, I am interested in hosting a pre-student teacher in my classroom

Name ____________________________
School____________________________
Grade _________

Thank you for your dedication to excellence in education.

Wendy Wirtz
Director of Career Services
(612) 343-4782 or (612) 343-4737
Fax: (612) 343-4141
e-mail: wjwirtz@northcentral.edu