by Alan Haskvitz

I clearly remember my less-than-ideal experiences as a student teacher at Cal Poly Pomona.  One supervising teacher left me alone from the start to go play basketball.  The other was excellent and provided needed feedback.

Unfortunately, Cal Poly provided a woman who had not been in the classroom for years as my observer.  She complained when I called the students “kids” and when my dress shirt was not fully buttoned to the top.  She missed that one lesson featured a Japanese exchange student explaining the role of the emperor and that students were using primary documents.  She missed that the students were so into the debate they didn’t want to leave the room when the bell rang.  She also missed that their reflection essays showed a clear change in their point of view.  

For my final lesson plan demonstration before fellow student teachers, I painted my face with a burnt cork and wore a turtleneck sweater.  I came as an African American student and gave my fellow white student teachers a test on slang words.  I played loud music, told them if they failed they couldn’t go to college, and collected their work with disdain.  

The supervising teacher didn’t get it and gave me a failing grade.  I had to go to the dean and face representatives from every discipline to be allowed to stay in the program.  As luck would have it, 25 years later Cal Poly’s teacher preparation department asked me to be its outstanding alumnus at the school’s anniversary celebration.  As such, I have deep feelings about all student teachers.

Consequently, I have put together some resources to help in this most difficult time.  Following are tools to help in the transition from student to student teacher to educator.

Reach Every Child new teacher links

Check Out These Classroom Discipline Sites

Explore Resources for New and Experienced Teachers

Fellowships 

Learn to Use Teachable Moments 

Lesson Plans 

Lesson Plans Site 

Locate Resources for New Teachers

Move Your Students with Physical Education 

REC New Teachers 

REC Special Education, General 

Share Your Profession 

Summer Jobs for Teachers 

Teachers and the Law  

Top 11 Traits of a Good Teacher 

You Don’t Need to Change How You Teach to Improve Assessment Scores

Top of page

Guidelines and information

Davidson University Student Teacher Handbook
Very traditional

North Carolina State Student Teacher Handbook

Student Teacher Situations 
Interesting classroom management questions -- no answers given, but a great place to start a discussion with a mentor or cooperating teacher

High Maintenance Student Teaching Challenges

WMNUNEA-SP Student Teacher Bill of Rights

University of Mary Student Teacher Portfolios
I don’t know how these were left up, but here they are so you can compare your work to their work. Some include sample lessons.

Top of page

New teacher websites

Student Teachers/First Year Teachers  

How to Get All-Important Teaching Experience 

Tips for Student Teaching 

New Middle School Teacher Guide 

Education Minnesota New Teachers  

Helpful Hints for Beginning Teachers 

Teaching Tips
Terrific site for new teachers -- very comprehensive

New Teacher Support 
Very diverse collection with many updated articles. Worthwhile

Some Teacher Mentoring Resources 

The Mentoring Leadership & Resource Network
Nice collection of articles