College of Education & Human Services
Field Experiences in Education

Cooperating Teacher Forms and Information

These forms are available to cooperating teachers only.  If you have difficulty logging in, please contact the Field Experiences office at 477-2217.

Student Teaching / Practicum Evaluations,
and Dispositions Evaluation

Cooperating Teacher Survey for Early Childhood Education Placements

Cooperating Teacher Orientation (PowerPoint)

Frequently Asked Questions
for Cooperating Teachers

1. How much paperwork is involved?                      

You will be asked to complete a Final Evaluation of your student teacher's performance.  The evaluation consists of four main areas:  Knowledgeable, Humanistic, Reflective, and Creative.  There are several questions under each area, with a total of 15 on the entire evaluation.

There will also be a Dispositions Final Evaluation.  The main areas are:  Professional Commitment and Responsibility, Reflection and Self Improvement, Interpersonal Relationships, Effective Communication, Attitudes Toward Learners, and Respect for Diversity.

Your student teacher may also ask you to write a Letter of Recommendation for his or her portfolio.

2. What support will I get from MSUM if the student is not doing well?              

A university supervisor will be assigned to you and your student. This person will serve as a liaison to the university. The university supervisor will visit the classroom a minimum of 5 times, to observe the student teaching, to answer questions and help with problem areas. You may contact the supervisor at any time if you have concerns about your student teacher. The two of you can determine what course of action needs to be taken to help the student teacher with improvements. In extreme cases, the student may be removed from the classroom.

3. What type of lesson plan should the student teacher use?

Students have been taught how to write lesson plans using a particular format. However, if you have a certain type of lesson plan that you have found useful, feel free to pass it along to your student.

4. How often do I give feedback, written vs. oral?

We ask that you give both written and oral feedback as often as possible. Written feedback is only necessary when you are doing a formal observation of the student teaching. Discuss your written observations with the student in as soon as it is convenient. Oral feedback is ongoing throughout the student teaching experience. Students need to hear both positive comments and constructive criticism. If you have concerns about your student teacher, please share those concerns with the student and the university supervisor early on so that problems can be remediated.

5. How are cooperating teachers selected?

Each spring, a cooperating teacher survey is sent out to area teachers via email. The survey asks teachers if and when they would like to work with a student teacher or practicum student. Each school principal is given a list of the teachers who responded to the survey for approval. The campuses of MSUM, Concordia and NDSU use the surveys to determine where placements should be made. Sometimes we make personal contacts to ask a teacher if he or she would like to work with a student teacher or practicum student.