The university supervisor plays a critical role in the student teaching experience. His/her duties include mentoring the student teacher, supporting the cooperating teacher and capstone/seminar instructor, and team building. The university supervisor is expected to:
- Attend the Student Teacher Orientation.
- Visit the student teacher a minimum of four times throughout the 11-week Student Teaching experience, including an initial contact during the first week to verify placement and discuss student teaching expectations.
- Participate in at least four meetings with both the student teacher and cooperating teacher throughout the 11-week experience. At the conclusion of each visit, the supervisor will confer with the student teacher and the cooperating teacher. These meetings may be done with the student teacher and the cooperating teacher together and/or separately.
- Collaborate with the student teacher and cooperating teacher to schedule a mid-term 3-way conference to discuss progress.
- Follow-up all observations of the student teacher with an on-site or telephone conference and a written report detailing the observation which can also be shared with the cooperating teacher. A copy of the supervisor's conference notes should be given to the student teacher, the cooperating teacher, and the Office of Field Experiences and Student Teaching.
- Review and assist the student teacher with lesson plans and long-range teaching plans.
- Monitor the extent and balance of student teacher involvement in the classroom. When needed, the supervisor will work with the cooperating teacher and student teacher to make appropriate modifications in the type and/or level of involvement.
- Maintain open communication with the cooperating teacher, the capstone/seminar instructor, and the student teacher.
- Help student teachers develop a sense of confidence and purposefulness as they assume the role of teacher.
- Serve as a resource person when questions arise on the part of the student teacher, the capstone/seminar instructor, or cooperating teacher.
- Devise a plan to help the student teacher, in consultation with the cooperating teacher and capstone/seminar instructor, when appropriate progress is not being made.
- Complete mid-term and final evaluations on the student teacher. All midterm evaluations must be completed by the middle of the quarter. Midterm evaluations should be completed and reviewed by the student teacher, cooperating teacher, and university supervisor. The final evaluation is to be completed and submitted by the end of the last week of the experience.
- Report all problems to the director of Field Experiences and Student Teaching at the Lincoln Park Campus at (773) 325-7768.
- In collaboration with the cooperating teacher, provide a final student teaching grade.
- University supervisors must submit final files for student teachers that include the following:
- Copies of student teacher observations
- Attendance Sheet (completed by the cooperating teacher)
- Cooperating Teacher Self-Report (completed by the coooperating teacher)