Meet with the student teacher after having familiarized yourself with her resume, educational background and other pertinent information. Ask her about her expectations and goals for the semester, her expectations of her working relationship with you and how she sees your role in the relationship. Share your thoughts, expectations and what you have to offer her. Create a work plan to begin the semester. Provide her with textbooks and other resources she will need to plan and teach her first lesson.
Introduce the student teacher to the class, and give them 15 minutes for a short question and answer session. Have her assist with small tasks on the first day, such as handing out papers, grading assignments and observing the class. At the end of the day, discuss the class and her impressions. Assign her two to three lessons to be taught within the week, and plan out the lesson. Provide encouragement for the things she does correctly.
Observe the lessons she presents to the class, and take notes on areas that she does well and areas that need improvement. Ask her for feedback on the lesson before you share your comments. Affirm and encourage her best efforts, before moving to areas needing improvement. Create a plan for improvement. Finish the interview by reviewing specific steps for the next lesson.
Provide her more opportunities to create her own lessons and take more responsibility in the classroom. Provide detailed feedback at least once each week that includes specific praise for improvement and opportunities for growth. Work together on areas you both identify as needing improvement. Model appropriate behavior so she sees what kind of tools and strategies you look for during evaluations.
Work closely with the school district's staff and make communication a priority. Express your concerns and your praise to them directly. Point out areas that may need remediation, if necessary. Keep the student teacher aware of these issues and work together for improvement. Honesty and specifics in communication allow for the best growth opportunities.