How to Build a Good Relationship With Your Co-Operating Teacher

Get Their Contact Information Straight Away

To get started on a good foot, be proactive and ask for their contact information. This could be a phone number, or more likely an email address. This way you can contact them when you cannot get to speak to them in school when things are hectic (a.k.a all of the time). Any small problems or questions you have can be sorted out through this, such as curriculum plans or which topics they want you to cover next, etc.

Now, of course this does not mean you should contact them at any time. Please do be respectful of their home life. No one wants to receive a text a 10pm at night.

Ask to Observe Some of Their Classes

Observing classes is more than likely a requirement from your university. However, asking to sit in on your co-operating teacher’s classes now and again shows you are being proactive about your teaching journey and trying to learn as much as possible during your placement.

During these observation classes, you will learn a lot about class pacing, resources, and classroom management.

Ask If You Can Help Out With Anything They Need

Asking to help out your co-operating teacher shows initiative. It helps you and your co-operating teacher out. For example, you could ask do they need help with exam corrections, these can be Christmas or summer exams, or mock state exams.

Another example of this can be helping out with any clubs they are running in the school. Again, this benefits both your co-operating teaching you and. Your co-operating teaching will definitely benefit from the help, while it also helps students in the school see you as a ‘real’ teacher in the school.

Ask Your Co-Operating Teacher For Help

That is what they are there for! Do not hesitate to ask your co-operating teacher for help. At the start of your student teaching journey, you are probably quite overwhelmed with your lesson plans, classroom pacing, and classroom management. Try and sit down with them once a week or once every two weeks for any queries you have in relation to your teaching.

Again, this shows that you are pro-active and want to learn the most you can during your placement.

Ask Your Co-Operating Teacher to Observe Your Class Every Now and Again.

Now, your co-operating teacher may do this at the start for a few weeks to ease you in if you are a first-year student teacher. However, the majority of co-operating teacher and principals will throw you into the deep end into the classes. It can be quite good to have your co-operating teacher come in every few weeks to observe your classes and give you any pointers to help improve.

This shows your co-operating teaching you are willing to learn as much as you can and allows you to improve in your teaching practices.

Share Your Resources

Your co-operating teaching will more than likely share any resources they have if you ask for any help. However, you will probably find that you will be creating a whole host of resources to aid your teaching. Share them with your co-operating teacher. It is a set of new eyes and ideas which they will probably love to encounter- It is part of being a co-operating teacher.

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