Information on Becoming a Cooperating Teacher

All students seeking teaching certification from UW–Madison are required to complete at least one pre-student teaching practicum and at least one full semester of student teaching.

Pre-Student Teaching Practicum

The pre-student teaching practicum gives students firsthand knowledge of the classroom environment and the teacher's role. For many students, the practicum is the initial encounter with the real world of teaching. Consequently, practicum students do not assume the degree of classroom responsibility they do during student teaching. Under the supervision of an experienced teacher, practicum students observe classroom activities, assist the teacher with day-to-day classroom management tasks, interact one-to-one with students, and instruct small groups. Some students use the practicum to determine the appropriateness of teaching as a career. The cooperating teacher and university supervisor use the practicum to assess the student's readiness for the student teaching experience. Teachers accepting practicum students need not meet the state regulations for working with student teachers.

If you are interested in being a cooperating teacher for practicum students, please click on this link and provide the requested information. Your name will then be submitted to your principal for approval. Once approval has been obtained you will receive an email requesting that you set-up your "teacher page." The on-line teacher page allows you to provide information for university program coordinators to use when making the most appropriate matches for students and cooperating teachers.

Student Teaching Experience

Student teaching, the culminating field experience, is a full-time, school district semester assignment that places a university student under the guidance of an experienced, qualified cooperating teacher. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction requires that cooperating teachers working with student teachers

1. hold a Wisconsin license and have volunteered for assignment as a cooperating teacher or practicum supervisor.

2. have at least 3 years of teaching experience with at least one year of teaching experience in the school or school system of current employment or have at least 3 years of pupil service or administrator experience with one year in the school or school system of current employment.

3. have completed training in both the supervision of clinical students and in the applicable teacher education standards.

The School of Education provides the following support services to teachers who wish to become qualified as cooperating teachers.

1. A three-credit graduate course offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Curric 860 Supervision in Teacher Education. The course is usually offered every summer. This option is available for teachers wishing to continue their graduate study or for teachers who wish to take course work as a university special student. Note that the course is required for all teachers interested in working as cooperating teachers with the Elementary Education program. Teachers who enroll in this course and agree to work with UW-Madison School of Education teacher preparation programs as cooperating teachers are eligible for tuition reimbursement. Tuition reimbursement does not include the Segregated Fees portion of the payment. Reimbursement will be forthcoming upon course completion and notification by the Bursar's Office that the teacher is eligible. Participants will be reimbursed at the undergraduate/special student tuition rate only; individuals choosing to take the course as a graduate student will be liable for the difference between undergraduate/special student and graduate student tuition. Course registration requires the consent of the instructor (usually Professor Carl Grant, 608-263-6586). Teachers registering as special (non-degree) students apply to the Division of Continuing Studies. Participating teachers must register through the campus's web-based enrollment system once they receive information from the Registrar's Office. See the UW-Madison homepage for access to the Timetable of courses.

2. An on-line workshop on the supervision of student teachers. This on-line workshop is offered each semester by staff from Education Academic Services at no cost to participants. The on-line workshop takes approximately eight hours to complete and is followed by a two hour face-to-face seminar. Call 262-3773 for more information. Note: Teachers wishing to work with the Elementary Education program must enroll in Curric 860 (see above) and cannot be qualified through this workshop.

3. Seminars for cooperating teachers conducted by faculty members responsible for student teaching programs. The seminar is considered temporary qualification until a teacher can enroll in and complete a workshop or course.

Comments or Problems: easinfo@education.wisc.edu.
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