Have you/ Would you take a student teacher in the very beginning of the year?

Or would you wait until further along in the year when you know the kids and the rules/procedures are established?

Re: Have you/ Would you take a student teacher in the very beginning of the year?

I was a student teacher at the beginning of a school year. I was grateful for the experience because it helped me learn how to establish a routine during the first week of school, an experience that I did not get while subbing. So if/when I have my own class I absolutely would.

Re: Have you/ Would you take a student teacher in the very beginning of the year?

No I would not take a student teacher at the beginning of the year. The only reason is because I am an ESL teacher and my schedule is not made until about 3 weeks in of when school starts. It would be a waste for a student teacher to be with me to watch me make a schedule and not get to work with kids. If I was a classroom teacher I think it would be a wonderful experience for a student teacher to be a part of the first days/weeks of school. :o)

Re: Have you/ Would you take a student teacher in the very beginning of the year?

I have and I would again.

I think it's great for the ST to be a part of establishing rules/routine aspect of teaching and it makes it much easier to transition to the ST teaching seeing that she's been there from the beginning. It helps the students respect the ST as another teacher, not just a ST.

Re: Have you/ Would you take a student teacher in the very beginning of the year?

I didn't have the greatest one but I did accept one from Sept-Oct and it was beneficial to me to have an extra set of hands setting up my classroom/ doing bulletin boards etc

It was good for her to see what needs to be done from the get-go

Re: Have you/ Would you take a student teacher in the very beginning of the year?

I've had student teachers in the fall and in the spring... there really isn't much of a difference except, as a previous poster mentioned, it's nice for him/her to be there to see how to set routines, and it enables the kids to see him/her as an authority figure from the get-go. (Personally, I liked setting things up myself, but I see how it's better for the ST in the fall.)

Re: Have you/ Would you take a student teacher in the very beginning of the year?

I have had both. I think it is easier for the student teacher in the fall because the students aren't attached to you yet (I teach HS). In the spring I feel they have a harder time because the kids are more likely to be resistant to change.

However I find it easier for ME to have one in the spring so I don't have to basically start over with my own class.

Re: Have you/ Would you take a student teacher in the very beginning of the year?

Re: Have you/ Would you take a student teacher in the very beginning of the year?

This was my second year doing so. This year was much more productive than last. It was a great help to me and I think my student teachers really learned a lot.