From the first steps of student teaching to the first teaching position, Strategies for Successful Student Teaching is a complete guide for pre-service teachers. This book moves pre-service teachers through their practicum experiences sequentially, beginning with the question, “Why do you want to be a teacher?” It then progresses to the creation of a portfolio, tips for the job search, and a checklist for setting up a first classroom. The book has a hands-on approach, featuring practical activities that build on theory taught in methods courses and can be used in the field with college supervisors to strengthen the link between theory and practice. Each chapter begins with a lesson plan that serves as an overview for the chapter, and each plan is linked to teaching competencies and themes. This book is a comprehensive resource that offers a variety of activities and ACTions for each chapter, allowing student teachers and supervisors to choose activities that fit the context of the student teacher's placement. This book can be used with A Handbook of Techniques and Strategies for Coaching Student Teachers, 2/e, also written by Pelletier, as companion books either for the teacher working with the student teacher at the school site or the university supervisor. Although each book is designed to stand alone, together these books create a powerful set of tools that will enhance a teacher education program, provide a cohesive program that encourages communication, reflection, and many practical activities.

Table of Contents:
Each chapter begins with “Lesson Plan," “CONNECTions,” and “ACTions” sections and ends with “REFLECTions," “PORTFOLIO PREPARATION,” and “TIPS from TEACHERS.” I.PREPARING FOR THE PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE. 1.Teaching as a Professional Career Choice. Why Did I Choose Teaching? Documenting My Journey. Writing My Educational Philosophy. What Are My Professional Responsibilities? How Ready Am I? Student Teacher Profile. Materials for Student Teaching. How Will I Be Measured for Success? My Goals and Expectations for Practicum Experience. 2.Getting Started at the School. Meeting the Important People. Introductory Meeting with Cooperating Teacher. Initial Three-Way Conference with College Supervisor and Cooperating Teacher. Sample Letter of Introduction to Students. Sample Letter of Introduction to Parents. School Profile. Creating a Survival Packet. Observing the Cooperating Teacher. Observing an Individual Student. Observing a Small Group. Observing the Whole Class. Observing to Create. Observing Teaching and Learning Styles. Creating a Plan for Completing the Practicum. A 14 Week Guide to Organizing the Practicum. 3.Supervision during Student Teaching. Roles and Responsibilities. How Do I Like to Receive Feedback? What Is Everyone Looking For? What Is Supervision? Techniques and Strategies for Collecting Data. Cooperating Teacher and Supervisor Feedback and Support. Student Teacher Self Evaluation. Thoughts to Promote Reflection, Conversation, and Feedback. Self Supervision. Problems to Possibilities: Solving Common Student Teaching Problems. Creating and Working with Partners and Groups. Bridging the Gap between College and School. II.THE STUDENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE. 4.Creating a Positive Learning Environment for All Learners. Organizing the Physical Space in Your Classroom. Creating a Classroom Profile. Constructing a Sociogram. Establishing Routines and Why they Are Important. Rules, Rewards, and Consequences. Gaining and Maintaining Student Attention. Time Is on My Side. Creating a Community of Learners. 5.Lesson and Unit Planning for Successful Teaching and Learning. Teachers and Planning. What Should I Think about Before I Begin? What Does Ineffective Planning Look Like? Writing Teaching Objectives for Effective Lessons. Creating Lesson Plans from My Cooperating Teacher's Ideas. Time and Planning. Lesson Plans. Creating My Own Plan Book. General Guidelines for Designing a Unit. Planning for Understanding. 6.Instructional Strategies for Diverse Learners. Getting to Know Your Students. Learning Styles: How Do I Know? Teaching Styles: Which Do I Prefer? Giving Directions. Whole Class versus Small Group Instruction? Students with Special Needs. Using Instructional Materials to Enhance Teaching and Learning. Using Questions to Promote Thinking. Enrichment and Homework Strategies. The Role of Choice and Student Learning. Service Learning in the Classroom. 7.Assessing, Documenting, and Communicating Student Progress. How Are Your Students Assessed and Evaluated? Linking My Lesson Plan to My Assessment Instrument. Tapping Into Students' Prior Knowledge. Product and Process Assessment. Setting Priorities. Formative and Summative Assessments. Using Rubrics to Assess Performance. Authentic Assessment. Record Keeping Strategies. Student Self-Assessment. Communicating with Students. Communicating with Parents. 8.Classroom Discipline Issues. Current Practice at My School: How Does My Philosophy Compare? Questions to Think about When Disciplining a Student. Common Discipline Problems. Problems to Possibilities. When Is It Time to Seek Additional Support? How to Avoid Common Problems? 9.Completing the Practicum Experience. Comparing Where I Am Now to My First Impressions. Good-Byes and Thank-You's. Final Evaluation: The Summative Report. Cooperating Teacher Recommendation for Certification. Application for State Certification. My Evaluation of the Practicum Experience. Advice for Future Student Teachers. III.PREPARING FOR MY OWN CLASSROOM. 10.Creating Your Teacher Portfolio. Rewriting My Philosophy Statement. Organizing My Portfolio. What to Include: The Table of Contents. Sample Page Layouts for Portfolio. Creating an Executive Summary for Portfolio. Assessing My Portfolio. 11.The Search for a Teaching Position. Teaching Positions: Where to Find Them. The Application Process. The Interview. Preparing and Teaching a Demonstration Lesson. Selecting the District That's Right for Me. Signing a Contract. Accepting My First Teaching Position. 12.Lifelong Learning for a Career in Teaching. Resources for Professional Growth and Development. Expectations: What Can I Learn from Them? The Role of Mentor Teachers in My Development. Staying Connected to My Teacher Education Program. Professional Development Plan. Recertification. My Professional Goals and Aspirations.