Recent policy and scholarly reports, accreditation agencies' guidelines, and professional association efforts have called for teacher preparation programs to incorporate more frequent and rigorous clinical experiences. Directing three elementary and secondary education programs in two states, we recognized that one reason they--and perhaps other…

The aim of this study was to investigate the cooperative teachers' supervision for effective mathematics teaching from the perspective of elementary student teachers during their field experiences. The participants were 259 senior elementary education majors (189 female and 70 male) who were enrolled in practicum courses at a Turkish university.…

Practicum experiences, a crucial component of preservice teacher preparation, help establish the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for beginning special education teachers (SETs). Preservice SETs need cooperating teachers (CTs) who support preservice SETs in proper emotional development (i.e., feeling like a teacher), who can model and…

The cooperating teacher's ability to effectively support the professional development and training of student teachers during the field experience may be impacted by the level of support and guidance they receive. This qualitative single-case study was designed to explore the relationship between the cooperating teachers and one university…

To improve the quality of its teacher education program, the university strengthened its partnership with schools where its students obtained student teaching experience. The qualities of effective cooperating teachers, a selection guide for faculty associates, and the benefits of college school cooperation are described. (JL)

Compared two groups of preservice teachers participating in a field experience based on cooperating/mentor teachers' supervisory practice. Both groups received traditional orientation to student teaching and supervision. The experimental group's teachers had received in-depth training in supervision using the Praxis III/Pathwise framework. Results…

Investigated the preparation cooperating teachers received and experiences they desired as evaluators of early field experience students. Interviews with cooperating teachers, university supervisors, and elementary field experience directors indicated that though preparation was not mandatory, respondents endorsed introductory meetings at which…

This report describes the Collaborative Yearlong Teaching Experience (CYTE), an extensive 1-year internship program that promotes a coaching/mentoring model of preservice education and professional job-embedded staff development in Broward County, Florida. This student teacher program is intended to help preservice teachers meet the demands of the…

This study investigated perceptions of cooperating teachers, university supervisors, and early field experience directors who were involved in supervising and evaluating preservice elementary teachers. It also addressed whether cooperating teachers and university supervisors were properly trained to be evaluators. Eight cooperating teachers, eight…

This paper describes a recent collaboration between a public university teacher education preparation program, a large urban school district, and a neighboring suburban school district. It highlights the professional experiences of teacher education interns who entered the field from prior professions or training. Candidates were immersed in an…

The Fitchburg (Massachusetts) State College Education Department has collaborated with 38 cooperating teachers from 22 schools in central Massachusetts to develop a clinical mentor program as a component of a new Master's Degree in Education. In addition to the comprehensive clinical mentor component, the program integrates theory, research, and…

The overall goal of the Working Together towards Excellence in Teacher Education (WTTETE) program is to improve the quality of field-based experiences of teacher education students by improving the supervisory skills of the college and school professionals who supervise and coordinate those experiences. The program is a joint project of the Hawaii…

This paper describes the experiences of several individuals involved in the initial stages of orchestrating a school-university partnership. A group of elementary teachers, a student teacher, a cooperating teacher, a university faculty member, and a coordinator of school-university partnerships participated in the experience and shared their views…

"Partners Transforming Education: School-University-Community," is a project of the Wright State University College of Education and Human Services (Ohio). The model brings together representatives of the PreK-12 sector, the university at large, and the community to work collaboratively in building a program that will prepare more…