Suggested Coaching Techniques for Cooperating Teachers

  • Familiarizes him/herself with and employs the Teacher Performance Expectations (TPEs) as the criteria for measuring a teacher credential candidate’s progress.
  • Incorporates and empowers the teacher credential candidate as a part of a classroom environment that is conducive to learning.
  • Encourages the teacher credential candidate to be reflective in the process of expanding their skills. Cooperating Teacher employs the three (3) question debrief:
    • “What do you think worked well?”
    • “To improve the lesson, what would you do differently?”
    • “How can I help you with that?”
  • Uses probing questions such as, “Did the transition to independent work go as smoothly as you would have liked?” “Why do you think some students were confused?”
  • Phrases suggestions and/or recommendations as, “You might consider…”, “Another way to do this might be …” Or “Something that works for me is…” Rather than, “You need to do it this way!”
  • Uses specific examples when providing written feedback.
  • Assists teacher credential candidates in identifying strengths and weaknesses.