Everything you need to prepare for your student teaching placement, from paperwork and mentor relationships to lesson planning, classroom management, and building your teaching portfolio.
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Complete Pre-Placement Requirements
Confirm your placement school, grade level, and cooperating teacher assignment
Your university typically assigns placements 2-4 months in advance. Contact your placement coordinator immediately if you have not received your assignment 8 weeks before the start date. Know your cooperating teacher's name, email, and school phone number before your first day.
Complete all required background checks and clearances
Most states require a criminal background check, child abuse clearance, and FBI fingerprint check for student teachers. These take 2-6 weeks to process and cost $50-$100 total. Some school districts require additional district-level clearances. Start this process 3 months before your placement begins.
Submit proof of current TB test and immunization records to the school district
A TB test result is valid for 12 months in most states. Schedule the test at least 4 weeks before placement because results take 48-72 hours and you may need follow-up testing. Some districts also require proof of flu vaccination during flu season. Check with the school nurse's office for exact requirements.
Verify your liability insurance coverage through your university or a professional association
Your university's policy may cover you during student teaching, but verify the specifics. If not, professional teaching associations offer student memberships for $30-$50 per year that include $1 million in liability coverage. Do not enter a classroom without confirmed coverage.
Complete any required orientation sessions at the placement school
Many schools require a half-day orientation covering building procedures, emergency protocols, and technology systems. Ask about parking, building entry procedures, and where to find the copier and teacher workroom. Knowing these basics on day one lets you focus on teaching instead of logistics.
Build Your Relationship with Your Cooperating Teacher
Schedule an introductory meeting with your cooperating teacher before the first day
Email your cooperating teacher 3-4 weeks before your start date to introduce yourself and ask for a 30-minute meeting. Bring a notebook and ask about classroom routines, curriculum pacing, and their expectations for you. First impressions set the tone for the entire 12-16 week relationship.
Ask about the classroom management system and behavioral expectations
Learn the existing reward and consequence system before trying to implement your own ideas. Ask what the most common behavioral issues are and how your cooperating teacher handles them. Following the established system for the first 4 weeks builds credibility before you suggest any changes.
Request copies of the curriculum map, pacing guide, and upcoming unit plans
Having the curriculum map lets you prepare weeks in advance rather than scrambling the night before each lesson. Ask which units you will be expected to teach independently. Most student teachers take over full responsibility for 1-2 subjects by week 6-8 of their placement.
Discuss the timeline for gradually taking over teaching responsibilities
A typical progression is: observe for 1-2 weeks, co-teach one subject for weeks 3-4, teach 2-3 subjects independently for weeks 5-10, and take over the full day for weeks 11-14. Discuss this timeline explicitly so both you and your cooperating teacher have matching expectations.
Prepare Your Teaching Materials
Study the textbooks and curriculum materials for your assigned subjects
Read through the units you will teach before the semester begins. Note where the curriculum builds on prior knowledge so you can assess what students already know. Spending 10-15 hours reviewing materials before your placement starts saves you 2-3 hours of preparation per week once classes begin.
Create lesson plan templates in your university's required format
Most programs require detailed lesson plans with objectives, standards alignment, procedures, differentiation strategies, and assessment. Create a reusable template on your computer with all sections pre-labeled. Having the template ready means you spend time on content rather than formatting for each new lesson.
Prepare a personal teaching supply kit
Pack a bag with pens, markers, sticky notes, a timer, a clipboard, index cards, and a USB drive. Include a professional-looking lanyard for your school ID. Bring a lunch and snacks because student teachers rarely have time to leave the building. Budget $30-$50 for supplies your school does not provide.
Review your state's teaching standards for your grade level and subject area
Every lesson plan must align to specific state standards. Download the standards document and highlight the ones relevant to your upcoming units. Your university supervisor will check for standards alignment in every observed lesson. Having the standards memorized makes planning 2-3 times faster.
Plan for Classroom Management
Learn every student's name within the first 3 days
Using seating charts and name tents helps. Take a photo of the seating chart on your phone for quick reference. Students respond 60% better to behavioral redirections when you use their name. Practice names by reviewing the class roster with faces before each class period.
Develop 3-5 positive reinforcement strategies to use daily
Specific praise works better than generic praise. Say 'I like how table 3 cleaned up in under 2 minutes' instead of 'Good job.' Aim for a 4:1 ratio of positive to corrective interactions. Keep a tally in your planner during the first week to measure your ratio and adjust.
Practice your teacher voice: clear, calm, and projected
Stand in an empty classroom and practice giving instructions at full projection without yelling. Your voice should reach the back row easily. Record yourself on your phone and listen back for clarity and pace. Speaking 10-15% slower than your normal pace improves student comprehension significantly.
Plan how you will handle common disruptions before they happen
Write out your planned response for talking out of turn, arriving late, not having materials, and refusing to work. Having a script in your head prevents emotional reactions in the moment. The most effective responses are brief, consistent, and private. Never argue with a student in front of the class.
Prepare for Observations and Evaluations
Review the evaluation rubric your university supervisor will use
Your supervisor evaluates you using a standard rubric with 10-20 criteria. Read every criterion and its descriptors for each performance level. Focus on meeting 'proficient' in all areas rather than 'distinguished' in some and 'developing' in others. Even scores across all criteria look better than uneven performance.
Schedule formal observation dates with your university supervisor early
Most programs require 4-8 formal observations spread across the semester. Schedule these for lessons you feel confident about. Give your supervisor the lesson plan at least 24 hours in advance. Formal observations of new lessons or challenging classes are risky and stressful for no added benefit.
Start collecting materials for your teaching portfolio from day one
Save exemplary lesson plans, student work samples (with names removed), assessment data showing student growth, and photos of your classroom. You will need 10-15 portfolio artifacts by the end of your placement. Gathering them as you go takes 5 minutes per week versus 15+ hours at the end.
Request written feedback from your cooperating teacher weekly
Ask for brief written notes after each lesson you teach independently. A weekly 10-minute debrief where your cooperating teacher shares 2 strengths and 1 area for growth accelerates your development faster than waiting for formal evaluations. Keep all written feedback in your portfolio.
Take Care of Yourself
Set boundaries for your work hours and protect personal time
Student teaching consumes 50-60 hours per week between school time and evening planning. Set a hard stop time each night, even if your lesson plan is not perfect. Burnout peaks around weeks 6-8. A good-enough lesson plan delivered by a rested teacher outperforms a perfect plan delivered by an exhausted one.
Plan your meals and sleep schedule for the semester
Prepare lunches the night before because you will not have time in the morning. Get 7-8 hours of sleep consistently. Student teachers who sleep fewer than 6 hours report 40% more classroom management difficulties the following day. Your energy level directly affects your classroom presence.
Build a support network of fellow student teachers
Connect with 3-4 peers in your cohort who are also student teaching. Schedule a weekly video call or text thread to share successes, vent frustrations, and trade resources. Isolation is the biggest emotional challenge of student teaching because you are the only learner in a building of professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a typical student teaching placement?
Most student teaching placements last 12-16 weeks (one full semester). Some programs split the experience into two 8-week placements at different grade levels or school types. During the first 2-3 weeks, you observe and co-teach, gradually taking over more classes. By weeks 5-6, you are expected to lead all instruction independently. The final weeks include a gradual handback of classes to your cooperating teacher. Full-day attendance (7 AM - 4 PM) is required for the entire placement.
Do student teachers get paid?
In most traditional programs, student teachers are unpaid. This is the biggest financial challenge of teacher preparation. About 15-20% of programs offer a small stipend ($1,000-$5,000 for the semester). Some states (like Tennessee and Mississippi) have paid residency models where student teachers earn $10,000-$15,000. Working a part-time job during student teaching is extremely difficult due to the time demands. Plan to save 3-6 months of living expenses beforehand or explore federal student loans to cover the gap.
What if my cooperating teacher and I have different teaching styles?
This is common and can be valuable. Observe their methods for the first 2 weeks before introducing your own approach. When you take over, you can adapt your style as long as you maintain the classroom expectations students are used to. Discuss differences openly and respectfully. If fundamental conflicts arise (like disagreement over student discipline), speak with your university supervisor who serves as a mediator. About 5-10% of placements involve significant style conflicts, and your supervisor can facilitate a resolution or, in rare cases, arrange a transfer.
What should I include in my student teaching portfolio?
Include 3-5 complete lesson plans with student work samples and your reflections on what worked. Add 2-3 formal observation reports from your cooperating teacher and university supervisor. Include a classroom management plan, a unit plan showing instructional progression, evidence of differentiation for diverse learners, and 1-2 examples of assessments you designed. Most programs also require a philosophy of education statement (1-2 pages). Organize everything digitally with clear labels so you can share it during job interviews.
Can student teaching lead directly to a job offer?
Yes. About 30-40% of student teachers receive a job offer from their placement school or district. Principals and department heads observe you for an entire semester, which is the longest interview possible. Treat every day as a job interview: arrive early, dress professionally, attend staff meetings, and volunteer for extra duties. Ask your cooperating teacher and principal if you can formally apply to any openings. Even if no positions exist, the recommendation letter from a cooperating teacher who watched you teach for 14 weeks is the strongest reference you can get.