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Student Teaching
Teachers College, Columbia University
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Student Teaching

Student Teachers Introduction

The student teaching experience provides preservice teachers the space and opportunityto learn how to ask important questions about teaching and learning, come to know children and adolescents by observing and interacting with them consistently over time, apply newly acquired knowledge, theories, strategies and models in a variety of contexts within and across classrooms, and experiment with, design and adapt practice according to learners' needs.


During the student teaching experience, preservice teachers are guided and instructed by two key individuals - the cooperating or mentor teacher, and the university supervisor. While both work collaboratively to support the growth and development of the student teacher, each assumes a very specific role.