Problems in Student Teaching

Abstract

Currently, education schools across the nation are reforming teacher education programs in light of the newly developed common core standards, shifting accreditation principles, new measures of teacher performance, and the pressing concern that in-service teachers are woefully under-prepared for the realities of classrooms. During this time of wide spread programmatic reform, we present a list of considerations that are particularly germane to the clinical preparation of student teachers. Our list includes common practices that limit learning opportunities for student teachers and detract from the meaningfulness of assessing student teachers. We posit three approaches for education schools to consider as they engage in program revisions.