Characteristics

This study examined the responses of elementary and secondary level student teachers and cooperating teachers to questions about characteristics of effective cooperative teachers. Data were collected over 2 years and analyzed separately for the elementary and secondary education levels. Overall, both groups of student teachers unanimously agreed that the four most important characteristics of effective cooperating teachers were providing helpful feedback and guidance, sharing files and ideas, allowing the freedom to try new things, and providing a positive and supportive environment. Elementary level student teachers mentioned feedback and sharing of files and ideas nearly twice as often as did secondary level student teachers. Both groups of student teachers also mentioned the importance of professional modeling and a caring attitude. Cooperating teachers consistently cited the same major characteristics as did the student teachers. These results suggest that there is substantial agreement on the four characteristics that effective cooperating teachers must possess. (Contains 27 references.) (SM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document