During the second semester, the Colorado College MAT candidate completes an internship experience in the classroom where the first semester student teaching was completed. With an official authorization from the Colorado Department of Education, this second semester internship authorizes the MAT candidate to assume full responsibility for the classroom; therefore, the role of the cooperating teacher changes dramatically during the second semester as he/she is able to assume another function of importance and impact within the school setting.

Ideally, the cooperating teacher moves out of the classroom. He/she has a desk in another area of the school and responsibilities that include

interactions with a wider range of students in the building. This physical move away from the classroom can have a very positive impact upon not only the MAT candidate as he/she assumes fully the responsibilities of the classroom teacher but also upon the cooperating teacher as he/she immerses him/herself in a new role at the grade or building level. Even if the cooperating teacher's second semester duties include some "teaming" with the MAT candidate and the original classroom of students during certain specified blocks of the day, his/her desk should ideally be in another area.

Becoming a Cooperating Teacher

The Department of Education at Colorado College works carefully to identify cooperating teachers who demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism and who wish to contribute to the teaching profession by working with preservice teachers. Cooperating teachers must complete the Cooperating Teacher Recommendation Form and the Cooperating Teacher Statement Form.

Recommendation Form for Cooperating Teachers

The Recommendation Form for Cooperating Teachers is completed by the teacher wishing to serve as a cooperating teacher for a MAT candidate. Building principals are also asked to complete the recommendation form to support the teacher's application.

Cooperating Teacher Statement Form

For teachers interested in serving as cooperating teachers for MAT candidates, this document allows the teacher to describe his/her specific strengths as a teacher as well as his/her description of the MAT candidate qualities they perceive to be important.

Download the Cooperating Teacher
Recommendation and Statement Forms

The following list outlines variations on the role of "teacher on special assignment" that cooperating teachers have assumed during the second semester; some can be combined to create the cooperating teacher's second semester role:
Be in charge of a school-wide literacy program Help in the preparation and implementation of all state and district reading tests and small reading groups for children who are on ILPs Continue role as Building CSAP Coordinator, working with Assistant Superintendent and District Learning Specialists Determine staff CSAP needs and provide small group instruction and CSAP preparation in intermediate reading, writing and math
Determine technology scope and sequence needs and provide on-going technology supportModel Step-Up to Writing instruction for all grade levels Assist Principal with a variety of administrative tasks (as a result of having a professional principal license) to include: assuming the role of principal when the principal is out of the building, evaluating non-probationary teachers, and attending leadership meetings Work with the Exemplars Math Program (as a part of the completion of a grant) to provide staff development in the use of Exemplars in the classroom Act as a reading infusion teacher in the classroom and as a second grade support teacher in areas of literacy Tutor third and fourth grade students in writing, spelling, and math Serve as building arts infusion teacher (K-5) to create and teach art and drama lessons that augment the grade level curriculum Become the science resource teacher for all grade levels; serve as a "specials" teacher to conduct science instruction according to district curriculumServe as a "specials" or resource teacher to conduct foreign language instruction for all grade levels Become a technology support teacher in a lab setting to individualize instruction

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