Student teaching started good, but after spring break my mentor teacher started talking to me condescendingly, bashing my classroom management skills and is just over short with me when I try to talk to them. My classroom management skills could use some work, but they keep acting like I’m doing an awful job. I had the instructional coach watch a few lessons and she said I was doing fine and gave me some more helpful feedback and even taught some lessons in other classrooms and they said I was doing a great job. Now my mentor teacher has been contacting my advisor on how awful I’m doing and setting up a meeting to give me a support plan. I only have two weeks left. Should I be worried that she will keep me from graduating?
The only thing that changed is that now I’m pretty anxious around them. My evaluations were good, I make good connections with the students and I’m prepared with the teaching material. I’m definitely having other teachers write about my performance, thank you!
Just ask for a letter and say it’s for a project. Save them bad boys for when you do apps later
God I wish I would’ve done this
This sounds really frustrating What you're describing lacks specific feedback. Is there any? That might help here too. It's hard to give real advice without knowing exactly what's going on. Needing help on classroom management is a wide range.
I’ve been told to work on transitioning, I have gotten tips from other teachers on implementing different strategies and have tried them. I think this all boils down to I’m not running the classroom the exact way she is and when I try, it’s not good enough.
If that's it this seems unfair. Transitioning is one of the toughest things to learn. Your mentor should know and remember this. However, they may be frustrated that what they taught is going to have to be retaught. But that's what they signed up for.
For what it's worth...
My most successful method of transitioning was to use a program like Class Dojo. I would pull it out on my phone and award points to students who were doing the right thing. I always used the random button to make things fair. Billy is in their seat when their name comes up? Yay. They get a point. Sammy isn't? Aww shucks. No point. But I bet you get it next time. I had my points tied to progressive rewards that made kids want to get them. I actually moved up several grade levels years ago. I'm just getting those kids again. They still tell me how much they liked those silly rewards.
Does anyone know if there's some sort of interview process for mentors? Some of them should really be assessed before-hand.
If possible, I would ask your university for a new supervising teacher. I had some similar things happen to me with my first placement. I didn't realize that she sent the nastiest email even to my university supervisor even complaining about the program. It wasn't worth it to put up with all of the mess. You are a brand new teacher trying to better yourself. You're not supposed to be a master. No one is ever going to be a master to be honest. I'm so glad there are others in the school who are encouraging and helping you. This seems to be a her problem. The only positive thing I can tell you is that you are learning what is not acceptable.
Unfortunately, I can’t switch. I have only two weeks left and I actually switched to this teacher because the last mentor teacher was discriminating against my hearing loss.
Did anything change? How were your evaluations prior? Can you have the instructional coach and other teachers write letters about your performance?