Road Trip! Let’s Visit Potential Student Teaching Sites!

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Stop 1: Planning the Visit 

The first step in conducting a potential student teaching site visit is reaching out to the cooperating teacher. I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous to send the first email, since first impressions are everything after all. I did my research to see what each school had to offer and carefully wrote each email, eager to get a response. After I got a few responses that I could come into their schools and visit, I had to write them into my calendar, email my professors that I would be missing the day, and prepare my questions for each site visit. 

 


Stop 2: The Visit 


What a time I had at each of the sites I visited! Each potential student teaching site I visited had something unique to offer, and since I have not really seen any other school-based agricultural education programs besides my own, I really enjoyed seeing the diversity of each program. At each site I visited, I tried to imagine myself teaching there and being part of the school for 15 weeks. It hit me pretty hard during my first site visit that I will actually be teaching at one of the sites I visit! I asked each cooperating teacher a variety of questions to get to know them and their program better, took detailed notes, and talked to as many students and teachers as possible. It was really important for me to be proactive while doing my site visits, because I wanted to feel as comfortable as possible going back to each school, after all, that could be where I will be placed for my student teaching internship! 

 

A map of the cooperating sites I visited around Pennsylvania



Stop 3: Reflection 


Every program I visited offered me a new perspective on the lives of agriculture teachers in Pennsylvania and their students. With that being said, I had to have an open mind while doing my site visits and not go into the schools with preconceived notions based on what my program was like. In fact, I really enjoyed seeing the differences between each program! When it came time for me to reflect on each site I visited, I thought about things like school climate, FFA involvement, courses offered, and my connection with the cooperating teacher.  

 


Stop 4: Getting My Cooperating Center Placement 


In the upcoming weeks, I will be getting placed at one of the three sites I visited in the past month and a half! It is so exciting to think that I will be placed at the perfect cooperating center for me and finally start planning for my student teaching experience! Everything is coming together in the most exciting way, and I am so happy I get to share this journey with all of you. 

 




Thank you for your endless support, 

Ms. Cusate 

 

 

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