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Tupper Secondary: Student Teacher Training Program

by Elizabeth Leung - Tupper Secondary, Vancouver BC Jan 27, 2011
Have you ever wished you could critique your student teachers? For students at Sir Charles Tupper Secondary in Vancouver who answered "yes" to the question, have that chance thanks to teachers Mr. Lum, Mrs. Dong and and Mrs. Wong.
 
The three educators created the Student Teacher Training Program in the fall of 2007, giving students in grades 8-12 the opportunity to evaluate their student teachers for volunteer credit. “We wanted to include students in the education process itself,” says Mr. Lum. “Often times, the last people that we ask about education and schooling are the students. It seems to be ridiculous in that way.”
 
Meeting once a week, students plan workshops on classroom management and “keeping it cool” with the students, as well as other activities for UBC student teachers at Tupper.  As well, pairs of students are responsible for observing a student teacher three times throughout his or her practicum, once at the beginning, middle and end. Afterwards, the students give the student teacher feedback on their work, what they did well and what they need to improve or change about their approach and methods.
 
“I think that student teachers spend a lot of time getting advice, feedback and such from people who are well removed from being a student in a high school,” says Cade McMeekin, Tupper Secondary student who is currently volunteering in her second year of the Student Teacher Training Program. "Our age group has changed so much, so quickly that it’s really hard for people who aren’t apart of that to get a good idea of it,” she adds. With students being the experts on their peers, it is no wonder this program has been so successful.
 
Founding the program with the incentive to get students involved in the education process, the program has grown over the past three years with this year’s enrollment being over 25 students. The teacher sponsors hope that the program will evolve to becoming purely a student-led program to develop leadership in youth. Tupper also hopes to expand the program to other high schools so that other student teachers may benefit from the valuable student feedback the Student Teacher Training Program offers. 

 
Comments (2)
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Should be everyone

Submitted by mermaid63 on Mon, 07/04/2011 - 21:22.

It shouldn't just be student teachers asking their students for feedback. It should be all the teachers in the school, including the admin. From past experience, I can say that what they think works and is more efficient for students is not always the case.

I wish more schools are

Submitted by jhselenalin on Mon, 04/11/2011 - 16:45.

I wish more schools are following Sir Charles Tupper's lead. I can't agree more with the statement that so many new student teachers are not getting feedback from the actual receivers of education. Student teachers are generally pretty young and should still remember what high school was like, but it seems like a lot of times they're going by the book. I think this program actually motivates students significantly. More often than not, it feels like we have no control over what and how we learn, so getting that opportunity to speak up and actually cause a ripple is pretty awesome!

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