Building Alignment Between Student Teaching Placements and Teacher Preparation Programs Through In-the-Moment Coaching Triads

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 9:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Coaching, Mentoring, and Professional Learning: Collective Support in Teacher Preparation

Abstract

There is often a disconnect between what pre-service teachers learn in their teacher preparation programs and what they experience at their student teaching placement sites. Such misalignment may counter teacher preparation programs’ efforts to foster more equitable learning opportunities. This study seeks to understand how in-the-moment coaching triads, consisting of a university coach, pre-service student teacher, and cooperating teacher, support professional learning and build greater alignment between teacher preparation programs and placement sites. Through qualitative analysis of coaching sessions, findings revealed the focus of the majority of coaching episodes aligned to to the field’s understanding of equitable instruction, thereby building alignment. Findings also suggest particular coaching interactions have potential to build greater alignment, such as private conferrals, modeling, and interjections.

Authors

• Kathy Liu Sun, Santa Clara University

• Kathleen Jablon Stoehr, Santa Clara University