How Important is the Mentor Teacher to the Student Teacher?

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2. Introduction

a. Problem statement / Research problem (Question 2)

Over the course of their degree studies, student teachers gain valuable theorical knowledge of teaching without really understanding how this knowledge will be practically applied once they enter the classroom for the first time. This is why teaching practicals are of paramount importance: student teachers are afforded an opportunity to put their theory into practice within a controlled environment, under the supervision and guidance of a mentor teacher. Concomitantly, student teachers can contribute to school effectiveness as they bring new knowledge, fresh perspectives and enthusiasm into the classroom - if granted the opportunity to provide input. Process factors like classroom teaching and lesson planning are crucial to school effectiveness. The student teachers will have to learn how these process factors manifest in the classroom by observing their mentor teachers. Once the student teachers start practicing their skills in the classroom they will be in a better position to identify possible ways to contribute to school effectiveness, and may be afforded the opportunity to share their ideas.

b. Rationale (Question 4)

This purpose of the study is to address the issue of process factors in the school that influence school effectiveness; without these simple process factors the school and the classrooms cannot run efficiently. Another issue in this study related to the previous statement is to bring forward the issue of student teachers who only bring text book knowledge forward in the classroom with minimal if any teaching experience. This shows us the importance of the mentor teachers to guide these student teachers to find their feet in a classroom and...

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...he guidance of mentor teachers have on school effectiveness have proven in this essay to be two major contributors to effectiveness. Input factors are the people who make the school effective, process factors are the elements in the school that make it function and make it effective and the output factors is what the school uses to test the effectiveness of the process factors. Therefore without the process factors, being up to standard the school cannot function properly. Teachers are the sole reason behind making these process factors function efficiently in a school and without student teachers, the future teachers learning how to do the same with guidance of a mentor teacher in order for school to keep their high standards in the future and achieve school effectiveness. I WILL FIX THIS WHEN WE GET THE PROBLEM STATEMENT VERBALISED.

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