Information for Cooperating Teachers

Northern Illinois University works with many school districts in northern Illinois to provide the best possible student teaching experience for their Secondary Science Teaching candidates.

The three main criteria used to help identify sites and cooperating teachers for the field experience include:

1. The focus/orientation of the science program (i.e., does the program help students develop their understanding of science by using a standards based teaching protocol)? 
2. The professional experiences of the teacher (e.g. Does the teacher have more than 4 years of experience and/or is the teacher tenured within his/her school district? Is the teacher endorsed by the state of Illinois to teach science (biology, chemistry, geology and/or physics)?
3. Prior successful experiences in working with other field experience students or student teachers.

Forms and Links

Disposition Status Report Rubric

Midterm Evaluation Form

Final Evaluation Form

Exemplary Student Teaching Award

NIU Exit Survey

Student Teaching Handbook for Students