For nearly 100 years, alumni from the University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education have created exceptional learning opportunities for children and youth. Applying research-based methods, our teachers are prepared with the skills and expertise to educate diverse groups of students and advance our vision of building just and equitable societies through education.
Will you help us in preparing teachers who are capable of—and committed to—providing a powerful education for all students in our world by serving as a mentor teacher?
What does it mean to serve as a mentor teacher?
Mentor teachers share their knowledge of teaching and learning and provide a forum for teaching interns to begin to see themselves as future educators. Because field experiences provide structured opportunities to try new teaching practices, mentor teachers often will observe teaching that is not yet well-developed. Working in collaboration with the program, particularly field instructors, mentor teachers’ continual guidance and modeling are essential for helping interns move beyond their early capabilities.
In the practicum semesters
In the beginning, teaching interns are classified as practicum teaching interns. As a result, the program expects you, with guidance from the field instructor, to provide ever-increasing kinds of involvement with the 6-12 students in your classroom for the teaching intern(s). This may take the form of being provided with opportunities for observing students in the learning environment, working with students individually and in small groups, and gaining experience planning and teaching lessons.
In the student teaching semester(s)
Mentor teachers work closely with field instructors to stage the intern’s immersion into full engagement in, and responsibility for, classroom instruction. Mentor teachers also shepherd the intern’s opportunities to interact with members of the school’s wider community. Mentor teachers are asked to help teaching interns access other ways of learning, such as observing other teachers, meeting administrators, conducting a school tour, and introducing the teaching interns to school faculty and staff, including technology and special education consultants/professional support.
All mentor teachers are asked to provide “protected” time on a regular basis to meet with the intern and discuss essential matters of classroom life, such as individual student learners, planning, instructional effectiveness, assessment development and results, and curricular issues.
What are the benefits of serving as a mentor teacher?
Besides participating in the development of interns, which mentor teachers often identify as the greatest benefit, you are also entitled to the following benefits from the university:
- An honorarium, from $100-$500, to be paid to you at the end of the semester(s) to acknowledge the important work you do as a mentor teacher.
- The option of obtaining, per state guidelines, 15-25 State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) for the semester(s) for your work with our teaching intern(s).
- A U-M Visitor ID Card, which will qualify you for free entry to athletic events (does not include men’s football, basketball, or hockey), the option to purchase a pass to Central and North Campus Recreation Buildings (which is usually reserved for U-M students, faculty, and staff), campus bookstore discounts, and a variety of other benefits as detailed on the U-M Visitor ID Card Information website.
What are the requirements to serve as a mentor teacher?
- Your school must be within 45 miles of the Marsal Family School of Education.
- Your teaching assignment must be within grades 6-12 and one or more of the following content areas: English, world languages, social studies, science, and mathematics.
- Any teacher fitting these basic qualifications may apply. If the Educator Preparation Program leadership team identifies you as a potential mentor (based on your application) your administration will then have to approve of your participation as a mentor teacher (please note that some districts have specific qualifications for serving as a mentor teacher).