Coach in the Corner
Frustrated by the lack of feedback from her TA, Elle reaches out to her UC, Mariko, and they decide to meet up at Tim Hornton's to discuss what to do.
Mariko
University Consultant
Elle
Grade 2
Lonebrook Charter School
Major : ELA ED
UC : Mariko
FRIDAY, WEEK 2
Elle slammed the door, dropped her teaching bag, and burst into tears. Her TA barely paid attention to her.
“If I’m doing a terrible job, just tell me,” she said to her empty apartment. “Don’t just muse about it all by yourself!”
After twenty-minutes of angry-cleaning her kitchen, she was thinking clearly enough to text her UC. Mariko had made it clear from the beginning that she wanted her student teachers to see her as a coach, cheerleader…somebody they can trust…somebody they can spill their guts to…someone they can go to for help.
Terrible day, she texted. I feel like my TA thinks I’m an idiot, but he doesn’t give me any feedback at all. Suggestions?
After a few texts back and forth, Mariko sent: Would you like to meet sometime tomorrow?
SATURDAY, WEEK 2
In a booth at Tim Horton’s, Mariko calmly stirred honey into her tea while Elle vented.
“I just don’t know if I’m doing a good job or not,” Elle said. “Adrian doesn’t give me any feedback at all. It’s like he’s just going through the motions as a TA but doesn’t care about my teaching at all. If I’m that bad, at least tell me how to improve.”
Mariko primly set down her tea and cautioned Elle about being professional. “We’re not going to have a conversation saying that this TA is not doing what [he] is supposed to be doing, in terms of making a bad judgement. We’re just saying, ‘This is what’s not happening.’ So how [can] we work together to make it happen?”
“[I] actually started writing a letter to [him], like an email just saying these are the things I need you to help me with.”
“Do you have it with you?”
She pulled out her laptop and showed Mariko, using her as a sounding board as they made edits together.
“Take a deep breath,” Mariko encouraged her, “and just think about it for a moment—not from an emotional or exhausted point of view. Just [take] a break and step back and get a clear picture of things.”
The tea was finished and the coffee cold before the email was ready to send.
MONDAY, WEEK 3
Adrian didn’t acknowledge the email.
Elle had checked her inbox obsessively for the rest of the weekend, anxiety growing when no reply came. Maybe she’d overstepped. She could’ve waited to have a conversation in person—or she could’ve just put up with it for the rest of the practicum. But with Mariko’s edits and encouragement, it felt like a professional step to take at the time…
Now the students had gone home, Elle still hadn’t worked up the courage to bring up the email, and Adrian was packing up to head home himself. Clearly, he didn’t intend to stay for a debrief.
Elle ground her teeth together. What was the point of wasting her Saturday afternoon then? She should just ask Mariko to talk to him. There [are] so many things that…a quick conversation from someone from the university can fix.
But as Adrian pulled his bag over her shoulder, he passed her a few pages scrawled with his writing.
"You're such a strong student teacher that I didn't think you needed the same kind of support I've given to my previous students. I didn't realize you were feeling insecure about your teaching." He passed her the pages as he walked to the door. "Here's some feedback, if you have questions, we can talk about them tomorrow."