A brief tour of the school plant, including such important sites as the cafeteria, the teacher's lounge, and the location of rest rooms is beneficial. To alleviate some initial concerns, the supervising teacher should give the intern copies of all materials the students will be using, including teacher tests and resource lists. Having the materials in hand makes it easier for the intern. Being able to observe the supervising teacher in actual teaching situations is the second greatest aid to quiet the anxieties of the intern. Offering the interns the opportunity to observe the other classrooms in the school tends to make them feel more at home in the school and see themselves as an integral part of the total school picture.
Planning is critical.
The intern may not yet be aware that the secret to being a successful teacher is effective planning. The supervising teacher should explain this point, demonstrating just how important planning really is to the success of the teaching act. Sharing current lesson plans also help. It is reassuring to the intern if the supervising teacher can, on the very first visit, confer and make tentative written plans for the entire term. Such plans do not have to be detailed, but they can give some closure that would make the intern feel more comfortable.