Overview

Skills and Behaviors for Student Teaching: A Progress Monitoring Approach is an interactive textbook designed to elevate the student teaching experience. With reflective activities, goal-setting tools, and practical strategies, this book highlights evidence-based practices across three essential units that contribute to success in today’s classrooms. It serves as a trusted companion for teacher candidates as they navigate the rewarding—and sometimes challenging—journey of student teaching. Focusing on self-care, classroom management, and collaboration, this resource empowers future educators to track growth, set purposeful goals, and build habits that lead to confident, effective teaching. Each chapter features storylines from student teachers facing real-world challenges, along with goals that model how to strengthen practice. Readers will also find resources for integrating technology and culturally responsive approaches. More than a textbook, this guide provides encouragement, structure, and accountability. It supports teacher candidates as they grow into reflective, resilient, and collaborative educators prepared to thrive in the classroom.

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Table of Contents

Reviews

With empathy, humor, and evidence-based guidance, Bethany McConnell offers a refreshing roadmap for aspiring teachers. Skills and Behaviors for Student Teaching empowers candidates to grow with intention—through reflection, goal setting, and meaningful progress monitoring. What makes this book truly stand out is its recognition that teaching success depends not only on self-care and classroom management, but also on the ability to collaborate—authentically and effectively—with colleagues, families, and administrators. McConnell helps teacher candidates see collaboration not as an optional skill, but as the heart of inclusive, sustainable teaching. This workbook is both an anchor and an inspiration for anyone preparing to enter today’s classrooms. Bethany McConnell’s Skills and Behaviors for Student Teaching offers teacher candidates a practical, compassionate, and evidence-based guide to thriving in the classroom. With its focus on self-care, classroom management, and collaboration, this interactive workbook helps future teachers reflect, set goals, and monitor their growth over time. I especially appreciate its emphasis on collaboration—not just with students, but with colleagues, families, and administrators—as the foundation for effective and inclusive teaching. McConnell’s approach empowers new educators to develop the skills and habits that lead to long-term success and joy in teaching. -- Wendy W. Murawski * , PhD CEO, 2Teach Global Educational Consulting, professor emerita, California State University Northridge * Skills and Behaviors for Student Teaching is exactly the book today’s new educators need—and what the field has been missing. Dr. McConnell has created a rare blend of practical wisdom, cognitive science, culturally responsive practice, and real progress-monitoring tools that actually help novice teachers grow. Every chapter translates complex ideas about self-care, classroom management, collaboration, and reflective practice into concrete, doable routines. The use of baseline data, weekly goal setting, and genuine examples from student teachers makes this book stand out as both a guide and a companion during the most formative stage of a teacher’s career. What impresses me most is how accessible and honest this book is. It doesn’t pretend student teaching is easy. Instead, it gives emerging teachers the strategies and structures to build resilience, manage their time, strengthen relationships, and develop the habits that prevent burnout and support long-term success in the classroom. It’s an evidence-based roadmap for becoming the kind of teacher students remember. This should be required reading for every teacher preparation program. I would put it in the hands of every mentor, every supervisor, and every aspiring educator who wants to enter the classroom with confidence, clarity, and the tools to thrive -- David Bateman * Special Education Consultant * Skills and Behaviors for Student Teaching is a vibrant, evidence-based workbook that empowers future educators to thrive during their field placements and beyond. Through practical tools, reflective prompts, and relatable student teacher stories, Dr. Bethany McConnell brings warmth, wisdom, and structure to the often overwhelming experience of student teaching. With a focus on self-care, time management, and personal growth, this interactive guide helps teacher candidates build healthy habits, set meaningful goals, and develop the resilience needed for a long and joyful career in education. Thoughtfully designed and refreshingly honest, this book is more than a resource, it’s a supportive mentor on the page -- Dr. Rick Kubina * Professor of Special Education, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park *

Author Information

Dr. McConnell has been part of the Pitt-Johnstown community since 2011. She coordinates the special education program and oversees field placements, including student teaching opportunities in New Zealand and Bolivia. She teaches upper-level special education methods courses that focus on classroom management, social-emotional learning, and culturally responsive teaching. Still, she spends much of her time out in schools working alongside pre-service and student teachers. She especially enjoys helping future educators set wellness goals, create engaging lessons, and learn how to “work well with others” as professionals. Her experiences in the classroom inspired her to create this interactive workbook to help student teachers reflect, grow, and track their progress for their lifelong goals of teaching. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Doug. They are raising their teenagers, Derek and Amelia, and she is still making progress on work-life balance and using humor in both teaching and parenting.

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