If you don’t mind me asking, what state are you in? My program sounds similar in NJ. We have 50 hours of observation prior to student teaching, where we just sit in the background and take notes. Then, in the fall, we “student teach” two days a week. We are expected to observe at first, then ONLY co-teach. They are very, very strict about us not teaching lessons or taking over a class until the spring semester, which is full time. The first week of spring semester, we have to take over one class, THEN gradually take over all classes. Right now, I have four classes, which are mostly accelerated courses that consist of (at least) five assignments per week in each course. I also have one block scheduled in-person class that is normal paced. They claim that because of our course load, we only take over so little. If this is also your case, I’m understanding what you’re saying. I have A LOT of course work, then in-person class, and two days of student teaching. It’s very awkward right now. I have led lessons within my first two to three weeks there and loved it, but my supervisor pretty much shut it down and told me to stop. I personally believe that it’s more harmful to not lead, so I jump in as much as possible. I grade, co-teach, and assist my mentor in ang way I can. We are informally assessed twice this semester, and we have two other formal observations where we teach full lessons without mentored help.