Student Teaching
Overview
Student teaching is an integral component of the Teacher Education Program. It provides candidates with a field-based experience at the appropriate grade and content level. Student Teachers work with a Cooperating Teacher from a school site and with a Faculty Supervisor (often a principal at the same school). Candidates experience a clinical supervision model during the instructional phase of the course that utilizes observation, analysis, reflection, and conferencing components. Additionally, Student Teachers will be responsible for completing topical assignments designed to demonstrate practical application of skills and knowledge gleaned from program curriculum. The completion of each assignment is scheduled to coincide with supervisor visitations and/or student teaching seminars; the content of these assignments will form the basis for discussion at the meetings. The student teaching experience is designed to emphasize the achievement of state specific standards leading to certification and to present individuals with growth opportunities that best prepare them to assume the duties of a certified classroom teacher.
Policies
Student teaching is a full-time experience. Each campus establishes operational policies related to placement and completion of student teaching. Candidates must follow the guidelines in place at their campus.
Student teaching is a full-time experience. Each campus establishes operational policies related to placement and completion of student teaching. Candidates must follow the guidelines in place at their campus.
Candidates must take Student Teaching Part A & B concurrently with the student teaching experience. If a candidate chooses to postpone student teaching, he/she must postpone their enrollment in the student teaching courses.
Rationale: These courses were designed to complement the student teaching experience and candidates will be required to provide evidence that they have met program standards through the work completed during student teaching.
Student teachers who are removed from a placement at the request of a school district administrator will be withdrawn from class and will be issued a grade of "F" by their faculty member.
Student teaching can only be repeated one time.
Rationale:Candidates will not be given multiple attempts at student teaching. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in order to receive an institutional recommendation for teacher certification.
Candidates who do not successfully complete the second student teaching experience will be removed from the program and are not eligible for re-entry.
Rationale:Candidates must successfully complete student teaching to meet program requirements and state certification requirements.
Candidates enrolled in the MAED/TED program must student teach in either an elementary, middle level or secondary setting based on their program specialization. Candidates in the MAED/TED program may not student teach in special education.
Rationale: Candidates wanting to be certified as special education teachers must take the coursework and student teaching required specifically for special education. The MAED/TED programs are not designed to provide the required course work or field experience required for special education certification.
MAED/TED candidates, who are currently employed as the teacher of record in a classroom appropriate grade level/content for the certificate they are pursuing (e.g. 4th grade for elementary candidate or 9th grade English for secondary candidate), can 'student teach' or 'validate' in their current classroom. Students will be evaluated by a faculty supervisor in their classroom and will not have to seek additional placement for student teaching. Students must complete the Student Teaching courses and complete and upload the Teacher Work Sample.
Rationale:These courses require candidates to demonstrate their competence in multiple areas and candidates must submit evidence to their e-portfolio documenting their ability to meet program standards.
Students should complete student teaching within twelve (12) months from the completion date of their last required course in the program.
Rationale:If students defer student teaching for more than one year, they may encounter changes in state examinations and/or other requirements for teacher certification. Students will be responsible for complying with any new state credentialing requirements at the time student teaching is completed.
Students must complete a minimum of 8 credit hours of student teaching, including the completion of a Teacher Work Sample project.