Practicum
Guidelines for Host Teacher
EDCI 617 Practicum
MAT
Program with Concentrations
in Biology,
Chemistry, English, Math, Social Sciences
(Grades 9 – 120)
and Music, Art and Physical Education(Grades K-12)
(ESL
expected beginning 2006-07)
This practicum is designed
to get the prospective teacher into a school, do some observations and
teaching, and start to get a feel for what it is really like to be a
teacher. We ask the host teacher to
select one 90 minute period or two shorter periods that he/she will not mind
sharing with the student. We often refer
to this as a “1-day, 3-day teach” but it is not a whole day.
The student you are hosting
has a bachelor’s degree in the concentration or related major and is qualified
to be a lateral or interim teacher, but wisely, wants to get methods and
classroom experience prior to obtaining a teaching position.
- The
practicum will be scheduled individually with the host teacher. The specific due dates for the teaching
experiences will be determined by the student and teacher. The teaching
experiences will be organized along the following sequence, although
variations may have to be made to accommodate the host teacher and
student’s schedule and needs: (Many
of the students have full-time jobs or are full-time students.)
- Meet
with host teacher to set up schedule, get topics, suggestions, etc. With
the host teacher, select the one period per day for the practicum.
- Complete
Two 90 minute observations. This should be done the same period the
teaching is planned.
- Teach
One
class period in school (90 min. period).
- Teach
Three
class periods on three consecutive (if possible) days in school (3x 90
min each). If you teach short
periods, you should teach 6 class periods.
- These are minimum
requirements; the student may do more if possible. If schedules permit, and if the host
teacher wants, the student may do more observations of the host class or
another class. The more experience
the student gets in a school, observing and teaching, the better prepared
he or she will be for the internship and first
years of teaching. Spending a full
day at the school is also invaluable.
- Feedback
& Evaluation of the Practicum: Evaluation should be
based on both effort and performance and will be based on observations by
host teacher, student feedback and self-evaluation. The host teacher may want to write
narrative notes, use a standard form, or both. The Practicum Student should give a
student evaluation form to the students at the end of the first and last
teaching days.
- Students
are told that their requirements are:
- Schedule and plan the
practicum with the host teacher in a timely manner. You are expected to ask the teacher for
guidance about the lesson plans and to provide the lesson plans well
BEFORE you teach. This will enable
you to adjust lessons before you are actually teaching.
- Student Names. Learn
and use the students’ names before you begin your first lesson, starting
during the observation periods. You
may use a seating chart, cards or other crutch to help. While teaching,
address students by name. The
observation periods will help with this task.
- Effective Planning
& Implementation. Be well prepared so you start teaching promptly. You will be evaluated on the quality of
planning, the execution of the plans and your ability to learn and make
revisions from reflection (analysis & critique).
- Practicum Notebook: When you are finished with your
teaching practicum, submit the unit plan, lesson plans, student feedback,
host teacher feedback, copy of handouts, etc. This should be organized in a 3 ring
binder or some such filing system.
You may be able to adapt this to use in your MAT portfolio later,
a graduation requirement.
The practicum is a critical
component of the EDCI 617 course, one which pulls together the various
components of teaching into a whole and provides an invaluable learning
experience.
Contact:
Mary Jean Ronan Herzog, Professor
Killian 108B
Educational Leadership & Foundations
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee,
NC 28723
828.227.3327/fax 828.227.7607
mherzog@email.wcu.edu
Homepage:
http://paws.wcu.edu/mherzog/