Persons responsible for communicating with
schools: Dr. Greg Chamblee (Math Methods), Dr. Marti Schriver (Science
Methods)
Brief description of experience:
The Practicum II field experience is blocked with the following courses: Methods of Teaching Science in the Middle Grades, Methods of Teaching Mathematics in the Middle Grades, and Educational Psychology. Field experiences will be conducted at various locations and will be planned in conjunction with the blocked courses. Each student will plan, develop, and implement 2 units, one in science and one in mathematics. Topics for the units are assigned by the cooperating teacher in each setting. During each field experience students will observe and assist teachers on Thursday and Friday of each week, usually starting week # 3 and ending week # 9. In addition, the students will teach a 2-week unit in a math classroom and a 2-week unit in a science classroom (weeks # 10-13). Students will research the background information on their schools, school policies, and the learners within each class they teach and relate this to the appropriateness of various types of instructional strategies. The remainder of the semester is spent in the university classroom in preparing for or summarizing the field experiences.
Field Experience Expectations:
The pre-service teacher must:
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demonstrate an appropriate level of science and mathematics; content knowledge, understanding of skills and concepts, and application of relevant content connections |
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be able to design, implement, and assess mathematics and science unit using instructional strategies that engage students in high levels of learning as appropriate for the ability and developmental levels of their students |
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exhibit and appropriate level of competence in creating and managing an effective learning environment in a middle grades setting |
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reflect on their performance and incorporate comments and suggestions from the cooperating teachers and university supervisors as appropriate |
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be professional in all interactions with students, teachers, and/or university faculty |
The supervising teacher will:
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provide a topic for the pre-service teacher and provide input into the appropriateness of the unit for the students and content being taught |
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involve the pre-service teacher in classroom routines and provide opportunities for interaction with the students prior to the teaching of the unit |
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observe the pre-service teacher in the classroom and provide both written and verbal feedback |
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document, in writing, any problems that occur and discuss these problems with the pre-service teacher and the university supervisor |
The university instructor will:
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observe the pre-service teacher in the classroom and provide both written and verbal feedback |
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be responsible for assessing and evaluating the pre-service teacher's written assignments and reflection papers |
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with input from the supervising teacher, evaluate the field experience |
Note: Students must successfully complete the field experience. If NOT complete successfully, the student will earn an unsatisfactory grade in both Practicum II and the related methods course.