HANDBOOK
for
FIELD EXPERIENCE STUDENTS
and
COOPERATING TEACHERS
EDUC 1104 and EDUC 1164
Office of the Teacher Education Program
214 Centennial Hall, 300 W. 12th Street
Rolla, Missouri 65409
(573) 341-4692
Preparing collaborative, technologically adept, effective educators for a diverse and global society.
Introduction
The field experiences provide students an opportunity to observe and analyze instructional techniques and duties in the classroom and school environment. Early field experiences allow the students to observe qualified, experienced teachers and to aid in the classroom. In addition, students have the opportunity to relate principles and theories to actual practice.
Students are placed with cooperating teachers who are certified in the areas and at the appropriate grade level for which the students are seeking certification. By observing the cooperating teachers, students better understand the role of a classroom teacher. Furthermore, field experiences should help the students to determine if they are suited for the teaching profession.
Neither students nor cooperating teachers are paid for the field experiences, and students are not directly supervised by a representative from Missouri S&T. If concerns or questions arise, the Teacher Education Program (TEP) should be notified immediately.
Field experiences (prior to the student teaching semester) at Missouri S&T are:
· EDUC 1104 – Teacher Field Experience; the student’s first experience observing in the public/private school classroom; a minimum of sixty (60) contact hours in the classroom is required; 2 credit hours
· EDUC 1164 – Aiding Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Schools; the student’s second field experience; a minimum of sixty (60) contact hours in the classroom is required; 2 credit hours
Field experiences are graded on a letter grade scale. Due to the nature of the course(s), incomplete grades are not awarded. In the case of illness or unavoidable absence within the last four weeks (three weeks of classes plus finals weeks) of a fall or spring semester, the student may submit a letter of explanation to the TEP Academic Program Committee. If approved, the student will be allowed to finish the field experience hours and requirements and the instructor will be asked to change the grade.
Grades are based on:
· attendance at four class sessions (denoted in syllabus)
· completion of field experience
· following documents uploaded into Foliotek:
o time sheet
o activity checklist
o one page typed reflection of cumulative field experience (MoSPE #8)
o evaluation by the cooperating teacher
o evaluation of field experience
Finally, students will be registered with Family Care Safety Registry prior to entering the public/private school classroom and are reminded that field experience students are not certified personnel. Therefore, students cannot legally be in charge of the classroom without the direct supervision of the cooperating teacher. Attention to these policies and guidelines will help to ensure a positive experience for the student, cooperating teacher, and cooperating school. It is also mandated that students join Student-Missouri State Teachers Association (S-MSTA) to ensure liability insurance while in the classroom.
Responsibilities of the Missouri S&T Field Experience Student
· Register with Family Care Safety Registry http://www.dhss.mo.gov/FCSR/
· Make initial contact with the cooperating teacher following confirmation of placement
· Report to the building administrator’s office the first day of your assignment
· Obtain proper identification badge
· Be prompt in attendance; notify the cooperating teacher prior to being absent from a scheduled day of observing/aiding
· Maintain a friendly but professional relationship with the students
· Dress professionally in compliance with the school’s dress code
· Observe the district’s technology policies regarding cell phones, Facebook, etc.
· Respect confidentiality of colleagues and students
· Complete assignments as outlined in course syllabus
· If required by the school district, complete a tuberculosis test at the Missouri S&T Student Health Service Center http://studenthealth.mst.edu/
· Choose and complete 15 clock hours at one of the diverse field experiences (details in course syllabus)
Responsibilities of the Cooperating Teacher
· Provide field experience student with a preview of the teaching profession
· Establish a scheduled time of the day/week for the student to observe
· Complete a final evaluation of student’s performance in Foliotek
· Verify student’s time sheet in Foliotek
Activity Checklist
After an appropriate period of orientation to the classroom, the field experience student and the cooperating teacher should collaborate to plan specific activities. The following activities are offered as suggestions. The checklist format is intended only to provide a method for the field experience student to review the experience. Additional activities may be listed and checked as necessary.
A. Introductory and Administrative(EDUC 1104 and EDUC 1164) / Date Completed / Comments
1. Be formally introduced to the building principal
2. Be formally introduced to the class(es)
3. Gain knowledge of the roles of the cooperating teacher, building principal and other school personnel such as counselors, secretaries, etc.
4. Review the policies and organizational structure of the building
5. Learn the names of the students
6. Observe attendance taking procedures, absentee policies, and online grade books
7. Become familiar with the special problems and/or needs of a variety of students
8. Become familiar with the library, audio-visual facilities, resource center, technology, etc.
9. Become familiar with the health services available
10. Attend at least one faculty or other professional meeting
11. Observe supervision during lunch, hall travel, etc.
12. Become acquainted with school emergency procedures
13. Become familiar with school disciplinary measures and procedures
14. Learn about the child abuse laws and reporting procedures used by the school
15. Determine the obligations of pupils for absences or tardiness
16. Observe individual and group work, oral discussions, and daily assignments
17. Other
B. Clerical Activities
(EDUC 1104 and EDUC 1164) / Date
Completed / Comments
1. Learn to operate equipment used to make and reproduce tests, handouts, and other types of materials
2. Aid in preparing bulletin boards, classroom displays, labs, etc.
3. Aid in preparing copies, charts, worksheets, etc.
4. Become familiar with classroom materials (books, games, etc.)
5. Facilitate the use of technology
6. Prepare some type of positive contact with parents (newsletter, attend open house, etc.)
7. Other
C. After School Activities
(EDUC 1104 and EDUC 1164) /
Date
Completed /
Comments
1. Observation of bus loading and unloading
2. Attend school plays, concerts, athletic events , etc.
3. Attend club meetings
4. Other
D. Identify the following components of your
cooperating teacher’s style:
(EDUC 1104 and EDUC 1164) /
Date
Identified
/
Comments
1. Instructional strategies
2. Disciplinary strategies
3. Resource materials
4. Bulletin boards and displays
5. Games, etc.
6. Websites
7. Other
E. Classroom Instruction
(EDUC 1164) /
Date
Completed / Comments
1. In collaboration with the cooperating teacher, plan a lesson to teach a concept to the students
2. Document teacher strategies and methods
3. Review curriculum guides, teacher manuals, etc.
4. Work with individual students on projects, homework, make-up independent study, etc.
5. Give directions for classroom assignments
6. During study time, work with students desiring extra help
7. Help students apply technology skills
8. If possible, accompany a teacher and a class on a field trip
9. Plan classroom activities with the teacher or instructional team
10. Conduct a large and/or small group lesson under the supervision of the teacher
11. Compile enrichment materials for a current or future unit
12. Listen to students read, tell a story, or other related activity
13. Provide one-on-one tutoring
14. Assist a child who has been identified as exceptional
15. Administer quizzes or exams at the cooperating teacher’s request
16. Other
Time Sheet
This time sheet is to be used to record the hours spent in the classroom. A minimum of sixty contact hours is required. Optional diverse field experiences should be documented on this form as well.
Student:______
Cooperating teacher(s) and school(s):______
Semester:______
Week / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Total hours1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Total hours for semester:______
Student’s signature:______
Cooperating Teachers’ signature(s):______, ______
______, ______
2