Field Experience

�鶹��'s teacher certification programs are field-based to provide as much pre-service teaching experience as possible. The purpose of the field experience is to provide students with sequentially appropriate classroom experiences at each level of their coursework. These experiences are meant to assist the student in determining whether teaching is an appropriate career choice. At �鶹��, Stages 1 & 2 field experiences often start during the second semester of the freshman year. Stage 3, a pre-student teaching experience, happens in the junior or senior year, with Stage 4 full-time student teaching in the senior year, usually in the spring semester.

All field experience placements are individually made by our Director of Field Experience in collaboration with education professors. These experiences are directly related to coursework and give students the opportunity to learn educational theories and apply them in the classroom. Our cooperating teachers for field experiences hold appropriate certification and are selected for their willingness and ability to mentor, their excellence in teaching, their knowledge of teaching practice and their devotion to the teaching profession. This is how we ensure each stage of field experience provides a valuable opportunity for students.

Stages 1 and 2: Observation and Exploration - includes post-bacc students

The first level in the field-experience continuum is an opportunity for the student to become familiar with classroom teaching and responsibilities under extensive support and direction. The student is required to complete a minimum of 40 hours for each experience. This experience is the field component for the following courses:

�鶹�� 160/507 - Culture, Community, and Diversity: Introduction to Critical Pedagogy Required for all education certification candidates
�鶹�� 210/510 - Child Development 1 Required for all Early Childhood candidates
�鶹�� 211/511 - Child Development 2 Required for all Early Childhood candidates
�鶹�� 230/530 - Student Development and Instructional Design Required for all Art, Music, Middle Level (Grades 4-8), Modern Language (K-12), and Secondary �鶹�� candidates

Stage 3 Pre-Student-Teaching Experience

This is an opportunity for the student, before student teaching, to experience daily classroom activities as well and take responsibility for the planning and presentation of lessons. All certification candidates are required to complete a minimum of 150 hours. Pre-student-teaching is the field component for the following courses:

Early Childhood �鶹�� - includes post-bacc students

FALL of Junior Year

�鶹�� 312 A/512 A - Data Driven Analysis & Decision Making in ECE
�鶹�� 322 PM / 525 PM - PreK-4 Instructional Strategies for Math Thinking
�鶹�� 323 PM / 523 PM - PreK-4 Instructional Strategies for Scientific Reasoning
�鶹�� 358.2 / 558 2 - Pre Student Teaching (75 hours)

SPRING of Junior Year

�鶹�� 218.2 / 518.2 - Movement, Health, Safety �鶹�� for Young Children
�鶹�� 321 / 521 - PreK-4 Language Arts for Children
�鶹�� 324 / 524 - PreK-4 Social Studies for Children
�鶹�� 359.2 / 559 .2 - Pre Student Teaching (75 hours)

Middle-Level �鶹�� - includes post-bacc students

SPRING of Junior Year
�鶹�� 324 PM/524 PM - Social Studies Instructional Strategies
�鶹�� 330 PM / 553 PM - Social Studies for Middle Level Learners
�鶹�� 333 A/ 553 A - Literacy for Middle-Level Learners
�鶹�� 359.2/559.2 - Pre-Student Teaching (75 hours)
FALL of Senior Year
�鶹�� 331 PM / 551 PM - Science for Middle Level Learners
�鶹�� 332 PM / 552 PM- Math for Middle Level Learners
�鶹�� 358.2/558.2 - Pre-Student Teaching (75 hours)
Secondary and Modern Language PK-12 �鶹�� - includes post-bacc students
�鶹�� 340/540 - Reflective Teaching in Secondary Schools (40 hours)
�鶹�� 360/560 - Curriculum and Instruction in English (110 hours)
�鶹�� 361/561 - Curriculum and Instruction in World Language (110 hours)
�鶹�� 362/562 - Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics (110 hours)
�鶹�� 364/564 - Curriculum and Instruction in Science (110 hours)
�鶹�� 365/565 - Curriculum and Instruction in Social Science (110 hours)
Art �鶹�� - includes post-bacc students
�鶹�� 366/566 - Curriculum and Instruction in Art (150 hours)
�鶹�� 369/569 - Curriculum and Instruction in Art (75 hours)
Music �鶹�� - includes post-bacc students
�鶹�� 367/567 - Teaching Music to Children (75 hours)
�鶹�� 368/568 - Teaching Music to Adolescents and Adults (75 hours)

Stage 4 Student Teaching Experience

Student teaching is the culminating experience of the teacher-preparation program. Its purpose is to help the student develop into a competent professional. Student teaching is physically and psychologically exhausting, but it is also satisfying. It is a full-time commitment and will consume most of the student's time in the semester in which it occurs. It takes place under the supervision of qualified program faculty and cooperating teachers. Student teachers will have two experiences (different grades and different schools) over the semester. All placements are in Pennsylvania schools near the University. In addition to daily classroom experience, students are required to attend a weekly seminar with their College supervisors. Courses associated with student teaching include:

�鶹�� 370/570 - Seminar for Early Childhood Educators: Advocacy, Ethics, Leadership, Collaboration. Required for all Early Childhood education candidates.
�鶹�� 371/571 - Issues in Middle-Level �鶹��. Required for all Middle-Level education candidates.
�鶹�� 375/575, 376/576, 377/577 - Student Teaching. Required for all student teachers.
�鶹�� 378/578 - Seminar in Secondary Student Teaching. Required for all Secondary and Modern Language education candidates.
�鶹�� 379/579 - Seminar for Art Student Teachers. Required for all Art education candidates.
Music 374.2 Music �鶹�� Seminar. Required for all Music education candidates.