Student Teaching in Special and Elementary Education

Catalog description

The student-teaching experience involves placements in both elementary and special education settings under the supervision of a certified teacher. Placements will encompass the K-21 age range, affording candidates with experience in a range of ages. Candidates will capitalize on skills learned in earlier courses to conduct formal, informal, and functional assessments. Based on this information, they will generate and implement lesson plans, establishing an effective learning climate for their students. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate the ability to collaborate with colleagues, para-educators (candidates should expect a supervisory role as well), other professionals within the school and community, and families to meet students' academic, social and life skill needs. In short, the candidate will learn to fill all roles and major functions expected of the elementary and special educator, with the benefit of supervision. Additionally, this will assure maximum exposure during the candidates' field experiences to both elementary classrooms and the range/severity/age levels of all disabilities covered by the LBS I certification. It should be noted that the student teaching process for both Elementary and Special Education certification extends beyond the duration required for either of the certifications individually. Candidates should anticipate that the field experience will go beyond the published dates for the semester in which they engage in the experience and that this extended experience may result in the graduate date also being extended.