Practicum in Student Teaching

Catalog description

The teacher candidate will be placed in either an elementary or secondary school setting for the first 7.5 weeks of the student teaching experience, followed by placement in the level not selected first for the last 7.5 weeks. The teacher candidate will be teaching both health and physical education during each placement. The teacher candidate will be assigned on-site cooperating teachers will be supervised by a university faculty member who makes a minimum of four on-site visits, plus review of teaching via two videotape. During the 15-week semester, there are four seminars of approximately 5 hours each, during which all teacher candidates meet with the coordinator of the student teaching program to discuss topics related to the multiple roles of teachers in public schools and the transition to becoming a professional teacher. In addition, some time in each seminar is devoted to experience sharing and collaborative problem solving. The following topics are covered during the seminars: legal liability and sexual harassment, electronic portfolios, resume and cover letter writing, health and physical education professionals, preparation for employment, interviewing, best teaching practices and sharing, classroom management, and technology in physical education. In addition, the student teachers are required to complete a variety of assignments including: a professional portfolio, unpaid service activity reflection, daily notebook, videotapes and reflection, and Pennsylvania teaching application and essay.