Clinical Experience II, Birth - Grade 2

Catalog description

Students complete one 20-day practicum experience or its equivalent (at least 100 hours) teaching students with disabilities at the pre-K, kindergarten, or grade 1-2 level (inclusion classes with strong special education components are acceptable) and one 20-day experience or its equivalent (at least 100 hours) teaching students with disabilities at a second developmental level. All student teaching is done in accredited schools with the involvement of appropriately certified supervising and cooperating teachers who submit student evaluation forms at the conclusion of the semester. Over the course of the field experience and practicum courses, some work is done in a high need school or a school serving a high need community. Students keep time sheets of their hours, respond to questions about early childhood education and special education, analyze lessons of teachers observed, complete a written assignment on their understanding and use of evidence-based methods of instruction and intervention, complete an assignment on how student learning was assessed in lessons they have presented that are observed by an assigned Touro faculty member, and complete a comprehensive culminating project in which they analyze and reflect on the ways in which various aspects of the program have affected their understanding of, and interventions with, children. Students also write a reflection paper on what they learned from carrying out the work of the case study completed in the second literacy course. This course includes scheduled group meetings. An assigned Touro University faculty member observes practicum students presenting at least two formal lessons in the classroom or other educational facility. (Please note: This course must be taken in the final semester of study.)