The Linked Practicum/Student Teaching Experience Welcome to one of the most important and exciting phases of your career – Practicum/Student Teaching. This experience will support your transition from being a teacher education candidate to becoming a professionally licensed teacher. As Secondary Education faculty, we understand the demands of this experience and are excited and confident knowing that you are ready to take on this task. We look forward to supporting you and helping you to continue to become a high achieving professional. We also hope to model the highest principles of progressive education that you will provide to those you teach now and in the future. The total Student Teaching experience actually begins in Practicum. Candidates complete a minimum of 40 hours with one teacher in one classroom during the quarter they are enrolled in Practicum II. In most cases, the Practicum secondary classroom will be the site where the MAT candidates complete the Student Teaching experience in what is referred to as a linked placement. Theory and practice come together in the Practicum experience as teacher candidates lay the groundwork for their Student Teaching experience. Practicum Welcoming Candidates to the Classroom In an effort to welcome and support the practicum candidates and student teachers, experienced mentor teachers have offered the following suggestions: • Put the candidate’s name on the classroom door. • Assign adequate, personal workspace for the candidate’s use. • Introduce the candidate to the parents and families through a newsletter. • Introduce the candidate to school/district staff and the student teacher as a co-teacher. • Give the candidate a tour of the school building. • Explain school and classroom organization and their underlying philosophies. • Provide a copy of the class schedule, school calendar, and work time expectations. • Acquaint the candidate with daily routines and procedures. • Involve the candidate with the students right away. • Exchange phone numbers, and email addresses. • Set up daily/weekly conference times. • Establish a takeover schedule. • Share specifics about management expectations. • Aid the candidate in utilizing strategies for understanding the learning styles and needs of the students. • Discuss student data and what information is available and under what conditions or circumstances – make certain that the candidate has an understanding of FERPA. • Promote reflection on the multiple and complex decision-making activities. • Encourage the candidate’s development of self-evaluation and reflection skills.
SEC Practicum/ST Handbook 2025-2026
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