EDUC 440 - Setting Up School Experience and Practicum in Teaching Science Methods: Secondary

This practicum experience begins the final year of the initial teacher preparation program. and is typically taken in the fall semester of the senior year immediately prior to the student teaching semester. Every effort is made to place teacher candidates  in the classroom where they will student teach so that the placement continues throughout the school year. Teacher candidates are expected to meet with their cooperating teacher (CT) and complete a minimum of 30 hours of work prior to the beginning of the school year for the class where they will be student teaching. These 30 hours should be spent helping the cooperating teacher prepare for the new school year, attending professional development sessions and beginning of the year faculty meetings, planning collaboratively with the CT and his/her colleagues, setting up the classroom to welcome new students, etc. as directed by the CT.

This practicum also coincides with EDUC 441 Teaching Science Methods: Secondary. Once the regular semester begins at Maryville, teacher candidates will spend two afternoons per week in their respective practicum placements. Teacher candidates should spend this time assisting the CT with individual/small/whole group instruction, co-teaching, observing, building rapport with students and other educators in the building, etc. Teacher candidates will also complete a series of practice teaching experiences under the direction of the EDUC 441 professor to apply learning from those classes in the field.