Field Placement for Single Subject Student Teachers (San Rafael Campus)

Field Placement for Single Subject Student Teachers (San Rafael Campus)

1.  You have two purposes in this school participation.

• First, you will learn about teaching from observing a variety of experienced teachers. You will observe in content-specific classrooms, classrooms with English learners, and classrooms with students who have special needs. This information will be included in your TPE Reports.
• Second, you will establish relationships at the school in order to facilitate your student teaching placement.

2.  You will receive your school placement(s)  for observation from Dominican by the end of the first week of your semester in EDUC 5250, Observation and Preparation for Student Teaching in Secondary Schools

• Dominican University of California’s placement coordinator (San Rafael campus)/ lead supervisor (Ukiah Center) arranges for all field placements and student teaching placements. Student teaching candidates do not negotiate their own field placements.
• School placement is dependent upon the numbers of available placements for student teachers in each high school or middle school department (some departments take only one student teacher per semester).
• School placements are based on information you provide on the Placement Information Form at the time of your registration for EDUC 5250.
• If you wish to review that information, please contact Dominican’s placement coordinator at (415) 257-1381.

3.  During the remainder of this semester, you will prepare for student teaching by observing and participating in classrooms and by working with your school site coordinator to identify directing teachers and a student teaching assignment.

4.  For this assignment you will complete a minimum number of hours of observing and participating in a public middle or high school. Your field experience must include all of the following characteristics:

•  It includes experiences in at least two different subject matter courses or two levels of courses.
•  It includes observations in a school with a diverse student population.
•  It includes experiences throughout the school year (opening, middle, and ending).
•  [If your work occurs in a non-public/private school, see the program policy on Participating in a Non-Public/Private School in Chapter 7 of this handbook.]

5.  During the semester before student teaching, you will spend 4-8 hours each week for transitions students or 8-12 hours each week for accelerated students in a high school or middle school classroom, observing and participating in teaching roles as you prepare for student teaching.

• This work is completed in a secondary school classroom, at the school site arranged by Dominican for your student teaching.
• This semester, these practicum hours typically occur during the morning.
• You are expected to arrange your own particular observation schedule at the school to which you are assigned. Typically, this schedule is dependent upon the school schedule, the course offerings and times, and your own interests and commitments.
   

6.  Your practicum must include specific kinds of experiences. Typically, all experiences will occur at your assigned school site; if your school does not have a program for English learners, please see your seminar leader for other school site suggestions. 

6.1 First Two Weeks of the Semester – Fall Semester Only
For two weeks at the beginning of the school year spend as many hours as possible assisting one teacher with the beginning of school.

• Attend the opening of school meetings and workshops.
• Assist in setting up one classroom.
• Observe the opening days of school in this classroom.

6.2 The Remaining Weeks of the Semester

A. Teaching Specific Content
You will spend at least two hours each week observing the curriculum and teaching of your particular subject matter.

• Seek the advice of your department chair and/or school site coordinator about particularly interesting curricular offerings or teachers for you to observe.
• Observe a variety of courses, levels, and teachers within your department.
• Attend to the ways students in your content classroom use reading and writing to learn new information.

B. Teaching Diverse Learners 
 You will spend at least one hour each week observing and participating in the classroom of a teacher who teaches English language development or specially designed content instruction to English learners. You will also spend at least one hour each week observing and participating in the classroom of a special education teacher.

Observation Hours

This is how the observation hours work out (specific dates are dependent upon the school calendar in your placement school)

TRANSITIONS STUDENTS (Single Subject Student Teachers)

ACCELERATED STUDENTS (Single Subject Student Teaching)