Spring 2011Student Teacher Information

MeetingDecember 9, 2010

Ms. Staci Fuqua, Director

Education Student Services

sfuqua@utm.edu

ESS Web Address www.utm.edu/ess Dates Handbook Forms PRAXIS Information Licensure

Dates Orientation Seminars: January 10-14,

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM DRESS PROFESSIONALLY! There are NO excused absences for these

days. Do NOT schedule a trip or surgery or other appointments during this time.

Dates, continued January 14 (or before): Meet with your first

placement principal and cooperating teacher(s). Call before you go and let them know you will be

there. Find out when to arrive, how long to be at school each day, the dress code, lunch arrangements, where to park, and anything else the principal and CT want you to know. Share your assignments for student teaching. Google phone numbers and directions.

Dates, continued First Placement: January 18 – March 10 Second Placement: March 14 – May 2 You will have a spring break at some point.

You are not allowed to be absent from student teaching for UTM’s spring break. For those schools with an inter-session, please attend one week of inter-session, even if your CT is not working.

Dates, continued Mid-Semester Seminar:

March 11, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Required) Additionally, your supervisor may also

schedule a mid-semester seminar. This would be scheduled after school.

Dates, continued Exit Seminar/Reception: April 27, 2010 The exit seminar with Dr. Beth Quick, Dept.

Chair, will take place at 4:00. This is a whole group seminar with Dr. Quick. You will also have an individual meeting with your supervisor, who will inform you of the date and time. Immediately after the exit seminar, we will start the reception.

Final Exit Conference with University Supervisor

Final exit conference with University Supervisor will be held May 5 or 6, 2011.

Your supervisor will inform you of date, time, and location.

Absences For each absence, you must notify your CT, principal,

supervisor, and me. Seminar days scheduled by me, professional development days, conferences scheduled by your school, parent-teacher conferences, and in-service days are not counted as absences. Only contagious illness and death in the immediate family are excused. I will entertain excuses on a case-by-case basis and may require a doctor’s note.

You will make up all unexcused absences and any excused absences over 5, no matter what the cause and no matter who approves the absence.

Student Teaching Handbookand Student Teaching Forms

www.utm.edu/ess Print one copy of the handbook and bring to

orientation. You may want to have it bound in the LRC in the Paul Meek Library. Read and study it. Failure to adhere to student teaching policy could result in removal from student teaching.

Print ONE copy of EACH form and bring to orientation. Read and study each form. Prepare questions.

PRAXIS Information Click on www.ets.org/praxis for information

and test requirements for Tennessee. Upcoming PRAXIS Dates: Check the

website. Notice that registration is typically about a

month before the test date. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEMPT

YOUR CONTENT AREA PRAXIS BEFORE GRADUATION!!!!

Praxis II Content Area Everyone has a Praxis II content area that is also

your exit exam for graduation. Check the ESS website (www.utm.edu/ess) , call 7203 (Gooch 205) or talk with your advisor for the test with an asterisk (*) if you are not sure what your content area/exit exam is. Music, Art, Dance, and FCS, check using the above options also. You must TAKE it for graduation. You must PASS it (and any others required by the state) in order to get a teaching license.

Praxis II - PLT Everyone must take one of the PLT tests

for a license. Check in Gooch 205 if you are unsure which one is required for your program. If you are in a K-12 program, you may choose any of the PLT exams. Go on the Praxis web site and try the practice exams to help you decide which one to take. The library has practice tests.

When to Take Praxis II You should have already taken your

*content area/exit exam. If not, register NOW for it. The Records Office has to have your score or proof that you have taken it by the end of April.

The best time to take the PLT for you is NOW. If you can only take one test soon, take the *content area/exit exam first.

Licensure Mrs. Jenny Hahn is our Licensure

Coordinator. She will attend mid session seminar in March and help you complete the application for licensure.

How many of you have taken the PLT? Your * test? All Praxis exams? Is there anyone who has passed all of your Praxis II, including PLT?

Student Teaching Assignments PreK-K Radius Changes Schools Attended Notification University Supervisors

PreK and K Assignments All K-6 MSIL students usually have a K assignment

because they do not take K-Prac. I generally request PreK for PreK-3 majors and grades

1-4 for K-6 majors instead of K for the lower grade placement. Especially in the fall, I need all kindergartens that are nearby for K-Prac.

Secondary students will have a middle school and a high school placement (except Ag., FCS, and Business).

K-12 majors will have placement in two different school levels.

Radius Placements are typically assigned within a

60-mile radius. University Supervisors must be able to drive easily to placements.

Expect some driving. That way, you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you don’t have to!

Changes All first placements have been requested, many of

them at multiple sites. Per state and university policy, the Director of

Education Student Services is the only person who requests placements; placements are made through principals and other administrators, NOT through cooperating teachers. You may NOT request your own placement!

Exceptions According to placement policy, student

teachers may not be placed in schools which they themselves attended or in schools where relatives currently attend/work.

Student teachers may not be placed where they have been employed.

Notification of Placements Either stay after this seminar or drop by Gooch

205. You may also email dstigall@utm.edu or call 881.7219.

Everyone will be given placement details at orientation.

Contact your first placement as soon as possible and let them know you will arrive on January 18. Schedule a visit before that time to meet the principal and CT. If you can schedule it for January 14th that will be preferred.

Meeting with Principal and CT Ask about hours, parking, lunch arrangements, dress

code, and policies. Ask to see textbooks. Record publisher, title, and

edition information for each subject. The LRC has Tennessee textbooks and resources.

Ask the principal and CT for other information they want you to know.

Share your assignments and the cooperating teacher packet, as well as contact information for you, your supervisor, and our office.

TREAT THIS MEETING AS AN OFFICIAL INTERVIEW!

The following dispositions characterize the UTM teacher education UG and G candidate:

Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing.

Attends and is punctual for all classes and field experiences.

Demonstrates positive interactions with peers, faculty, and P-12 school personnel.

Accepts constructive criticism. Changes behavior in response to faculty

suggestions.

Dispositions, continued Assumes responsibility. Analyzes problems critically and attempts to

resolve them independently. Exhibits interest in the learner and enthusiasm for

the learning process. Adheres to professional guidelines regarding

academic conduct. (PLAGIARISM IS AN OFFENSE!)

Adheres to established guidelines for the Teacher Education Program.

Criminal Background Checks Due NOW! Past due signed releases Past due results YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO

STUDENT TEACH UNTIL I HAVE BOTH ON FILE.

Materials to Bring to Orientation Student Teaching Handbook All Student Teaching Forms and Student

Teaching Handbook Highlighters, Post-It’s, a calendar A check for STEA (if needed-We will

discuss at orientation)

Planning Ahead Appropriate clothing Gas money Child care for emergencies for those with

children of your own Focus on student teaching and not on other

coursework and outside jobs. Medical appointments - no excused

absences for checkups of any kind

Questions????