Guidelines for Student Teachers
Guidelines & Standards for Student Teaching
The following are some guidelines to help you complete your student teaching successfully:
- Be informed. You are going to work in a professional environment and you are expected to act according to the professional standards already in place in the school (e.g code of dress, social interactions).
- Be prudent. Maintain social distance with your students. Never, ever meet with a student alone in a classroom. Use an area where groups of professionals are present.
- Be committed. Student teaching is a full-time assignment. It is highly recommended that you discontinue extra activities (ensembles, clubs, jobs) during this semester.
- Be focused. Your primary objective during your student teaching semester is to become immersed in the public school environment and focus on your teaching.
- Be punctual. You are required to be present for the CT’s full teaching schedule, and you are strongly recommended to assist the teacher in extra-teaching activities, planning, etc. If you need to be absent from school due to illness or emergency, contact both your CT and your University Supervisor in advance. The CT and supervisor will keep record (date and reason) of all occasions for which you are late or absent. Student teachers should follow their school district’s schedule regarding holidays and breaks.
- Be responsible. As soon as you know your teaching schedule, contact your University Supervisors to schedule an observation. For each observation, have a copy of your lesson plan available for the supervisor. Also, make available your folder/notebook containing all your lesson plans, evaluations etc.
- Be prepared. A well-planned lesson will set you up for a successful interaction with your class. Plan to prepare a written lesson/rehearsal plan before each planned teaching presentation. Share your plans and get feedback from your CT. Along with planning, you may also be called upon to teach “on the spot.” Be sure you have studied scores, practiced piano parts, reviewed lesson materials before the day begins so you are ready to jump in and help as needed.
- Be proactive. Don’t wait for your CT to ask you to do something. Offer to help with such things as passing out/collecting materials, setting up the room, tidying up after the class leaves, sing/play parts with sections, etc. Ask your CT for advice on lesson/rehearsal planning and for feedback on your teaching. Your CT will be a tremendous resource for you during your student teaching and beyond.
- Be organized. Select an organizational system to help you file (and find) resources such as lesson/rehearsal plans, copies of music, literature lists, handbooks, worksheets, tests/quizzes, procedures, curriculum guides, etc.
- Be gracious. Your CT is playing an important role in your development as a teacher. Show your appreciation during and after you have finished your assignment.
The faculty wishes you every success during your student teaching!
Ethical Obligations (EOs) of Teaching
(Adapted from the School of Education Teacher Education Program Policy Handbook)
All teachers have three primary responsibilities: to provide the K-12 students with whom they work the opportunity to experience a high-quality, equitable education; to ensure the safety of the K-12 students in their care; and to be good stewards of the profession of teaching.
To ensure all student teachers understand, and always keep central, these responsibilities, the teacher education program has developed the following set of ethical obligations to which all interns in our program pledge to uphold:
- To care for and demonstrate commitment to every student.
- To develop and continually work to improve instructional competence, and to strive to engage in professionally justified teaching practice at all times.
- To ensure equitable access to learning in one’s own classroom.
- To learn about and demonstrate awareness of and appreciation for cultural differences and social diversity, particularly as they are present in one’s classroom, and to draw on diversity as a resource in instruction.
- To demonstrate through concrete actions an awareness of the capacity of every individual to learn.
- To take responsibility for obstacles to student success and to work assiduously to ensure equitable access to learning opportunities.
- To understand and exercise carefully the power and authority of the teaching role.
- To treat students, colleagues, parents and caregivers, and community members with respect and generosity in all communications with and about them.
- To represent the ideas of the academic disciplines and subject matter that one teaches with integrity.