Department of Early Childhood s1

Department of Early Childhood

and Special Education

Valdosta State University

Practicum Handbook

ECED 4690: Early Childhood Practicum and Seminar

ECSE 4390: Early Childhood Inclusive Practicum Seminar

Revised for Fall 2014 (Grades P-5)

VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SPECIAL EDUCATION

MAIL 1500 North Patterson Street · Valdosta, Georgia 31698-0092

PHONE 229-333-5929 · FAX 229-333-7167

To: Mentor Teachers and Administrators

Practica in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood/Special Education

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for volunteering to work with practicum students (teacher candidates) at Valdosta State University. Your partnership is essential in providing practicum students with opportunities to apply what they are learning in classroom situations. We hope that the enclosed information will assist the practicum student, practicum instructor, university supervisor, and mentor teacher in completing the requirements for the practicum experience.

Practicum students will attend classes on campus and participate in a field experience in a public school setting designed to help them apply early childhood theory into practice. During the field experience, practicum students will be required to participate and to observe in a classroom under the supervision of a mentor teacher, who will work closely with the university supervisor responsible for observing and providing feedback to the students.

Practicum students are required to attend and to participate in their classrooms two days per week of the scheduled practicum for the field experience credit. (One day may be excused if the practicum student is sick.) In addition to completing the required days of practicum, practicum students must successfully accomplish assignments given by their university instructors and practicum instructor. Failure to fulfill hours or participation requirements will result in an unsatisfactory (“U”) grade for the practicum.

It is expected that students will be successful in completing all hours and assignments. If problems arise for either the mentor teacher or the practicum student, it is expected that the university supervisor will be contacted immediately. The Department of Early Childhood & Special Education office telephone number is 229-333-5929.

On behalf of the faculty of the Department of Early Childhood & Special Education, I would again like to express our appreciation to the administrators, teachers, and support staff who allow our practicum students to come into their schools and classrooms. Please speak with your university supervisor or the practicum instructor if you have any additional questions regarding the practicum.

Thank you!

Dr. Festus Obiakor

Festus Obiakor, Ph.D., Department Head

Department of Early Childhood and Special Education

Email:

Confirmation of Practicum Responsibilities for Practicum Student and Mentor Teacher

Department of Early Childhood and Special Education. Valdosta State University

Semester/Year ______School ______Grade level ______

Practicum Student

I understand and accept the following responsibilities. As the practicum student, I agree to:

· complete the Contact Information for Practicum form as a Word document and give a printed copy of it to the practicum instructor, university supervisor, and mentor teacher;

· adhere to the agreed upon schedule for arrival, departure, duties, and meetings, as determined by the practicum instructor and mentor teacher; inform university supervisor of changes to the schedule;

· maintain a professional role with the university supervisor, practicum instructor, mentor teacher, school personnel, and children;

· adhere to the professional educator role as defined by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission: The Code of Ethics for Educators;

· give a copy of this Practicum Handbook to the mentor teacher;

· refer to this Practicum Handbook for tasks to be completed;

· complete and submit on time all assigned tasks, including Weekly Classroom Plan Overview;

· have all lesson plans approved and signed by the mentor teacher at least 2 days prior to their implementation, and solicit and accept feedback from the mentor teacher;

· solicit and accept feedback from the university supervisor regarding lesson plans and teaching;

· schedule 3 observations to be completed by the university supervisor (1 being observed using Candidate Assessment on Performance Standards (CAPS));

· schedule 1 observation to be completed by the mentor teacher, using the Candidate Assessment on Performance Standards (CAPS) and provide the form to the mentor teacher;

· reflect regularly on professional performance and discuss these reflections with supervisors;

· complete Teacher Candidate Self-Evaluation of Dispositions in LiveText;

· complete all LiveText requirements assigned by the department;

· complete ECE/ECSE program field experience requirements and submit required documentation; and

· keep an accurate time sheet in the classroom and sign daily.

Practicum StudentDate

Mentor Teacher

I understand and accept the following responsibilities. As the mentor teacher, I agree to:

· receive a copy of this Practicum Handbook from the practicum student to use as a resource;

· give mentor teacher information for the Contact Information for Practicum form to the practicum students;

· provide the practicum student with curriculum materials and information on children as needed;

· consult with teacher candidate to complete Weekly Classroom Plan Overview;

· establish expectations regarding teaching schedule, classroom management, and lesson plans;

· approve and sign all lesson plans at least 2 days prior to their implementation (Students may not teach VSU required lessons without lesson plans.);

· observe 1 lesson taught by the practicum student, using the Candidate Assessment on Performance Standards (CAPS) and give written feedback about the observation on the CAPS;

· provide written and verbal feedback on the progress of the practicum student to the student and VSU;

· document and sign the practicum student’s hours on the time sheet provided;

· complete the form, Program Dispositions Evaluation by Mentor Teacher of Teacher Candidate, and give it to the student to submit;

· complete, share with, and give to the practicum student the Final Evaluation of Practicum Student; and

· sign the practicum student’s time sheet daily.

Mentor Teacher______Date______

Practicum Responsibilities for Practicum Instructor

Department of Early Childhood and Special Education

Valdosta State University

VSU Practicum Instructor

Before the first practicum seminar, the practicum instructor agree to:

· collaborate with other practicum instructors to make necessary changes to the syllabus and/or the Practicum Handbook, as required by changes to the program(s) and/or course;

· collaborate with course instructors to develop a chart of the requirements by course of the lesson(s) to be taught in the practicum classroom, formal observations for each lesson (as agreed by the faculty), major (for each course-not needed for Practicum Semester 1), and initial program proficiencies and assignments for LiveText;

· complete the instructor information on the syllabus;

· make and obtain copies of the syllabus for students (after adding instructor information);

· make and obtain copies of the Practicum Handbook, two for each student (one for the student and one for the mentor teacher);

· plan (with other practicum instructors) to meet at a scheduled time for the first practicum seminar; and

· email practicum students the date of the first practicum seminar.

During the first practicum seminar, the practicum instructor agree to:

· meet at the scheduled time for the first practicum seminar;

· distribute and discuss copies of the syllabus and Practicum Handbook; and

· plan and distribute to the students the schedule for practicum assignments and seminar meetings.

During the semester, the practicum instructor agrees to:

· collaborate with other practicum instructors on the dates and topics of the practicum seminars;

· email those dates to the practicum students;

· give information for the Contact Information for Practicum form to the practicum students; and

· assist the university supervisors and/or practicum students with challenges/problems that arise.

After the completion of the field experience, the practicum instructor must:

· one week after the last day of field experiences, collect from the university supervisor the departmental practicum folder with the completed evaluation form (Evaluation for Practicum) from the Practicum Handbook for the student – indicating the grade for the field experience, practicum documentation, and CAPS observation & lesson plan (on LiveText);

· during the last week of classes, arrange a meeting with all university instructors and university supervisors to complete the University Instructor Evaluation of Teacher Candidate Dispositions together; have the practicum students sign the disposition form; make a copy for each student; and file the original in the practicum file. In addition, complete the form on LiveText.

· during the last week of classes, evaluate the practicum seminar performance of the practicum student and the Lesson Analysis & Reflection (on LiveText); record the grade on the Evaluation for Practicum (last page of the Practicum Handbook); and

· record the final grade on the Evaluation for Practicum (last page of the Practicum Handbook.)

By the final examination day, the practicum instructor agrees to:

· enter the final grade for the practicum student on Banner;

· complete the field experience record that is stapled to the inside front of the practicum folder (gold sheet); and

· return the completed practicum folders to the departmental filing cabinet.

Practicum Responsibilities for University Supervisor

Department of Early Childhood and Special Education

Valdosta State University

VSU University Supervisor

Before practicum students report to their assigned schools, the VSU university supervisor agrees to:

· give university supervisor information for the Contact Information for Practicum form to the practicum students;

· meet with the appropriate school administrator or designee to give him/her a copy of the Practicum Handbook and discuss practicum requirements;

· give personal contact information to the school administrator or designee; and

· with the school administrator or designee, determine the date of the practicum orientation for the practicum students at the assigned school.

During the field experience, the VSU university supervisor agrees to:

· schedule 3 observations for each assigned practicum student; one of which must be a ECSE 4010 math lesson using the Candidate Assessment on Performance Standards (CAPS), and two of which may be informal observations and/or visits to the classroom to monitor the practicum student’s progress;

· check the letter of introduction written by each practicum student, before it is given to mentor and being sent to parents;

· conference with the practicum student following all observations and/or visits;

· conference with the mentor teacher following observations, as appropriate;

· document areas for improvement and/or determine unsatisfactory performances;

· as needed to address areas of concern, collect the practicum student’s videotape and corresponding materials;

· complete Candidate Assessment on Performance Standards (CAPS) on LiveText for each practicum student observed;

· check the letter of appreciation prior to practicum student giving it to the mentor teacher; and

· on the last day of supervision, process the Evaluation for Practicum sheet (last page of the Practicum Handbook) for each practicum student by

o checking items fulfilled,

o getting required items and placing these in the departmental practicum folders,

o determining the grades,

o recording the grades, and

o signing the appropriate places on this sheet.

After the completion of the field experience and during the last week of classes, the VSU university supervisor agrees to:

· complete the Field Experience Record that is stapled to the inside front of the practicum folders;

· return the completed practicum folders to the practicum instructor; and

· complete with other instructors and file in practicum folder the University Instructor Evaluation of Teacher Candidate Dispositions.

Practicum Dos and Don’ts

Department of Early Childhood and Special Education

Valdosta State University

Practicum Dos

Practicum Don’ts

Complete and type your required form Contact Information for Practicum and distribute it to your mentor, VSU practicum instructor, and VSU supervisor.

Fail to complete and type your required form Contact Information for Practicum and distribute it to your mentor, VSU practicum instructor, and VSU supervisor.

Turn off your cell phone when in the school, classroom, or during meetings.

Talk on your cell phone or answer the phone when in the school, classroom, or during meetings.

Show initiative: Offer to help and get to know the students early in the semester.

Text message or read text messages when in the school or classroom, or during meetings and fail to assist the mentor or get to know the students.

Have a professional appearance at all times. (This may be a potential job opportunity.)

Wear inappropriate clothing, display inappropriate body piercings, or reveal tattoos.

Prepare well and in advance for all lessons and activities. Your mentor must approve lesson plans before you teach them.

Fail to plan well in advance or not have formal, written plans. Mentors may not allow you to teach if you have no pre-approved, written lesson plans.

Schedule all lessons and activities with your mentor in advance.

Wait until the day before you need to teach a lesson or do an activity before you ask your mentor about scheduling it.

Follow professional protocol. Address issues through the appropriate chain of command.

Independently meet with administrators at the school without the approval of appropriate VSU personnel.

Communicate appropriately and often with your mentor. Schedule regular meeting times.

Do other course work, write lesson plans, or anything else not related to the practicum classroom during practicum.

Communicate appropriately and positively with your students.

Sit in the back of the room and wait to be told what to do.

Communicate appropriately and often with your VSU practicum instructor and/or university supervisor.

Wait until you have a crisis to discuss issues with your VSU practicum instructor and/or university supervisor.

Read your VSU email daily.

Forget to read your VSU email daily. Delete VSU email when you do not recognize the name before you read it.

Contact the school / mentor in advance of your absence. Make sure your mentor is informed.

Fail to notify your mentor in advance of your absence.

Call or email your VSU practicum instructor and university supervisor if you must be absent (according to their preferences).

Fail to notify your VSU practicum instructor and university supervisor if you are going to be absent.

Department of Early Childhood s1

Practicum Handbook

Practicum Student______Date______

VSU Practicum Instructor

Practicum Dos and Don’ts

Valdosta State University

Practicum Dos

Practicum Don’ts

Complete and type your required form Contact Information for Practicum and distribute it to your mentor, VSU practicum instructor, and VSU supervisor.

Practicum StudentDate