Learning to teach is an intricate, painstaking, time consuming task. There are no easy shortcuts. Like all acts of performance, one learns to teach by teaching. To facilitate this process you will be assigned to an educational situation where you will have adequate opportunity to teach under the guidance of a master teacher. This person was selected because of his or her professional competence and a desire to work with prospective teachers.


Field experiences should be thought of as a time to study teaching as well as practice teaching. It is a time to put untried ideas to the test in a variety of real situations and to evaluate the results. The factors of: what to teach, how to teach it, and why teach it, are equally important and inseparable in the teaching process. You should reflect on these continually as you carry out your teaching assignments. The teacher education program of study is designed to offer a continuously expanding experience with these factors under the guidance of an experienced teacher. Taking full opportunity of these experiences will guide you as you journey to becoming a “competent, caring teacher” who will make a difference in the lives of children.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Week 4 Seminar

Today in class we're going to find out where everybody is with their placements. By this time, you should have contacted your teacher, made a schedule of when you are going to be in the classroom, and have actually started with your observation hours. If you haven't, I suggest you get all of these things done this week yet.

Our class discussion will be about teacher dispositions and what constitutes a "great teacher". You have the characteristics and potential to be a great teacher. If you think we have high expectations of you, and are demanding at times, you are right. We want you to be the best you can be for the children and families with whom you will teach.

Assignment for Tuesday, Sept. 30th:

  • You will bring the following assignment to class with you (from the EDU 348 syllabus):


Communicating Teaching Requirements to Cooperating Teacher: Develop a list of assignments (from all your courses) that will be completed in your field placement classroom. This list must be typed and will be shared with your cooperating teacher and the instructor for this course. This list will include lessons you are required to teach, any observations, or other tasks required in your 300-level courses. You will take a copy of this list with you to share with your cooperating teacher so he or she knows the expectations for your actual teaching experiences. 

People in EDU 298 can make a plan for what and where they are going to complete the different things you have to do for your placement (tutoring, family activity, working with school personnel, etc.) If you have questions, please meet with me individually. 


  • Complete the Student Diversity Profile I gave you at the beginning of the semester. This information can be obtained from your teacher or the school principal. The information is from the classroom and school where you are placed.
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