STUDENT TEACHER'S RESPONSIBILITIES

The student must make the following commitments to extended experiences:

A.        Attendance

Be prompt and regular in attendance.  Daily attendance in the school is mandatory.  Any absence from the experience shall follow this procedure:

1.  Call the school to tell the principal, secretary, director, or teacher of the absence.

2.  Call the university supervisor to state reasons for absence.

B.        Teaching Days

Early childhood experience students will follow the calendar of the cooperating school, not the calendar for Northern State University.

C.        Lesson Plans

1.  Write a lesson plan for each lesson taught.

2.  The plan must be approved by the cooperating teacher before the lesson is taught.

3.  Lesson plans must be available when the supervisor comes to observe.

4.  A suggested lesson plan format is enclosed.

D.        Work Sample

A work sample demonstrating and documenting the ability to foster learning in young children must be completed.  This will be a thematic unit that has some form of pre-assessment, plan for teaching, post-assessment and then quantitative or qualitative analysis of learning gains or losses.  The cooperating teacher and the student teacher will decide on a theme that the student will teach.

E.        Portfolio

Each student teacher is required to keep a three-ring notebook with the following categories:

1.  Table of contents

2.  Resume and cover letter

3.  Classroom daily schedule

4.  Draw the classroom environment and share insights in relationship to management
techniques and room set-up

5.  Coaching and/or observation forms from the cooperating teacher and university supervisor

6.  Lesson plans (any that are taught)

7.  Copy of the units prepared

8.  Daily journal of the experience – This is a self-reflection.  Have this available when supervisor comes for observation.

9.  Positive reinforcement and guidance techniques observed in program.

10. Case study of one child.  Choose a child to observe for each experience.  Get to know the whole child by gathering information and recording observations over an extended period of time.  Collect data that will help assess student in all developmental areas, physical, intellectual, cultural, emotional and social; this may include interviewing the student and the cooperating teacher (use quotes, if possible).  Also observe if possible during parent-teacher conferences.  During the last formal observation be ready to share objective data and subjective interpretation of how the teacher can best meet the student's needs.

11. Bulletin board ideas – can also be from other classrooms

12. Learning Center ideas and developmentally appropriate activities

13. Teacher or district's goals and objectives and center program/flyer

14. Reporting or communication to parents (report cards, newsletter or conference sessions)

15. Resource List – Teachers and students (books & supplies)      

F.         Dress appropriately and be well groomed at all times.

G.        The student teacher will be regarded as a teacher by the children and the parents; therefore, it is necessary that his/her conduct be that of a professional person who adheres to the National Association for the Education of Young Children 's Code of Ethics (copies of this document are on reserve at the NSU library or may be obtained from the NAEYC - phone #800-424-2460).