PRE-PRACTICUM FIELDWORK FOR AIC XCP INITIAL TEACHER LICENSURE PROGRAMS 5/13

WHAT IS THE PRE-PRACTICUM? The Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education requires all candidates seeking initial teacher licensure* to have a variety of fieldwork experiences in classrooms appropriate to their field. At AIC, we require 75 hours embedded in three courses (25 hours each). * *except Reading

What courses have pre-practicum requirements? EDC 400 Reflective Practitioner EDC 516 Teaching of Reading EDC 520 Reading & Communication on the Middle/Secondary Level EDC 508 Teaching of Math EDC 504 Middle/Secondary Methods EDC 512 Teaching of Math: Mid/Sec level

Information on waiving hours for experienced educators follows. The following nine slides pertain to the traditional candidates* completing 75 hours Information on waiving hours for experienced educators follows. *’traditional’ candidates are those with little or no experience in the classroom.

WHO MUST COMPLETE THE PRE-PRACTICUM HOURS? All candidates enrolled in the initial teacher licensure programs, whether seeking the license or not, must complete these hours in the three courses.

HOW IS PLACEMENT ARRANGED? Candidates are encouraged to make their own arrangements for fieldwork placement by calling building principals and requesting permission AIC will assist in the placement if needed Three separate, diverse settings are required, including one in an urban school and one with English Language Learners.

What are “diverse settings?” Students must log hours in three different settings demonstrating experiences in: >Urban >Suburban and/or Rural >Low income >English Language Learners >Special Needs >Grade Levels [Urban and ELL experiences are required.]

HOW DO I GET STARTED? Download your copy of the “Pre- Practicum Handbook for Education Candidates” from the ‘Orientation Handbook’ or from AIC First Class (in “XCP Student Area” icon under Initial License - Teachers) and the Supervising Practitioner’s Handbook Meet with the classroom teacher (called supervising practitioner), present him/her with the handbook; discuss mutual expectations and schedule

Refer to the Pre-Practicum Handbook for Education Candidates Review the Observation Guidelines and paperwork requirements Begin keeping a log of your hours and a journal of your observations according to the Guidelines After observing for a few hours, begin assisting your supervising practitioner in classroom instruction

Experience ‘full-role’ Work with your supervising practitioner to increase your teaching role. Full role is defined as delivering a lesson you have planned. During the last 25 hours, contact the Office of Field Experience (esta.sobey@aic.edu or joseph.ruscio@aic.edu) to arrange for a college supervisor to observe you teaching either a small group or the entire class for approximately 30-45 minutes (Please give us sufficient time to schedule this appointment.).

More on college supervisor When the college supervisor observes you, please present him/her with a lesson plan of your lesson written on the AIC template (found on First Class or in the Orientation Handbook). After the lesson, you and the classroom teacher must meet with him/her to critique your progress.

Paperwork Due After each set of25 hours, email your completed paperwork (log, journal, reflection, and summary form initialed by the classroom teacher) to prepracticum@aic.edu. For the classroom teacher’s forms, please see next slide.

Supervising practitioners AIC will need to receive documentation from the classroom teachers (supervising practitioner) that you have successfully completed the pre-practicum Make sure he/she submits the evaluation and PDP forms*: AIC, Education Dept., 1000 State Street, Box 16L, Springfield, MA 01109 *These forms are found in the Supervising Practitioner handbook.

PRE-PRACTICUM WAIVERS If the candidate has taught for a minimum of one year, in a classroom appropriate to one’s field of licensure, most of the pre-practicum requirement may be waived. Para or aide experience may be considered also. A waiver application, evaluation form and letter of support from one’s principal or director, are required. Please complete the application materials found in the handbook and email them to: prepracticum@aic.edu.

WAIVERS continued Once the principal’s letter and evaluation form are received, AIC will process the waiver If AIC grants the waiver, the candidate will still need to complete a minimum of 10 hours observing or assisting in a classroom and maintain proper documentation (please see Student Handbook). One experience must be logged in a classroom with ELLs.

SUMMARY Candidates make their own pre-practicum arrangements, if possible. AIC will assist if needed. Three “diverse” experiences are required. Candidates must complete the required paperwork for each 25-hours or for each 3-4 hours* (if receiving a waiver) and email the documentation to prepracticum@aic.edu Supervising practitioners must submit evaluations for the 75-hour students College Supervisor must observe one lesson for the 75-hour students. * All candidates must experience ELL students.

PLEASE NOTE: STUDENTS WHO DO NOT COMPLETE THE PRE-PRAC REQUIREMENTS IN EACH COURSE MUST RECEIVE AN ‘IP’ (In Progress) for that course! PLEASE SEE ADDITIONAL MATERIALS ON ‘FIRST CLASS’ UNDER THE XCP STUDENT REFERENCE AREA

Regarding CORIs: Local school districts require candidates undertaking pre-practicum experiences to undergo a criminal history offender information (CORI) check and a district may determine that a candidate is ineligible for placement based on the outcome of the CORI check.

CORI continued - Any candidate who is refused a placement by a district as a result of his/her CORI check is solely responsible for finding his or her own placement which, in the sole discretion of the College, meets the academic requirements of the program.

Please note: Students must determine, in light of other personal or professional obligations, if they can meet the expectations set forth above in order to successfully complete the fieldwork requirements and hence the successful completion of the program.

Questions? Please contact Amanda Boissonneault with questions/issues about the requirements or the dropbox for submission of materials: Amanda.Boissonneault@aic.edu