1. Field Placement Office
School of Education
Field Placement Office
Welcome to Ferris State University’s School of Education Field Placement Office!
We partner with many excellent local schools. We serve our teacher education students by arranging field experience placements with the ultimate goal of providing a challenging, rewarding, and positive experience for everyone. We appreciate the time, effort, and professional commitment devoted to assisting and training our teacher education students at any of the three levels of practice (pre-student teaching field experiences and student teaching).
The purpose of this CD is to share the expectations and requirements involved in mentoring a teacher education student. Please note that this content is subject to on-going revisions (due to program growth, development, and suggestions from the mentors in the field).
Welcome …

2. Cooperation with Local Area Schools and Education Majors
The School of Education has developed a curriculum that meets federal and state mandates, university standards, and prepares new teachers to become highly-qualified with exceptional teaching skills.
We invite you to join us in providing this practical hands-on learning experience.
Supplying Teachers throughout the United States.

3. Field Placement Office
Communication
Communication is critical in promoting the most positive experience for everyone.
Teacher education students need to be able to practice effective communication. As mentor teachers, you are encouraged to take an active role in providing opportunities for communication and the development of professional relationships with your pupils, parents, staff, and administration. Teaching is always a team effort!
University instructors are responsible for supervising pre-student teaching field experiences and student teachers in the field. In an effort to facilitate open communication, the university instructor will introduce themselves in person or by letter and exchange contact information with you.
University instructors will visit your classroom to monitor and collaborate with you regarding your teacher education student and his/her performance.
In addition, Field Placement Coordinators are always available to assist, answer your questions, and welcome your comments and suggestions.

4. Field Experience: First-Level
Pre-Student Teaching
Field Experience: First-Level
First–level field experience offers an opportunity for teacher education students to explore a variety of teaching styles, and strategies through job shadowing and hands-on experiences.
Elementary: 40-hour field placement
K-5 any grade
6,7,8 Middle School-subject area specific
Secondary: 40-hour field placement
6-12 any grade, subject area specific (major/minor)
Art Education:
40-hour field placement
K-12 any grade
Mentor teacher contributions are critical during field experience assignments. A large part of the experience consists of observing master teachers teach.
As mentor teachers, you are encouraged to take an active role in providing opportunities for teacher education students to experience responsibility for developing professional relationships with pupils, staff, and administration. Teaching is always a team effort!
During this first level of field experience, some required assignments may include: tutoring; facilitating small and large groups; designing a learning center; developing student-centered activities; gathering data (interest inventories), team-teaching, and many other teaching skills that can be put into practice.
FSU School of Education promotes a variety of classroom experiences. For art education field experiences, pre-service teachers are placed at one level (elementary or secondary) and during student teaching they are placed at the other. Elementary and secondary pre-service teachers are placed at different grade levels for each experience.

5. Field Experience: Second-Level
Pre-Student Teaching
Field Experience: Second-Level
Second–level field experience is an expansion of the first level, offering additional opportunities to plan, guest present, and experience classroom management.
Elementary: 80-hour field placement
K-5 any grade
6,7,8 Middle School-subject area specific
Secondary: 80-hour field placement
6-12 any grade, subject area specific (major/minor)
Art Education:
80-hour field placement
K-12 any grade
The second-level of field experience provides a more in depth practicum for the teacher education student in preparation for the full semester of student teaching.
As the teacher education student’s experience grows, so should his/her responsibilities. This growth begins by working with individuals, progresses to working with small groups, and eventually finishes with being responsible for, and teaching to an entire class.
FSU students are required to become increasingly immersed into the classroom setting. Assignments include: planning lessons, guest presenting, designing a variety of delivery styles, developing and implementing alternative assessments, creating a ‘prop-box,’ applying technology, grading and many other skills necessary to get ready for student teaching.

6. Field Experience: Third-Level
Student Teaching
Field Experience: Third-Level
Student teaching is the capstone assignment allowing teacher education students to implement skills learned in university course work and pre-student teaching field experiences.
Student teachers:
Teach all day, everyday for a minimum of 15-weeks.
Work with certified master teachers.
Teach at the appropriate level and subject(s).
Participate in the Professional Seminar course.
The capstone course for all teacher certification programs is student teaching.
During this assignment, FSU students receive practical experience under the guidance of a mentor in planning, assessing, managing classrooms and directing pupil learning activities in an elementary, secondary or vocational setting.
Student teachers are given increasing responsibility to the point of assuming full responsibility of a classroom.
Student teachers also participate in a Professional Seminar class that provides strong networking and a support system during student teaching.
The wonderful role modeling and coaching provided by our public school teachers assure FSU students will flourish.

7. Principal Responsibilities
Review teacher education candidate credentials.
Determine an appropriate placement.
Encourage staff to work with FSU staff and students
Note: Many people will be working together to make this experience a success for all.
Partnerships with our local schools provide an essential training component.
The placement process begins with the Field Placement Coordinator contacting the building principal or other designated person. Information regarding the pre-service teacher is provided. Principals work to help us arrange the best placements that pair their master teachers with Ferris State University teacher education students.
After an appropriate assignment has been determined, the Field Placement Office is notified.
The teacher education candidate is then notified by the Field Placement Coordinator and directed to contact the school and schedule an interview with the principal and proposed mentor teacher.

8. Mentor Teacher Responsibilities
Interview the teacher education candidate to assure a ‘good-fit’
Orient the teacher education student to the school building
Prepare your pupils for working with a teacher education student.
Model best practices
Schedule planning sessions (Please share lesson plans, materials, and texts.)
One of the most professionally influential people in the teacher education student’s life is the mentor teacher. Mentor teachers have a dual role that consists of assisting the teacher education student in the classroom learning and promoting professional growth.
Master teachers assist our students in transferring knowledge learned in a university setting, into a practicing classroom environment. Master teacher lead by example.
Because teacher education candidates learn at different paces and levels, two of the most important gifts you can give are those of time and patience.

9. Mentor Teacher Responsibilities
Discuss the art of teaching.
Coach your teacher education student. Explain the why’s and how’s of your classroom management and teaching style.
Assess and evaluate.
Work collaboratively with the university instructor.
Mentor teachers assist teacher education students in all aspects of classroom learning.
This includes the transfer of theory learned in a university setting, into practical knowledge utilized in an authentic classroom environment.
Modeling best practices and allowing teacher education students to assume responsibility for classroom routines, promotes professional growth.
With time, patience and role modeling, mentor teachers help teacher education students become reflective practitioners.

10. Teacher Education Student
Responsibilities
Interview for the field experience placement.
Practice professional behavior
Accept teaching responsibilities
Follow the mentor teacher’s coaching.
Communicate often with your mentor teacher and university instructor concerning your progress
All teacher education students are expected to interview with the principal and/or proposed mentor teacher.
Once accepted, the teacher education student will contact their mentor teacher to meet, arrange a mutually agreed upon schedule and discuss expectations for the experience.
The School of Education expects our students to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. We recognize our teacher education student is a guest in your building and classroom.

11. University Instructor
Responsibilities
Provide information regarding the requirements and expectations for the teacher education student.
Provide support and work collaboratively with the mentor teacher.
Observe, guide and encourage the pre-service teacher.
Be available to assess and evaluate performance and progress with the mentor teacher and teacher education student.
University instructors act as a conduit between FSU and hosting institutions. They enjoy watching master teachers share their skills with future educators.
The sharing that occurs between the mentor teacher and university instructor models teamwork and the exchange of information.
In our growing global society, it is nice to know you are never alone. Teaching is always a team effort! 

12. School of Education Field Placement Offices
Contact Information
Main Campus (Big Rapids):
Grand Rapids Campus:
Grand Rapids-Kendall:
Northern Region Campus (Traverse City):
Southeast Region Campus (Flint):
Field Placement Offices are established on each campus, and a placement coordinator is always available to serve you, our school partners.
We encourage principals and mentor teachers to contact us any time with questions or concerns.
Our goal is to promote a positive experience for every one by communicating and collaborating, while providing practice in a wide range of classroom experiences.
Let us work together to prepare the next generation of teachers!

13. We look forward to working with you!
Your partnership is appreciated.
Without you, new teachers would not experience authentic practice.
THANK YOU!!
This presentation has been an overview of expectations for teacher education students field experiences. A Pre-Student Teaching or Student Teaching Guide will also be available for your reference.
As guests in your building and classroom, please know that we appreciate the opportunity you have given a teacher education student to learn, practice, and teach with you. Although we cannot adequately express our thanks, we can acknowledge how valuable you are to our program. Without you, ‘real-world’ experiences cannot happen.
We sincerely appreciate your giving back to the profession … the most important profession in the world!