PROGRAMS
The
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater provides student teaching
experiences in selected schools and agencies in southeastern
Wisconsin with quality educational experiences.
The
student teacher usually spends at least one complete semester
working in a school and is assigned to teach with one or more
cooperating teachers and under the guidance and direction
of a university supervisor. The student teaching responsibility
is viewed broadly to include involvement in many in-school
and out-of-school activities.
Required
Field Experiences Prior to Student Teaching
Before
reaching their student teaching semester, undergraduate students
spend 125 or more hours in classrooms in early field experiences,
during which time their responsibilities for teaching increase
gradually. Cooperating teachers are encouraged to discuss
these prior field experiences with student teachers as soon
as possible.
Preprofessional
Block: Observation and Participation
As
a requirement for admission to Professional Education, undergraduate
students must successfully complete the Preprofessional Block.
In this block, students enroll in three three-credit courses:
(1) Education in a Pluralistic Society, (2) Child Development
or Educational Psychology, and (3) Observation and Participation.
The field experience component of the Preprofessional Block
consists of eight full days spent in a public school. This
field experience generally provides students with limited
opportunity for teaching activities, e.g., one-on-one tutoring
or small group work. Students are not necessarily placed in
a classroom that corresponds to their major or their preference,
and special education majors are placed in a general education
classroom. The successful completion of Education in a Pluralistic
Society and this field experience partially fulfill the Human
Relations requirement for obtaining a teaching license in
Wisconsin.
Professional
Block: Field Study/Alternate Student Teaching, General Studies,
etc.
Following
successful completion of the Preprofessional Block and admission
to Professional Education, undergraduate majors are eligible
for the Professional Block. During the Professional Block,
students enroll in courses appropriate to their licensing
area, e.g., math and reading methods, and they also have one
or more placements in area schools. Compared to the Preprofessional
Block field experience, the Professional Block field experiences
provide student with more responsibilities for teaching, e.g.,
planning and implementing lessons, assessing students, etc.
The Professional Block experience serves as a transition between
limited teaching responsibilities in the Preprofessional Block
field experience and significant teaching responsibilities
during the student teaching experience.
PreK-6
majors
all have a Professional Block experience in a pre-school setting.
Grades 1-6 majors have a Professional Block
experience in Grades 1-6. In the Grades 1-9
and Grades 6-12 programs, students spend
their Professional Block experience at an elementary, middle,
or high school level that is opposite their full semester
student teaching assignment. During their Professional Block
experience, K-12 (art, music, physical education)
majors are placed in elementary, middle, and/or high
schools. Prior to their Professional Block, special
education majors complete three credits of fieldwork
in their area of emphasis, either in early childhood special
education, learning disabilities, cognitive disabilities,
or emotional disturbance. In addition special education majors
complete a three (3) credit Professional Block field experience
in general education classrooms, frequently in full inclusion
programs. They are placed at an elementary or middle level
as appropriate to their licensure program.
Undergraduate
Programs
Elementary/Middle
Majors (Grades 1-8/Middle School Minor certification)
participate in a limited student teaching experience in conjunction
with field study, at either the elementary level or the middle
school level, and a full semester of student teaching at the
alternate level.
Elementary
Majors (Grades 1-6 certification)
participate in a limited student teaching experience during
their methods block at the elementary level and a full semester
of student teaching at the elementary level.
Early
Childhood/Elementary Majors (PreK-Grade 6 certification) participate
in three student teaching experiences. The Early Childhood/Pre-School
assignment is for a full semester, two half-days per week,
in a pre-school program. In addition, in a separate semester
the student is assigned a placement at the kindergarten level
for nine weeks and at a grade level for nine weeks, for a
full semester of student teaching.
Middle/Secondary
Majors (Grades 6-12 certification) ,
including broadfield majors, participate in a limited student
teaching experience in conjunction with field study, at either
the middle school or high school level, and a full semester
of student teaching at the alternate level.
K-Grade
12 Majors (Art, Music, Physical Education certification)
participate in a full semester student teaching experience
for nine weeks at the elementary level and nine weeks at the
secondary level.
Special
Education:
Special education majors participate in a full semester program
of student teaching in a cooperating school, while concurrently
enrolled in a seminar.
The
following chart summarizes typical levels of field experiences
in undergraduate programs:
Major
Preprofessional Block Professional
Block Student teaching
PreK-6
Elementary or middle PreK-
two half days per Kindergarten (9 wks)
and
week for a semester
Elementary (9 wks)
Kindergarten (9 wks)
1-6
Elementary or middle
Elementary
Elementary
1-8
Elementary or middle
Elementary
Middle
1-8
Elementary or middle
Middle
Elementary
6-12
Elementary or middle
Middle High
school
6-12
Elementary or middle
High school
Middle
Major
Preprofessional Block
Professional Block
Student teaching
K-12
Elementary or middle
Elementary, middle
Elementary (9 wks)
and/or high school
and secondary (9 wks)
Spec
Ed Elementary or middle Elementary,
middle, Birth-3, pre-school,
and/or high school
elementary, middle, or
high school
Teacher
Internships
Teacher
internships are available to students. The teacher internship
program is coordinated by the Wisconsin Improvement Program
as a cooperative venture involving Wisconsin teacher training
institutions, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction,
and local school systems. The teacher internship is a full
semester assignment in a participating school during which
a student enrolls in twelve credits of directed teaching and
is paid a salary by the local school system. The student is
engaged in a full day, full semester experience, but may be
required to attend a limited number of on-campus events during
the day or evening (e.g., student teacher meetings, seminars
for student teachers or interns). The intern is licensed by
the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Additional
information about the teacher internship program (requirements,
application process and deadlines, etc.) is available from
the Office of Field Experiences.
Undergraduate
In-service Practicum
The
undergraduate in-service practicum is available as an on-the-job
experience for some regular education students for initial
certification. The undergraduate in-service practicum experience
may take place within the school where the student is employed.
The school must approve the assignment, provide a teaching
schedule mutually acceptable to the school and the university,
and identify a cooperating teacher.
Special
Minors
Special
minor areas which require a student teaching assignment for
purposes of licensure are bilingual education, elementary
keyboarding, and library media. Students should consult program
coordinators for more information about student teaching in
these areas.
Graduate
Programs
Regular
Education Practicum
Curriculum
and Instruction practica, including in-service, may be taken
at the graduate level. Students are placed in a setting for
a period arranged to fit the needs of the student and licensure
requirements. Practicum credits will be determined by the
Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The specific requirements
for an in-service practicum are available through the Department
of Curriculum and Instruction and involve a contractual agreement
among the department, the student, and the school district.
Special
Education Practicum
Special
Education practica, including in-service, are available at
the graduate level only. Students are required to apply for
and complete a practicum assignment as part of the licensure
requirements for each area of licensure desired. Students
are placed in a practicum setting for a period of time based
on the Special Education Department's assessment of the student's
training, certification, experience, and needs. Practicum
credit will be determined by the Special Education Department
as a result of this assessment. The specific requirements
for an in-service practicum are available in the Department
of Special Education and include a contractual agreement among
the department, the student, and the school district. In-service
agreement forms are available in the Office of Field Experiences.
Reading
Practicum
Graduate
students in the MSE-Reading degree program leading to 316
(K-12) Licensure or 317 (K-12) Licensure must apply for and
successfully complete a practicum in reading. The four credit
reading practicum satisfies both the elementary and secondary
requirements. In most instances students will be able to satisfy
the requirements within their own school districts. Applications
for the reading practicum are available in the Office of Field
Experiences.
International
Student Teaching Opportunities
The College of Education
offers a variety of international experiences for students
in partial fulfillment of program requirements. Students must
be approved for participation in international experiences
by their program coordinator and/or academic department, and
the Director of Field Experiences.
Students
are responsible for all expenses associated with the international
experiences, including but not limited to the cost of a passport,
visa, airfare, land transportation, lodging, and meals. Students
may be eligible for financial assistance to offset these experiences.
Additional
information on international experiences is available in the
Office of Field Experiences.
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