Curriculum Guide for the Teacher Cadet Course : Experiencing Education , Eleventh Edition
Things to Know :
1 . Time for Field Experience : a . Traditional schedule : 18-24 days b . Block schedule ( A / B or Semester ): 11-18 days c . Under no circumstances should a year-long Teacher Cadet class include a full semester of field experience . 2 . You are expected to visit and observe your Cadets in their classrooms during your Teacher
Cadet block . This does not become another planning period .
I . Planning the Field Experience A . Re-read “ Field Experience Guidelines .”
B . Put the Field Experience on a pacing guide / calendar and plan backwards from the time you want it to end . Schedule it around standardized testing , holiday breaks , and other pre-set calendar items for both your high school and the neighboring schools where Teacher Cadets will be placed with Cooperating Teachers . Those classes on traditional schedules will probably need to schedule 18-24 days for the Field Experience . Those classes on A / B block scheduling will probably need to schedule 11-18 days . Plan to bring Teacher Cadets back from their Cooperating Teachers several times during the Field Experience to process as a class what is happening in their field classrooms .
C . After observations have been completed for other parts of the Teacher Cadet course , suggest that Teacher Cadets begin determining the grade level , school and / or subject area in which they would like to be placed . ( Form provided in forms section ). Some instructors also allow Teacher Cadets to make requests to work with specific teachers .
II . Place Your Cadets in Classrooms
The key to successful Field Experience placements is to establish a relationship with the schools well in advance of the actual placement . Hopefully , you will have done this throughout the year for observations and partnerships . The Field Experience will be the “ icing on the cake ” for Cadets and may very well determine whether or not they will pursue a teaching career . Place them carefully and make sure they are with teachers that will provide them an outstanding opportunity to grow and share what they have learned . These steps may be useful in making your field experience placements :
1 . Contact the principal at each school where Teacher Cadets will be placed for their field experience at least two months prior to the start date you have planned . The principal may refer you to an assistant principal or someone else to actually coordinate the placements for you , but communication with the building principal is essential . In some school districts , the Teacher Cadet instructor contacts teachers directly . Find out from your principals if they would prefer to make the placements or have you do it .
2 . If you have a small number of feeder schools , you might consider visiting and giving a presentation at a faculty meeting and allowing teachers to sign up . Be sure to take the paperwork “ Guidelines for the Cooperating Teacher ,” and show pictures or video of students in the classroom . If the school has had Teacher Cadets before , ask a teacher or two to give a “ testimonial ” or take a former Cadet with you to talk about the impact their
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