Student Teaching

Declaration of Intent and Application
Successful completion of required coursework prior to student teaching does not in itself permit you to student teach. All students planning to student teach must complete and submit an Intent to Student Teach form to the Educational Studies office in the fall term of their junior year. While this process precedes admission to student teaching, it does not guarantee admission. Admission to Student Teaching is subject to approval by the Educational Studies Department, Music faculty and in some cases, the Teacher Education Committee. You must obtain your advisor’s approval, indicated by a signature on the application. The application includes a survey of student experience and preferences, and an essay. This information is shared with potential cooperating teachers.

Fall Semester Student Teaching
All candidates student teach during the fall term, except for a few Music Education students. Fall semester has some distinct advantages over spring semester student teaching. Fall semester student teaching provides continuity in your field placement, since your placement and cooperating teacher is usually the same as the spring semester of your junior year. Fall semester student teaching also allows you to participate in the opening of a new school year. Candidates begin student teaching before classroom routines and expectations are set, and you complete the full number of your required hours within one semester. In addition, you are more likely to have your credential files completed in time for spring semester job interviews. Faculty resources and course sequence requirements are additional factors that affect scheduling of the student teaching.

The student teaching experience begins with the first day teachers report to their schools, usually about one week before the start of the IWU semester. The experience ends during IWU finals week (generally the first week in December), providing you with a full-time immersion experience of 16 weeks. The gradual increase of responsibilities for all student teachers is outlined in the Handbook for Student Teaching.

Concurrent with student teaching, candidates are required to attend a 90-120 minute weekly seminar. During the seminar, student teachers engage in reflection and problem solving, as you discuss issues related to classroom planning and instruction, student behavior and guidance, collaborating with colleagues, and parent involvement. Weekly discussion provides candidates opportunities to share experiences with and benefit from the support of your professors and peers.

Ninth Semester Student Teaching Tuition Reduction
Students who successfully complete student teaching during their ninth semester are eligible to receive tuition remission. Tuition equivalent to the cost of one unit of course credit (rather than four) may be approved under the following conditions:

• Completion of at least seven 300 level courses.
• Completion of all other IWU graduation requirements within the previous four years (except for student teaching).
• Accepted for student teaching.
• No previous enrollment in student teaching.
• Completed application for ninth semester tuition reduction no later than April 1, senior year.

Students planning a ninth semester:

• Must inform the Director of Teacher Education before spring term (junior year), and
• Must take their 300 level curriculum courses the spring semester senior year, prior to student teaching.

Student Teaching Field Placement
Student teachers are placed as close to the Illinois Wesleyan campus as possible, so that weekly seminar requirements can be met. Music education candidate placements are made in consultation with the Director of Music Education. You are responsible for your own transportation.

Candidates are not placed in any elementary or secondary school previously attended, nor in a school where a relative is currently employed. Site selection is made in part to facilitate supervision by IWU faculty.  Approval to student teach is based on academic performance, field experience evaluations, and progress toward meeting ISBE Standards for All Teachers. All placements are subject to approval by representatives of the school district.

In no case is a candidate to initiate a contact with a school administrator or cooperating teacher to arrange or cancel a placement.

Extra-Curricular Activities
Student teaching requires your extensive time, commitment and involvement. It is expected that your full and undivided attention will be given to student teaching and the concurrent seminar. Many hours each week are needed to meet the demands of teaching — more time than has been previously invested in a semester of coursework. Pursuit of extra-curricular activities during student teaching may place you at risk with respect to your professional performance. Music Education candidates are not permitted to participate in any IWU ensemble during student teaching. Students are not prohibited from pursuing employment or extra-curricular activities, but under no circumstances may these activities prevent you from attending school every day, or participating in any late afternoon or evening school activities required of teachers. Of primary concern to the IWU supervisor and the cooperating teacher is your demonstrated commitment to, and performance of, teaching and those professional activities related to teaching. You are encouraged, however, to become involved in extra-curricular school activities at your placement site, as long as these activities do not conflict with your primary responsibilities.

Student Teacher Supervision
Student teachers are supervised by IWU faculty who possess the appropriate teaching experience and credentials for their assignments. Supervisors make a minimum of five observations during the student teaching term. The University supervisor confers with the student teacher, cooperating teacher, and seminar instructor to discuss and evaluate the quality of the experience and student performance. The grade for Student Teaching is the responsibility of the University supervisor.