ROUTE HANDBOOK |
STUDENT TEACHING
INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE
Student teaching at Keene State takes place in schools and childcare settings that are carefully chosen to provide future teachers with an appropriate culminating experience, one that builds on and is related to their previous coursework and experiences. Each certification program has identified quality teachers, schools and settings for their placements. Thus, completing your student teaching experience in a location not approved by KSC is not allowed. It is also not permissible for you to student teach in a school you attended or in a school where someone in your family is either employed or attending.
The semester prior to your planned Student Teaching semester is the time to complete the Application for Student Teaching. The deadline for student teaching in the Spring semester is October 1st; the deadline for Fall student teaching is February 15th. Application materials are available from the Teacher Education and Graduate Studies Office (TEGS) located on the first floor of Rhodes Hall. It is your responsibility to secure an application from the TEGS Office or web page or from your methods faculty member.
In order to provide a quality culminating field experience, the faculty and the TEGS director have developed a Student Teaching Center model that provides the foundation for effective support and evaluation during student teaching. The model includes contracts with participating schools, established site supervisors, qualified cooperating teachers, a cohort of learners, and consistent policies, procedures, and materials. Student Teaching Centers each have one or more veteran teacher who serve as the site supervisor for the school.
These individuals are hired by Keene State College as part-time faculty who provide the following for Keene State College student teachers: appropriate placements; an orientation to the school and its resources; a series of site seminars for the student teachers as a group; consultations with cooperating teachers, and student teachers; observations and feedback as the second observer, and a mid-term and final written evaluation.
Site supervisors collaborate with the TEGS Director on the placement and supervision process; know and uphold the standards, policies, and procedures outlined in the KSC Student Teaching Handbook; fulfill the responsibilities previously outlined; and provide feedback about KSC programs, materials, and students.
Education coursework: All coursework related to your certification option must be completed prior to Student Teaching (ESEC 460/465), except for ESEC 450 which is taken concurrently. Documentation of your academic performance is submitted with your application, recorded on the appropriate program planning sheets.
Content area coursework: In most cases, future teachers have completed all of their content area courses prior to student teaching. Since these courses are part of your educational background and your content mastery, it is important that you have mastered this knowledge prior to student teaching. Again, documentation of your academic performance is submitted with your application, recorded on the appropriate program planning sheets.
Certification requirements and standards: You must have completed at least 90 credits and have maintained a 2.5 or higher overall cumulative GPA. In addition you must have no grade lower than a C and a 2.5 or higher in your certification option courses, and a 2.5 or higher GPA in your content major courses. Careful attention to your grades throughout your college career will avoid the unfortunate circumstance of not achieving the 2.5. Please note that a 2.49 GPA will NOT be rounded up.
Personal social/behavioral characteristics: As part of the application process your student affairs record will be checked, and a Criminal Records check will be completed through the NH State Police Department and the FBI. This is required by the State of New Hampshire to help ensure safety in the schools. The Criminal Records check process must be initiated by the TEGS Office. Keene State College will provide the opportunity for you to be fingerprinted on campus for the Criminal Records check, and the TEGS Office will send your completed forms and your check for the requisite fee to the state. Watch for notices of the time and location of this service. The criminal records check must be completed within the first two months of the semester prior to student teaching so that the TEGS Office can notify schools of the results before you begin your student teaching experience. All school districts require clearance from the TEGS Office before you can begin student teaching.
As part of your student teaching application, you will prepare a one-page personal introduction as part of your application. This statement will assist the Director of Student Teaching in placing you in an appropriate classroom, and will be used to introduce you to your cooperating teacher and supervisor.
Professional experiences: You must successfully complete your Field-based experiences in order to begin student teaching, so you must be enrolled or have completed them at the time of applying for Student Teaching. You will be given a placement upon completing the application and interview, but final confirmation will hinge on your successful completion of the semester.
As part of your student teaching application, you will write a one-page professional introduction as part of your application. This statement will assist the Director of Student Teaching in placing you in an appropriate classroom, and will be used to introduce you to your cooperating teacher and supervisor.
PLACEMENT GUIDELINES AND RULES
Student teaching placements are carefully chosen to provide future teachers with appropriate culminating experiences that build on previous coursework and field experiences. Each certification program has identified quality teachers and schools for their placements. Therefore, you must plan on student teaching in one or more of our established sites.
Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education Programs:
Placements in established sites in Alstead, Antrim, Charlestown, Chesterfield, Claremont, Concord, Hampstead, Hillsboro, Hinsdale, Jaffrey, Keene, Manchester, Marlborough, Nashua, Pembroke, Peterborough, Swanzey, Walpole, and Westmoreland, Winchester, New Hampshire; Vernon, and Westminster, VT.
All Secondary Programs:
Placements primarily in the Monadnock Region and/or within a 30-50 mile radius.
K-12 Programs:
Placements primarily within a 30-mile radius in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.
Guidelines for Early Childhood Student Teaching Placements
Students majoring in Education with an option in Early Childhood and applying for NH Early Childhood (Birth to age 8) Teacher Certification, will complete one quarter of their student teaching in the KSC Child Development Center or a KSC approved Early Childhood setting, and one quarter of their student teaching in a KSC approved primary grade public school classroom.
Rationale: Students receiving the Birth to Age 8 certification will be obtaining jobs in one of two very distinct settings, either in Early Childhood programs for children birth to age 8, or in public school classrooms up to grade 3. These two settings have very distinct cultures, expectations, schedules, teaming and staffing requirements, relations with families, licensing, and accrediting agencies. In addition, the developmental range from infancy through the third grade provides many different challenges to teachers. Early Childhood majors need experiences with several age and developmental levels within the certification in order to be fully marketable and successful in the professional settings for which they are to be certified. Thus it is imperative that students have a high quality placement at both the methods and the student teaching level in each of these two settings.
Appeals to this policy must be approved on a case by case basis, by the Director of the Teacher Education and Graduate Studies Office, in consultation with a review team selected from the following list: Student’s Methods Supervisor, Education Department Chair, Director of the Child Development Center, Certification Area Faculty Member(s).
Students requesting an exception must do so in writing. Reasons such as finances and location of student teaching sites are typically not sufficient criteria for granting an exception.
Guidelines for Elementary Student Teaching Placements
Students majoring in Education with an option in Elementary Education or Elementary/Special Education will complete student teaching in a Keene State College approved public school which has been established as a Student Teaching Center.
According to New Hampshire State Department of Education Standards, students majoring in Education with an option in Elementary Education must have appreciable field experience in both a primary (K-3) and an intermediate (3-6) grade level and, therefore, should participate in one of the following models:
- a full semester of methods field experience and a full semester of student teaching experience that complement one another (i.e. one at primary level and one at intermediate level)
OR
- a full semester of methods field experience in either a primary or an intermediate level and a student teaching experience that includes one quarter primary and one quarter intermediate experience.
According to New Hampshire State Department of Education Standards, students majoring in Education with an option in Elementary/Special Education must have supervised field experience with both typical and exceptional children. Therefore in the Keene State College program, these majors should participate in both of the following models:
- a full semester of methods field experience and a one quarter student teaching experience that complement one another (i.e. one at the primary level and one at the intermediate level)
AND
- a full semester of practicum field experience and one quarter student teaching experience that complement one another (i.e. one at the primary level and one at the intermediate level).
Students majoring in Education with an option in Elementary or Elementary/ Special Education are required to student teach in one of our Student Teaching Centers in order to assure that they have a quality experience overall, with appropriate support and fair evaluation in particular. To achieve this, students need to do their culminating field experience in a public school setting that is informed about State Standards and Keene State College’s programs, committed to a partnership about preparing future teachers, and known to Keene State College as an appropriate proven learning site.
Further, the teachers who work with our students must meet the standards for participation as either site supervisors or cooperating teachers, and must continue to develop their skills as cooperating professionals. By creating these partnerships Keene State College can better respond to the needs of our student teachers and ensure a quality culminating experience for our Teacher Education Program.
Exceptions to this policy must be approved on a case-by-case basis, by the Director of the Teacher Education and Graduate Studies Office in consultation with a review team selected from the following list: Student’s Methods and/or Practicum Faculty, Student’s Faculty Advisor, Education Department Chair, Certification Area Faculty Member(s).
Students requesting an exception must do so in writing. Reasons such as finances and location of student teaching sites are typically not sufficient criteria for granting an exception.
All students in an approved program leading to certification are required to successfully complete a student teaching experience near the end of their program. In order to ensure a quality experience overall with appropriate support and fair evaluation in particular, Keene State College requires students to do this culminating field experience in a public school setting that is:
- Informed about New Hampshire State Standards and Keene State College’s programs
- Committed to a partnership about preparing future teachers
- Known to Keene State College as an appropriate and proven learning site.
Further, the teachers in those settings who work with our students must meet the standards for participation and must continue to develop their skills and knowledge. By creating these partnerships, Keene State College can better respond to the needs of our student teachers and the public whose children they will teach.
Each approved program leading to certification has stated policies and established sites for the student teaching experience. In general, you should plan on student teaching in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire where we have the people and resources to fully support you. In addition, you should plan on treating student teaching as the full time experience that it is and not commit to extra activities, coursework, or employment. In particular, faculty in your program and/or the TEGS Office can give you more specific information about your options for school sites when you student teach or intern.
There are several different models of student teaching used here at Keene State College. The specifics vary depending on the certification option, the Methods experience, the supervision model, and the placements available. Some student teachers work with two teachers, spending seven weeks in each placement; others stay in the same setting for 14 weeks. A member of the school staff supervises some student teachers; a KSC supervisor who travels to that school to observe supervises others. Despite these variations all student teaching placements are arranged by the TEGS Office at Keene State, and follow the same general guidelines regarding lesson and unit planning, expectations for “solo” responsibility and professional behavior. You will receive handbooks specific to your certification option and requirements to guide your during your student teaching experience.
SPECIFIC POLICIES AND GUIDELINES
Integrative Studies coursework: You should have completed all of your Integrative Studies courses prior to student teaching. Since these courses are part of your educational background, it is important that you have mastered this knowledge prior to student teaching.
Integrity: You will be expected to maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct throughout the student teaching semester. You are personally responsible for meeting the expectations of KSC, the certification program, and your host public school. Failure to do so, may result in removal from student teaching.
Professional experiences: Student teaching is your culminating pre-professional experience. It will be the semester in which you learn the most, the experience which carries you into the field. When you student teach in one of our established sites, you will receive informed support and evaluation from the field-based professionals who welcome you into their classrooms. Careful planning beginning in your first year at KSC will help you make the most of this important learning opportunity.
Self reflection and professional portfolio: During the student teaching semester you will reflect on your teaching, and submit written reflections of your progress as part of the ESEC 450 course. You will also construct your portfolio to reflect who you are as a beginning teacher for prospective employers, and share a “presentation portfolio” with your colleagues.
Time Limits:
- Methods to Student Teaching: It is the policy of Keene State College Teacher Education Program that a student must apply for student teaching no more than three years after completion of the appropriate methods classes. This is to ensure that the student is current in his/her knowledge and understanding of pedagogical practices for his/her certification, and is parallel to the requirement that certification must be renewed after three years. Students wishing to student teach after three years must repeat the methods experience, or follow the appeals process (see below). All current state standards must also be met (i.e. test scores, Integrative Studies competencies, etc.).
- Student Teaching to Certification: It is the policy of Keene State College Teacher Education Program that a student must apply for certification no more than three years after completion of their student teaching experience. This is to ensure that the student is current in his/her knowledge, understanding, and experience with pedagogical practices and content for his/her certification, and is parallel to the requirement that teaching certification must be renewed after three years. Students wishing to be recommended for certification after three years must repeat the student teaching experience, or follow the appeals process (see below). All current state standards must also be met (i.e. test scores, Integrative Studies competencies, etc.).
Appeal Process: Any student wishing to appeal this policy must submit the request in writing, and provide documentation of professional development experiences that would lead the Appeals Committee to grant the appeal. Please refer to the Teacher Education Appeals Process brochure for additional information.
Enrollment options: Students who wish to become certified by Keene State College after more than three years away from their teacher preparation program may choose to re-enroll as an undergraduate (if you have not already graduated), or apply for an Advanced Studies Program as either a post-baccalaureate certification or Master’s student in initial certification. Please see the current KSC Catalog for more information, or contact Admissions for an application.
Questions: Contact the Teacher Education and Graduate Studies Office (TEGS) in Rhodes S111, 603-358-2286
It is important for all Keene State College Teacher Education students to recognize the importance of completing their entire teacher preparation program through the college. Accreditation and certification are based on a critical review of the coherence of the teacher preparation program. There are many different paths to becoming a teacher; if you change programs you change the sequence and focus of the learning. This means that if you wish to graduate from our program eligible for certification you must complete all of your requirements, including Student Teaching, under the jurisdiction of Keene State College.
If you are interested in alternative methods of becoming certified, consult the NH Department of Education website or contact the state in which you plan to teach for their guidelines. The TEGS Office also has contact information for each state’s department of education.