Pre-Student Teaching Practicum Requirement

A minimum of 100 hours of practicum experience in school classrooms is required prior to student teaching.  As many of these hours as possible should be in the subject area and grade level in which you plan to teach. These hours are spread across the education courses required for teacher certification.  Most courses require a 20-hour practicum with assignments oriented toward the content of that course.

Students arrange their own practicum placements and typically seek classes in their major subject area at their preferred grade level, although course requirements may vary.  Students who are taking education studies courses for reasons other than teacher certification may elect to complete the practicum in a non-school setting with the instructor’s approval.

Getting the Most out of Your Practicum

The practicum is called “observation,” but students who simply sit and watch gain less from the experience—and make less of an impression—than students who take the initiative to get actively involved in the classroom.  In addition to watching, you should try to assist the teacher and students in any way possible: helping with activities, tutoring students, grading papers, etc.  As you approach student teaching, you should seek opportunities to design instruction and assessments and to teach lessons of your own.

The Practicum Self-Assessment provides a handy list of what to do during your practicum depending, of course, on the nature of the class and the discretion of the teacher.  Ultimately, the teacher will evaluate your potential based largely on the enthusiasm and professionalism you demonstrate in the practicum setting.

Evaluations of you by the teacher in whose classroom you are observing are placed in your file in the Education Department Office and are used in determining whether you should be admitted to the certification program.  (You may also use them when putting together your portfolio demonstrating you have met LU’s 13 Teacher Standards.)

Expectations

You are representing Lawrence and Lawrence’s teacher education program so please conduct yourself in a responsible and respectful manner when observing.  If you and the cooperating teacher agree on a specific schedule, please follow it carefully.  Be on time and always notify the cooperating teacher by phone or email if you are not able to be there when expected.  Dress appropriately.  Be sure to thank the cooperating teacher(s) for allowing you into her or his classroom.   

Where to Do the Practicum

Most students complete the practicum in an elementary or secondary school, public or private, in the vicinity of Lawrence.  Here is a list of area schools with contact information and a map of school locations.  More information about specific schools can be found on the Appleton Area School District website.

Any student wishing to do a practicum outside of Appleton or in a non-school setting must first consult the course instructor because school districts vary in their policies and procedures for placing practicum students.

Letters and Forms

Each student seeking a practicum is given a letter for the principal identifying the student as enrolled in an education course at Lawrence and a letter for the teacher asking permission for the student to do a practicum in that teacher’s classes.  The teacher letter includes a signature form to be returned to the course instructor by the end of the second week of classes.

At the end of the practicum, each student completes a self-assessment and has the mentor teacher complete an evaluation certifying the number of hours completed.  These letters and forms are typically handed out at the start of any course that includes a practicum; additional copies can be found under Forms on the department website.

Logistics

Finding a Site

Use your personal contacts and school websites to look for teachers in your subject area who have classes that are compatible with your schedule.  You may observe in public or private schools.  You can observe in more than one classroom at a time.  Make initial contact with the school secretary, who will promise to pass your name along to the appropriate department.  Follow up with a phone call or e-mail to the department head or teachers you are interested in observing.

If you do not hear back right away, you will have to be tenacious in following up or searching elsewhere; time is of the essence in getting off to a good start and completing the practicum within the 10-week term.  You may find that actually going to the school and talking with the secretary or an administrator will facilitate your placement.  Every education class is likely to have some students who have already done a practicum; they can be a great source of information and advice.

Scheduling

It takes a week or two to set up a practicum, and all observations should be complete before the start of final exams.  For a 20-hour practicum, this translates to about 3 hours per week spread out over weeks 3 through 9 of the term (similar to the hours for a lab in a science course).  Any extra hours do accumulate toward the 100-hour pre-student teaching requirement but do not reduce the practicum requirement for future courses.

A student enrolled in two education courses can often meet the practicum requirements for both courses by doing more hours in the same setting, depending on the nature of the course requirements.  Ask the instructors whether this can be done.  Generally, students prefer to take one education course at a time to keep the practicum hours down to a manageable number.

Transportation

Transportation to the practicum site and back to campus is often a concern for Lawrence students.  Many choose to do the practicum at a school within walking distance of campus.  Others ride a bicycle, take the bus, or ride with another student who has a car (which requires that you coordinate your schedules of class visits).  When in doubt, ask your classmates for help.