Questions about the Student Teaching Experience  

1. What is the length of my student teaching placement?
2. How and when will I find out who my University Supervisor is?
3. May I substitute teach at the school where I'm student teaching?
4. May I be paid for the work I do as a student teacher?
5. What should I do if I'm absent?
6. May I take a class while I student teach?
7. May I coach while I student teach?
8. May I work at a part-time job while I'm student teaching?
9. How is my grade for student teaching determined?
10. How can I offer feedback about my student teaching experience? 

ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS

1. What is the length of my student teaching placement?
See the table below:

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2. How and when will I find out who my University Supervisor is?
The Head University Supervisor in your program area should contact you before you begin student teaching to let you know who your University Supervisor will be; sometimes, your assigned University Supervisor him/herself will contact you, or you will meet your University Supervisor in your introductory student teaching class or seminar, if your program area holds such a meeting.  If you are ready to begin student teaching and you do not know who your University supervisor will be, contact the Head University Supervisor in your area: 

3. May I substitute teach at the school where I?m student teaching?
Student teachers are not permitted to substitute teach.  If your principal asks you to substitute teach during your student teaching experience, comply with his/her request, but inform your University Supervisor or the Office of Field Experiences.  We will then contact your principal to remind him/her that student teachers are not permitted to substitute teach.

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4. May I be paid for the work I do as a student teacher?
Student teachers are not permitted to receive any monetary remuneration for their student teaching.

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5. What should I do if I'm absent?
As soon as you know that you will miss a day of student teaching due to illness, professional development, or bereavement, let your cooperating teacher know.  Then, notify your University supervisor. Be sure to document your absence using the Request for Absence from Student Teaching form (PDF). Complete the form, collect the necessary signatures and/or email approvals, and send the form to the Office of Field Experiences.  

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6. May I take a class while I student teach?
Because of the demanding nature of student teaching, we do not recommend that you take any classes during your student teaching experience.  In fact, in most cases, it would not be possible for you to take a class while student teaching, since most classes meet during the time when you are required to be teaching.  However, if you need to take a class (e.g., an online course) while you are student teaching, you must contact the Program Convener in your program area and obtain his or her written permission to do so.  If you plan to take a class while you are student teaching, please contact Jim Gilligan as soon as possible. 

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7. May I coach while I student teach?
Student teaching is a full-time commitment that leaves very little time for extracurricular pursuits.  Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not take on additional responsibilities, such as coaching, while you student teach.  If you believe that you can manage the demands of student teaching and coaching concurrently while not allowing your coaching duties to compromise the quality or the integrity of your student teaching experience, you may work as a coach while you student teach-although we advise against student teaching and coaching at the same school.  Please let your University Supervisor and the Office of Field Experiences know if you will be working as a coach while you student teach.

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8. May I work at a part-time job while I?m student teaching?
Student teaching is a full-time commitment that leaves very little time for other business.  Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not take on additional responsibilities, such as part-time employment, while you student teach.  If you believe that you can manage the demands of student teaching and a part-time job concurrently while not allowing your part-time job to compromise the quality or the integrity of your student teaching experience, you may work while you student teach.  Please let your University Supervisor and the Office of Field Experiences know if you will be working while you student teach.

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9. How is my grade for student teaching determined?
Your University Supervisor is responsible for reporting the grade that you earn during your student teaching experience.  Your University Supervisor, in consultation with your Cooperating Teacher, evaluates your performance based upon observations of your teaching and upon other assignments that you may complete during your placement.  The Office of Field Experiences does not play any role in determining your student teaching grade.

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10. How can I offer feedback about my student teaching experience?
Near the end of the semester, you will receive an email containing a link to an online survey that will allow you to evaluate your student teaching experience and offer feedback to the College of Education.  We strongly encourage you to participate in this survey, since your ideas and comments allow us to continue to improve the education and training that we offer our pre-service teachers.

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