The Student Teaching experience is designed as a field-based practice for the purpose of demonstrating competencies necessary for successful teaching in Pre K—12 Physical Education.
Purpose
Student teaching is the culminating activity of the Physical Education Teacher Education major. Student teaching serves as a synthesis of all the discrete teaching phases students have been exposed to during their time in the program.
It provides an important opportunity to work with pupils in a naturalistic setting for an extended period of time. It is intended that student teachers will combine theory with practice in working with students in real school settings. It provides the student teacher with the opportunity to further acquire and refine teaching skill. By the end of the student teaching program, students should demonstrate the capacity to function as an independent teacher.
Physical education teachers are prepared to teach Pre K—12, thus an experience in both elementary and secondary schools is required. Teaching assignments must therefore reflect a separate secondary experience (7—12) and elementary experience (Pre K—6).
About Student Teaching
The student teaching experience is a 12 credit semester assignment which is distributed across two, eight week quarters and three seminars. The time schedule for each semester student teaching experience varies with the calendar for each semester. However, for each placement, a minimum of seven to eight weeks must be completed by the student teacher. Students who meet all eligibility requirements are permitted to enroll in the student teaching experience.
The student teaching experience is for a specified period of time (two equal-halves of a full semester) and for a daily amount of time (full-time). Each student teacher is required to provide professional service in each placement for the entire time school is open. A student teacher is not excused for planning periods or activity periods unless specifically approved by the university supervisor and the cooperating teacher. When not directly engaged in teaching or observing, the student teacher should be directed toward activities in the media center, counseling center, or other appropriate settings.
Each semester, a mandatory orientation meeting will be held for all prospective student teacher applicants. This informational meeting discusses the student teaching portion of your education and covers all you will need to know.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible to partake in student teaching, teacher candidates must have :
- At least 108 credits prior to student teaching.
- All General Education requirements.
- Completion of all other physical education major requirements.
- 2.0 GPA in the physical education major (transfer courses do not count in GPA calculation).
- A grade of “C” or higher in all professional methods courses.
- A grade of “C” or higher in all activity/skill courses.
- A grade of “C” or higher in all professional electives.
- Participation in the health-related physical fitness test.
- A student teaching application.
- An overall Brockport GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- A current, state-approved First Aid (including AED training) and CPR certification.