Office of Field Experiences
Student Teaching Information
ID Card | Insurance | Interview | Orientation | Placements | Registration
Teacher Performance Assessment | Application
Department Standards
All students completing an educational endorsement must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher for the last 45 graded credits. Students must also earn (prior to student teaching) a minimum grade of "C" in all required courses for certification.
Admission Requirements
Students may not enroll in education courses until they have been at least conditionally admitted into the Teacher Preparation Program. Please see the admission requirements for the Teacher Preparation Program.
Student Teaching (EFC 480) is a by-permission-only course which must be completed full-time over the course of one quarter. Students must attend the seminar which accompanies the student teaching experience. The seminar will meet a total of 20 clock hours during the quarter, normally at a time other than school hours, and at a place designated by the University Field Supervisor.
All assignments for Student Teaching are made through the Office of Field Experiences. Students must complete the Student Teaching Application online by the posted deadline.
In order to qualify for certification to teach in more than one specialization, students must meet all requirements as listed in the undergraduate catalog for each specialization.
Prerequisites: Admission to the Teacher Preparation Program, 3.0 GPA (cumulative or for the last 45 graded credits) and successful completion (grade of C or higher) of professional sequence, major and minor courses, and at least 75 percent of major and minor completed. Proof of purchase, $1M liability insurance, and submission of West-E scores or proof of registration for a date that will occur prior to the first day of the Student Teaching experience. All grades of Incomplete must be converted to C or higher prior to the beginning of the Student Teaching experience. Credits: (5-16)
Visit the LiveText Student Resources link for Student Teaching Requirements.
Repeatable for Credit: No
Grading Basis: S/U
Notes: Grade will be S or U. EDCS 442 will be changing to EFC 480. Students may not receive credit for both.
| Documents |
|---|
| Student Teaching Handbook |
| Cooperating Teacher Handbook |
| Deadlines |
Identification Card
A student teacher identification card must be obtained either from the Connection Card office in the SURC (for main campus students) or at CWU centers (for cohort students).
The card may be obtained after May 15 for Fall quarter Student Teaching; November 1 for winter quarter Student Teaching; and February 1 for Spring quarter Student Teaching.
The card is provided free of charge and will be required by both University Field Supervisors and the school districts in which you will be placed.
Liability Insurance
In order to seek and solidify a Student Teaching placement, students must provide proof of purchase of $1m of liability insurance (please see the deadlines link for additional information about when to provide this proof). Many professional organizations provide this coverage for its student members. It is the students' responsibility to inquire if such coverage for student teaching is offered by the organization(s) through which they become members.
While most students at CWU join Student Washington Education Association (SWEA), which provides the appropriate liability insurance coverage for student teachers, there are other options for purchasing liability insurance. If you choose SWEA the simplest way to apply is visiting the website link below. Once your application has been accepted and processed (membership granted) by SWEA/NEA, you will receive an email confirmation. Keep a copy of this email for your records, and send a copy via email to: weddingc@cwu.edu or bring a photocopy to the Certification Office as your proof of purchase.
Alternatively you may check with the professional organization associated with your content area for additional possible sources of insurance, or visit the website for Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE) listed below. Northwest Professional Educators provides $2 million in liability insurance for student teaching. This policy continues for one year and remains in place if hired during the membership year. It covers contracted and substitute educators in all educational settings.
Liability insurance must be valid for the dates you will working as a student teacher in the classroom. Again, visit the deadlines link for purchasing information.
Should you have any questions about liability insurance, please contact the Office of Field Experiences.
SWEA Application:
https://www.nea.org/HowToJoin/stateStudent.do?sea=wa&mbrType=STUDENT
NWPE Application:
http://www.nwpe.org/index.php/secure-nwpe-membership-application
Orientation
The Student Teaching orientation will be scheduled by your University Field Supervisor. Attendance is mandatory. If you can not attend, prior arrangements must be made with your University Field Supervisor or you will be dropped from Student Teaching.
Orientation information will be posted in Black Hall, room 101, or may be provided by your University Field Supervisor via email or telephone.
A Student Teaching packet will be provided at orientation. The packet will include the Student Teaching Handbook and other orientation materials needed to get you started in the experience.
Placements
Only the University Field Supervisor is allowed to seek placements for Student Teaching. Students may not act on their own behalf, nor have anyone other than the approved University Field Supervisor act on their behalf, regarding placements. Information regarding placements will be available in Black 101 as it is received. Most schools finalize placements around finals week (see deadlines).
Geographic Assignments
- Not all areas of geographic preference are available as options for placement in every quarter.
- In areas where placement options are limited, students will be chosen based on a random lottery system. Typically, this refers only to Kittitas County placements (where there are usually no more than 8 placements available in any given quarter), but may also apply to other areas as well, based on district need and availability of Cooperating Teachers. (Extenuating personal or professional circumstances for areas with limited placement will not be considered.)
- No placements will be sought in areas where full-time University Field Supervisors are not available to seek placements (typically, placements are sought in areas near the 6 University Centers).
Registration
Students must attend a mandatory Pre-Fall Information Meeting during the spring quarter prior to Pre-Fall. This meeting will focus on general information about placement, procedures, expectations and refunds. Course/section numbers for pre-registration will be disseminated at this meeting. An email will be sent to applicant's CWU GroupWise account during spring quarter identifying dates and times of this mandatory meeting. Student ID must be shown in order to receive course/section numbers.
An email will be sent to applicant's CWU GroupWise account during Spring quarter with your course number to register. You must register by the end of Spring quarter. You will not be allowed in the classroom unless you are registered. Deadlines for withdrawal are different than deadlines for fall quarter (withdrawal information).
Student Teaching Interview
- Student Teaching interviews are mandatory.
- For Ellensburg students, sign-up sheets will be posted in Black 101 approximately two weeks after the Student Teaching Application deadline date.
- For CWU Centers students, the University Field Supervisor will contact you to schedule an interview.
- This allows the University Field Supervisor to ask the student teacher questions related to pedagogy, placement, student preference, and expectations. Students can also discuss questions and concerns regarding student teaching with the University Field Supervisor.
- Appropriate interview attire is suggested.
Teacher Performance Assessment
What is the Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA)?
- A performance-based assessment of pre-service teachers
- Part of a national movement to make authentic performance the basis of pedagogy assessment
- Artifacts are collected by teacher candidates during their full time student teaching
- Candidates write commentary to explain and reflect upon their work
- Will be used for initial certification in Washington State
Purpose of the TPA
Assess teacher candidates’ abilities to…
- Consider academic contexts and students' socio-cultural backgrounds in planning
- Plan instruction based on learning objectives
- Use what they know about language and special educational needs to adapt instruction
- Use instructional practices that support student learning
- Support all students' academic language development
- Use daily observations to adjust instruction to support students’ present and future learning
- Assess students' learning
- Use assessment results to plan next steps
- Develop students’ understanding of:
- The learning targets
- Their own status in relation to the learning targets
- Their own path to accomplish the learning targets
Structure of the TPA Portfolio
| Tasks | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Planning | Context for learning Planning for instruction and assessment |
| Instruction | Engaging students in learning (videotaped) |
| Reflection | Daily reflections on teaching |
| Assessment | Analysis of student learning Feedback |
| Academic Language | Examples across all areas |
| Student Voice (WA only) | Examples across all areas |
| Two Types of Evidence: | Teaching Artifacts and Commentary |
Information
Students will upload their TPA Portfolio to LiveText, and it will be assessed by external scorers. Information is available at http://tpafieldtest.nesinc.com/ but the actual TPA templates are password protected.
