Student Teaching

Student Teaching is the culmination of the entire program of the College of Education. It is your opportunity to draw together what you have learned in content-area course work, psychology and education courses, and field experiences. You will work closely with your Cooperating Teacher, observing and benefiting from his or her expertise. In the final analysis, however, you must develop your own style of teaching, informed by your knowledge of students and content and how the two meaningfully connect.

Throughout your weeks of Student Teaching, you are expected to behave in a professional manner, remembering that you are a guest in the building. You will be governed by regulations which affect all teachers in your building. You should be sensitive to the unwritten mores of the staff. You are no longer a student in the eyes of the pupils, parents, teachers, and administrators, and you must make this significant shift in your thinking. Consider yourself a member of the faculty. Get acquainted with other members of the faculty and the non-teaching staff. Attend faculty meetings, parent conferences, and school events.

Steps to Student Teach

Complete major, minor and methods courses

All major and minor courses as well as all methods courses must be completed before Student Teaching. Any requests for exceptions must be made in writing to the Office of Clinical Experiences, clinicalexp@svsu.edu.

The application for Student Teaching is completed nearly one year before Student Teaching. The application is completed on-line during the month of March for the following Winter Semester and during the month of November for the following Fall Semester. Applying for Student Teaching is not the same as registering for Student Teaching courses. A student will still need to register at the appropriate time. If applicable, a student will usually apply for graduation at the same time as registering for Student Teaching.

Important Dates: Student Teaching Informational Meetings

Students must attend ONE information session before applying for student teaching to receive instruction on submitting the application online and information on the orientation meeting and the all-day seminar dates.

Applications for STUDENT TEACHING for Fall Semester, 2024 will be accepted online November 1 - 30, 2023 Students applying to student teach Fall '24 should plan to attend one of the virtual information sessions scheduled below:

Thursday, October 19, 2023 - Virtual 11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Microsoft Teams Meeting Link
Friday, October 27, 2022 - Virtual 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Microsoft Teams Meeting Link

Applications for STUDENT TEACHING for Winter Semester, 2025 will be accepted on-line March 1 - 31, 2024.

Thursday, February 15, 2024 - Virtual - 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Microsoft Teams Meeting Link
Friday, February 16, 2024 - Virtual - 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Microsoft Teams Meeting Link

Special Education majors who will be student teaching in another teacher's classroom must attend one of the information sessions scheduled for the term they are applying for special education student teaching.

Apply to Student Teach in Tk20

Students must apply to student teach nearly one year in advance during the month of March (for the following Winter Semester) and during the month of November (for the following Fall Semester).

On the Student Teaching Application, you are asked to choose two counties where you would like to complete your Student Teaching. Although there are no guarantees, we will try our best to honor your choices and to place you in a school district within thirty miles of your home when possible.

* By submitting the application, you give the Office of Clinical Experiences permission to duplicate this form and share the information with the cooperating school district.

The following contains more step-by-step instructions. Tk20 Application Instructions (640KB)

Prior to starting your application process in Tk20, please note you will be asked to upload the following completed documents:

Academics Sample (pdf) (17kB)
Autobiography Instructions/Sample (pdf) (30kB)
Education Sample (pdf) (8kB)

Most Frequently FAQ's About Student Teaching

How should we get in contact with our host teacher?

When you receive your placement from the Office of Clinical Experiences (Clinicalexp@svsu.edu) you should call or email the teacher right away to set up a time to meet with her/him. After you have met with your host teacher, please send an email back to Clinicalexp@svsu.edu within 10 days to let us know you have met. If the teacher cannot meet with you for a few weeks send an email back so we know when you will meet.

How do we get transitioned to teach at the school vs observing the teacher teach?

When you attend the Orientation seminar, which is held before you begin to student teaching, you will be given a Student Teaching Guide and in this guide is a timeline for observing/ teaching.

How often are we evaluated?

Your University Supervisor will visit your classroom and do 2 or 3 evaluations. Your host teacher should give you verbal evaluations after each lesson and complete a written mid-term and discuss this with you. Both the Host Teacher and University Supervisor will complete a final evaluation online.

When do we find out about placements?

The placements for winter semester will go out in the first couple of weeks of November for those people with a confirmed placement at that time. Fall placements will begin to go out in May. We send out placements as soon as they reach our office and can be processed.

What is expected of the student teacher to accomplish on a daily basis?

You will follow directives from your host teacher. As you are in the classroom you will see what needs to be accomplished.

What format should we expect our lesson plans to take?

You will start using a longer format (like you use for teaching in method courses) and as you start to take over more classes your University Supervisor will have you shorten the lesson plan format.

How many lessons do we have to teach?

You will eventually teach all classes taught in a day.

Contact Us

coeconnect@svsu.edu
(989) 964-4057(989) 964-4057

Dean

James E. Tarr, Ph.D.

Acting Assistant Dean & Professor

Colleen D'Arcy, Ph.D.

Office

College of Education Dean's Office
Gilbertson Hall, North 275
University Center, MI 48710
989-964-7107
coe-dean@svsu.edu

Hours

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.