Student Teaching – Teacher Candidate Resources

Student teaching is the culminating experience in the teacher preparation program. For all certifications (except for Special Education PK-12 and 7-12 for Graduate Students who hold a valid initial instructional certificate), it consists of a full-time 14-week internship, which is closely supervised by both a cooperating teacher and a student-teacher mentor.  Student teaching is arranged after all required course work is completed.  Graduate students must reserve fourteen weeks during the regular school year for student teaching. In addition, all non-education prerequisite courses must be completed prior to student teaching.  Graduate Secondary Certification teacher candidates must pass their state-approved professional testing before student teaching (e.g., Praxis).

For Graduate Students who hold a valid initial instructional certificate, the Special Education PK-12 certification requires a modified four-week student teaching placement during the second half of the Fall or Spring semester. In many cases, student teaching can be done in the teacher candidate’s own classroom.

Student teachers are required to apply for a student teaching placement by January 30 for the following Fall Semester and by May 15 for the following Spring Semester. Applications are submitted electronically by clicking on the link below. A universal application covers all certification areas. Letters of introduction and resumes must be submitted at the time of application unless the teacher candidate is student teaching in his/her own classroom.

Student Teaching Application

Application

• Resume and Cover Letter Exemplars can be found on the Undergraduate Canvas Advising Site (Resume and Cover Letter Samples)

Mid-Term Assessment: Teacher Disposition Assessment

Student Teacher Disposition Assessment

Many school districts are reluctant to release full responsibility to student teachers and prefer the Co-Teaching Model of Student Teaching.  Below are important resources to improve classroom instruction by utilizing both the cooperating teacher and the student-teacher for instruction.

• Short Introduction to Co-Teaching
• Definitions and Examples of Co-Teaching*

*The Academy for Co-Teaching, St. Cloud State University

• Student Teaching Handbook
• Student Teacher Orientation Slide Deck

• Dr. Rich Levy
  • rlevy@sju.edu
  • 610-660-3162
  • Merion Hall 227