Student Teaching Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Can student teachers teach in the same school where they completed all their internships?

Student teachers are NOT permitted to teach in the same school where they completed all their internships. Diversity in placements is required to meet set standards for accreditation of the Department of Teacher Education.

 

2. Can secondary majors student teach in a middle school? (English, SS, Math, Science, Business)

Secondary majors can teach in a middle school IF they only work with 7th and 8th graders, NOT 6th graders.

 

3. Can secondary majors who require both secondary and elementary placements student teach in a middle school in order to fulfill both requirements?

Candidates may student teach in a middle school to fulfill both secondary and elementary requirements IF they work with 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

 

4. How much time do elementary majors with special education minors spend student teaching in each area?

The regular education experience requires 12 weeks, and the special education experience requires 4 weeks.

 

5. How much time do elementary/early childhood unified majors spend student teaching in each area?

The elementary portion of student teaching requires 8 weeks in a kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade classroom. The early childhood portion also requires 8 weeks.

 

6. Can student teachers with an ESOL minor fulfill both the regular education and ESOL requirements in the same classroom?

Student teachers with an ESOL minor may fulfill both requirements in the same classroom IF the classroom contains at least 20% ESOL students.

 

7. Are virtual students required to attend on campus meetings in person?

Virtual students are NOT required to attend on campus meetings in person. They may attend all mandatory meetings via Adobe Connect online.

 

8. Can a student teacher be placed in a school outside the state of Kansas?

Student teachers CAN be placed outside of Kansas. The Department of Teacher Education has placed students in 22 different states, but the placements are more difficult to make and generally take longer to finalize.

 

9. Are student teachers allowed to arrange their own placements?

Student teachers are NOT allowed to arrange their own placements. All placements are handled by the Director of Clinical Experience in the Department of Teacher Education.

 

10. Are candidates allowed to work while student teaching?

It is recommended that candidates do NOT hold a job while student teaching. Student teaching is a full time job itself, and several candidates have failed because they did not allow themselves the preparation time needed to be successful in the classroom.

 

11. Who evaluates student teachers and how often?

Student teachers are generally evaluated twice by their cooperating teacher and three times by their university supervisor. The university supervisor can be a faculty member at FHSU, a present building administrator, a retired building administrator or a retired teacher who has accomplished major achievements (master teacher, National Board Certified, etc.). At the secondary level, a faculty member in the field of study department is required to make at least one visit to observe. This is above and beyond the evaluations submitted by the cooperating teacher and university supervisor.

 

12. Can candidates request specific schools where they want to student teach?

Candidates may request specific schools. They will have the opportunity to identify their top 3 school choices. However, candidates CANNOT student teach in a school where they have completed all of their internships. It is important to map out a plan. Doing this early will prevent conflict when it is time to student teach.

 

13. Can candidates request to complete their student teaching with specific teachers?

Please keep in mind that building principals want to maintain a very professional relationship between cooperating teachers and student teachers. By requesting certain teachers, there is always the concern that friendship will trump professionalism. Please let building administrators choose cooperating teachers.

 

14. Who decides where student teachers are placed?

Along with student teachers' input, the Director of Clinical Experiences arranges all student teaching placements.

 

15. How are candidates informed of their assigned cooperating teachers and school placements?

All candidates will be notified of placement by an electronic spreadsheet. The information will include school placement, cooperating teacher(s), building principal, and university supervisor.

 

16. Where are the student teaching forms and applications?

All forms and applications can be obtained in the Office of Professional Services (Rarick Hall 220) or online.

 

17. When are student teaching assignment forms due?

The student teaching assignment form should be submitted to the Director of Clinical Experiences on or before the date of the mandatory student teacher candidate meeting, which is held during the semester prior to student teaching.

 

18. When are student teaching applications due?

Applications (titled Elementary and Early Childhood Unified or Secondary form) must be completed and submitted prior to February 15th for the fall semester and September 15th for the spring semester.

 

19. Where can candidates find more information about student teaching?

Refer to the Student Teaching Handbook.

 

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