Elementary and ECU Internships Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the purpose of Elementary and ECU Program Internships?
The purpose of the Elementary Internships is to provide an opportunity for initial candidates to obtain experience in the teaching and assessment of social studies, reading and language arts, mathematics, and science.
The purpose of Internship I (ECU Birth to Age 3) is to provide an opportunity for teacher candidates to obtain experience in the field of early childhood intervention support and services. Interns experience a broad range of professional exposures specific to the program (e.g. Part C family services, early intervention (PAT), Early Head Start).
The purpose of Internships II and III (ECU Ages 3 to 5 and ECU Grades Kindergarten-3rd grade) is to provide an opportunity for candidates to obtain experience in the teaching and assessment of art, music, health/P.E., social studies, reading and language art (language development), math and science.
Starting Fall 2016, we have added a new internship onto our Principles of Instruction in Special Education class. During this internship you will have the opportunity to experience hands-on application of lesson plans and activities that you create. Additionally, management of a classroom, making adjustments for individual student needs, utilizing developmentally appropriate practices, and reflecting are enhanced under the supervision of education faculty and quality mentor teachers.
2. What are internship candidates expected to do in the mentor teacher's classroom?
Internships are much more than observation. Interns should be as involved in class activities as much as possible. By the end of the semester, the intern must teach one formal lesson, which is evaluated by the mentor teacher. In addition, interns should be answering individual student questions, working with small groups, assisting with behavior management, teaching mini-lessons, and can even teach multiple lessons to the whole class.
3. How long are internship candidates in the school or facility?
A minimum of 30 - 40 clock hours of field time is required per Elementary internship spread throughout the entire duration of the experience. Elementary Internships require 30 hours of field time over a period of 8 weeks. Early Childhood and Special Education Internships require 40 hours of field time over a period of 10 weeks. The Literacy Assessment & Interventions (TEEL 481) requires sixteen hours of field time over a sixteen-day period. *See next question for a more in depth time frame per internship.
4. What are the weekly requirements for each internship?
Each internship experience requires candidates to assist in an elementary classroom or early childhood setting in the content area of their internship as follows:
Elementary Education Program
TEEL 378/478 Literacy/Social Studies Internships are typically completed simultaneously - at least 2 days, and 3.5 hours of academic time each week = 30 hours per internship, 60 hours total.
TEEL 377/479 Mathematics/Science Internships are typically completed simultaneously - at least 2 days, and 3.5 hours of academic time each week = 30 total hours per internship, 60 hours total.
Early Childhood Unified Program (ECU)
TEEC 376 Internship III-Kindergarten to Grade 3 - at least 2 days, and 3.5 hours of academic time each week = a minimum of 30 hours total.
TEEC 341 Internship II-Ages 3 to 5 - 40 observation hours at a Preschool or Head Start throughout the semester.
TEEC 336 Internship I-Birth to Age 3 - 40 observation hours with a service provider throughout the semester.
Elementary with Special Education Minor and ECU
TESP 360: Principles of Instruction in Special Education - 2-3 days a week, 2-4 hours of academic time in a special education classroom = 40 observation hours total.
5. On what days and times are internship hours completed (schedule)?
Days and times vary according to the schedule and needs of the mentor teacher and host school. Internship candidates must make the internship a priority and adjust their personal and work schedules to meet the demands of the internship. Maintaining flexibility is of utmost importance.
6. Where can candidates complete their internships?
Virtual candidates can complete their internships in or near their hometown at an accredited school/facility. On-campus candidates will complete their internships in a participating Hays/Ellis/Russell/Victoria/LaCrosse, Kansas school. Candidates in TEEC 336 Internship 1 Birth to Age 3 will be placed with an Infant Toddler Services Network, Parents as Teachers, or Early Head Start. Candidates in TEEC 341 Internship 2 Ages 3 to 5 will be placed in a preschool classroom or a Head Start.
7. Can candidates complete internships in a school where they are employed?
To avoid any conflict of interest and to uphold the integrity of the internship experience, students who wish to intern at a school where they are employed must complete their internship during non-paid hours and in a classroom(s) with a mentor teacher(s) they do not work with as part of their normal employment duties.
8. Can candidates complete all internships in one school/facility?
Our accreditation process requires diversity of placements, which means each internship will take place in a different grade level with a different mentor teacher. While candidates may remain at one school for all internships, it is strongly recommended to experience more than one school/facility while interning. Candidates will most likely not student teach in a school building where they have completed all internships.
9. Can candidates place themselves in internships?
Candidates are NOT permitted to arrange their own internship placements EXCEPT for TEEL 481: Literacy Assessment & Interventions.* All other placements are done by the Coordinator of Internships.
*Candidates registered in TEEL 481: Literacy Assessment & Interventions will contact the principal of a local school to obtain permission for tutoring students in reading after school hours. For more questions about this process, please contact Dr. Sarah Broman Miller.
10. Can an internship placement be changed once finalized?
No, internship placements cannot be changed once finalized. All internship placements are final once the candidate receives an official school and mentor assignment from the Coordinator of Internships. Only under certain circumstances will a change of placement be considered.
11. How are internship candidates evaluated, and who evaluates them?
Internship candidates are evaluated by a quality mentor teacher at the participating school, or by the FHSU course instructor. By the end of the semester, the mentor teacher or course instructor will evaluate the intern using the 5 Teacher Candidate Dispositions, or Pre-Service Disposition Form. For each internship in which a candidate is registered, the candidate will teach and record a minimum of one lesson plan from his/her Integrated Thematic Unit Plan developed in the methods course(s) corresponding with the internship(s). The course instructor will view the recording of the intern's formal lesson and evaluate the student using a Formal Observation Rubric. The course instructor will determine due dates.
12. How many internships will candidates complete throughout the program?
For the Elementary program, candidates will complete four internships: TEEL 378: Literacy Internship, TEEL 377: Math Internship, TEEL 478: Social Studies Internship and TEEL 479 Science Internship.
For the ECU program, candidates will complete four internships: TEEC 376: Internship III Kindergarten to Grade 3, TEEC 341: Internship II Ages 3 to 5, TEEC 336: Internship I Birth to Age 3, and TESP 360 Principles of Instruction in Special Education & Clinical Immersion Birth - Grade 12.
For Special Education Minors: TESP 360: Principles of Instruction in Special Education & Clinical Immersion Birth - Grade 12.
13. Which methods course(s) correspond with each internship course?
For the Elementary program:
If you are registered in TEEL 378 Literacy Internship, you must also be registered in TEEL 365 Literacy Methods
If you are registered in TEEL 377 Mathematics Internship, you must also be registered in TEEL 360 Mathematics Methods
If you are registered in TEEL 478 Social Studies Internship, you must also be registered in TEEL 363 Elementary School Social Studies Methods
If you are registered in TEEL 479 Science Internship, you must also be registered in TEEL 361: Elementary School Science Methods
For the ECU program:
If you are registered in TEEC 376 Internship 3: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade, you must also be registered in TEEL 365 Literacy Methods
If you are registered in TEEC 341 Internship 2: Age 3 - 5, you must also be registered in TEEC 365 Curriculum in Early Childhood
If you are registered in TEEC 336 Internship: Birth - Age 3, you must also be registered in TEEC 340 Creative Expression Methods
14. When can candidates take internship courses?
For both the Elementary and ECU program, candidates can start taking internship courses upon Admission to Teacher Education.
15. How many internships can be taken during one semester?
Students completing internship will be allowed to take no more than 2 internships per semester. On a case-by-case basis, students may seek approval for exception to this requirement by a committee led by the Teacher Education Department Chair.
16. What is academic time?
Academic time is the time spent in the classroom during mathematics, reading and language arts, social studies, or science. Interns are not responsible for covering the classroom for the mentor teacher, subbing during internship time, recess duty, lunch duty, or before and after school duty nor can any of these instances be counted as the intern's academic time in the classroom.