Pre-Student Teaching

Pre-Student teaching is part of the field work required for students seeking teacher certification at Saint Vincent College.  Before entering full-time student teaching, students at Saint Vincent College have one semester of Pre-student teaching, where they go to a school one day a week to teach with an assigned cooperating teacher.  The Saint Vincent College Teacher Preparation is unique and stands apart from other colleges by offering pre-student teaching.  Pre-student teaching provides students with a chance to "get their feet wet" by meeting with their cooperating teacher(s), students, and teaching one full day each week.  It prepares students for full time teaching the following semester (and in most cases students get to return to the same teaching assignment with the same cooperating teachers for Student Teaching).
  
Since Pre-Student teachers are out in the field, they must have up to date clearances on file in the Education Office.  See Clearances.

Click Here for Pre-Student Teaching Observation & Evaluation Forms

OBJECTIVES FOR PRE-STUDENT TEACHERS
1. The Student Teaching Orientation or Pre-Student Teaching is designed to provide the student teacher with the opportunity to become familiar with:
  • The cooperating teacher(s), administrators, and other staff members
  • The content, methods, and techniques of instruction in a particular school
  • The students in the classes they will be teaching in this school
  • The characteristics specific to students at the observed grade level(s)
  • The learning resources available at the school
  • The specific policies and philosophy of the school and district in reference to teaching materials, student rights and responsibilities, teacher rights and responsibilities, classroom management, instructional and non-instructional assignments, and appropriate professional dress and behavior
2. Provide the opportunity to establish a working relationship between the cooperating teacher and the student teacher 

3. Provide the student teacher the opportunity to observe the modeling of methods, skills, attitudes, manners, and language by the cooperating teacher

4. Provide the opportunity for the student teacher to engage in planning with the cooperating teacher for the orientation semester and formulate ideas for the sequential student teaching semester 

5. Provide the opportunity for the student teacher to plan instructional activities and lessons, work with students, and teach a minimum of two initial lessons during the semester which are to be observed by the cooperating teacher and the college supervisor.

6. Provide the opportunity for the student teacher to engage in reflective thinking on various aspects of the teaching profession and to assess, evaluate, and improve in any area of concern before the actual student teaching semester begins
 
The Pre-Student Teaching Online Application is now open. Please contact your advisor if you  have any questions!

Pre-Student Teaching Handbook

Click ​here for the Pre-Student Teaching Handbook (DOCX)
College Supervisor Form (Word Doc)
GPA CALCULATORS
https://www2.upj.pitt.edu/gpacalculator/

http://www.back2college.com/raisegpa.htm  
PRE-STUDENT TEACHER'S RESPONSIBILITIES
When enrolling in Pre-Student Teaching, students must complete the following responsibilities.
1. Satisfactory participation at the school site in college-designated and school-designated activities under the direction of the cooperating teacher.
2. Attendance and contributions to the course orientations and all scheduled course seminars on the college campus.
3. Proper preparation and teaching of a minimum of two lessons in each classroom with each cooperating teacher this semester using a pre-approved lesson plan by the cooperating teacher.  [All students (in all classes) should use the Saint Vincent College Lesson Plan Format, Appendix B]  The student teacher may not teach without an approved lesson plan.
4. Completion of the course binder as described in the ED 400 handbook.  
5. Completion of the electronic portfolio as described in the ED 400 handwork.  

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT ED 400 STUDENT TEACHER ORIENTATION:
  • Saint Vincent College makes all arrangements for placements; students are NOT permitted to contact school districts.  Procedures for arranging placements are between Saint Vincent College and the school district.
  • Students are expected to spend one full day per week in the Student Teaching Orientation Placement site. 
  • Students will also meet weekly on campus.  These class meetings are MANDATORY.
  • Students will prepare their lessons using the Saint Vincent College Lesson Plan Format.
  • Students will be observed by their supervisors a minimum of two times and by their cooperating teachers a minimum of two times. (See Lesson Observation and Teaching Evaluation Form).
  • School districts make the final decision to accept a pre-student teacher.  Saint Vincent College can only request placements, not guarantee it.  If your requested districts do not accept you, the Education department will attempt to place you in a district that will.