James Madison University

ELED 411 Practicum
Semester II

These students have completed one semester of education courses; they have had one full-day practicum experience in PK, K, or 1^st grade. They are now taking the first of their methods courses and will be expected to teach more frequently. You should see more confidence about being in the classroom, but perhaps some hesitancy about their ability to teach lessons. As the cooperating teacher, you might be thinking, "Go ahead and try teaching this lesson; I know you haven't done it before. You'll learn from your mistakes."

What grades are used for this practicum?

Grades 2-6

What is the goal of the practicum?

Understand the instructional strategies associated with different disciplines
Understand methods of guiding student behavior

What is the focus?

Plan and teach lessons from the four academic disciplines
Practice methods of guiding student behavior

When does the practicum meet?

One full day a week, either Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
Students are expected to arrive at least 15 minutes before the children and stay a minimum of 15 minutes after children are dismissed
See the attached policy guidelines for additional information

Note: teachers may request a student for multiple days thereby working with a number of different JMU students. However, only one student is assigned to a teacher for a particular day. We request that practicum students NOT be placed in classrooms where a teacher will be working with a student teacher.

Who are the students?

JMU seniors
They major in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies [IDLS] and minor in elementary education.

What additional JMU courses are they taking?

ELED 432 - Children and Science
ELED 433 - Children and Math
ELED 434 - Children and Social Studies
READ 436 - Literacy Learning in the Elementary Grades

What assignments do students typically need to carry out in the classroom?

Design and conduct a science circus with other practicum students for ELED 432
Design and teach an integrated math-literature lesson for ELED 433
Teach a complete social studies lesson for ELED 434
Conduct literacy activities for READ 436

What are the expectations for those involved?

Classroom Teacher

JMU Practicum Student

JMU Supervisor

Provide multiple opportunities for the student to observe the teacher planning, instructing, and reflecting on his/her lessons

Talk to the student about issues of planning, instruction, assessment, and completing responsibilities of teaching

Allow the student multiple opportunities to teach content lessons in a variety of settings (1-on1, small group, whole class)

Encourage the JMU practicum student to teach more often than the required lessons

Observe one lesson and provide written feedback

Complete a mid-term and final evaluation for the practicum student

Follow all of the policies and procedures established in the Handbook for practicum

Communicate within the first two weeks exactly what assignments must be carried out in the practicum classroom.

Work with the cooperating teacher to develop a schedule for completing the ELED assignments.

Consult with the teacher about teaching responsibilities you can assume while in his/her class; going above the few assignments required for your ELED classes.

Work with your supervisor to schedule teaching observations at mutually convenient times

Contact the 411 seminar instructor if questions or concerns arise.

Show enthusiasm, initiative, and a desire to be in the class at all times

Don't wait for your teacher to assign a lesson to teach; ask for those opportunities

Return completed evaluations to your seminar leader

Visit the class at least two times and conduct one formal lesson observation with debriefing conference and one informal observation.

Communicate with the cooperating teacher about the practicum student's performance - dispositions and skills.

Contact the ELED coordinator if concerns or questions arise.

It is intended that the JMU practicum students spend as much time in the classroom with the cooperating teacher, learning about children and teaching. We realize that emergencies arise where clerical duties must be performed at that moment. The JMU practicum student can assist the cooperating teacher in completing these tasks outside the classroom. We would hope that these instances would be the exception, not the rule.
Our practicum students receive ample information about appropriate dress in public schools. Cooperating teacher have the authority to send a practicum student home if she or he does not meet the professional standards for dress. If a student is sent home because of dress, please contact Dorothy Sluss, ELED Coordinator, (slussdj@jmu.edu or 540.568.5537).

Practicum Student

GENERAL PRACTICUM DOCUMENTS
Elementary Education Program