Student teaching is the culminating experience of the Teacher Education Program. During this time, preservice teachers apply what they have learned about theory and methodology through their university coursework and earlier field experiences. Student teaching provides an opportunity to plan and implement interesting, relevant lessons, as well as use a variety of assessment techniques to determine both the effectiveness of instructional strategies and the level of student learning. Teacher candidates will utilize the Teacher Performance Assessment model to plan, implement, evaluate, and reflect on one unit of instruction during their student teaching experience. Student teaching experiences allow for application of the VCSU conceptual framework, adaptations for diversity, appropriate uses of technology, and reflection on teaching practice. Skills in decision making, various instructional strategies, classroom management procedures, and questioning are further enhanced.
Student Teaching requires at least 12 full-time consecutive weeks. VCSU promotes co-teaching strategies to make optimal use of teacher candidate and cooperating teacher efforts to enhance student learning opportunities in the classroom.
Additional information about student teaching is included in the VCSU Handbook for Student Teaching.
Criteria for Admission to Student TeachingA student must meet the following criteria to be considered for admission to student teaching:
- Senior standing with continued satisfactory performance on all criteria for admission and retention in the teacher education program. Recommendations by the Vice President for Student Affairs and the appropriate division/school chair will be reviewed.
- Completion of the professional education sequence before student teaching. The Director of Field Experiences in consultation with the School of Education Dean may make exceptions to this criterion if circumstances warrant.
- Submission of student teaching application to the Director of Field Experiences during the semester preceding the semester of student teaching.
Requirements to Student Teach- Agreement to provide evidence of personal liability insurance by joining the Student National Education Association (SNEA) or by a private insurance policy. The student will present proof of such insurance on or prior to the first day of the semester of student teaching.
- A criminal background investigation including the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation must be completed prior to student teaching.
- Submission of Praxis II test scores or a confirmation number of registration for the Praxis II tests (content and PLT).
- During student teaching, students will not be allowed to take any semester hours of credit during the 12 weeks of student teaching without approval of the Director of Field Experiences. Students who request to take more than three semester hours of credit during the 12 weeks of student teaching, will need approval from the Dean of Education. Any requests for exceptions must be presented in writing to the Director of Field Experiences. Classes cannot be taken during the daily full time student teaching assignment block.
Valley City State University reserves the right to have the student meet additional requirements that the School of Education may establish. The Teacher Education Committee will review the application and recommend to the Dean of the School of Education to approve or deny the application for admission to student teaching.
Criteria for Licensure Recommendation
The Dean of the School of Education makes the recommendation for Teacher Licensure. In order to be recommended, a student must meet the following requirements:
Satisfactory completion of all program requirements,as described in the University Catalog and the Teacher Education Program Handbook.
Successful student teaching experience.
Successful completion of TLC unit and presentation of a digital portfolio.
Successful completion of all licensure requirements.
The School of Education & Graduate Studies sends the application to the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board for issuance of a teaching license.