Welcome! This page contains general information about your M201 field experience, including your responsibilities—before, during, and after your visit to the school. The navigation bar on the left takes you to detailed information on course assignments, goals, grades, etc. As a future teacher, it is your responsibility to become familiar with course requirements and assignments. If you are not also a student in my E343 or E328 section, please notify me ASAP. I will need the name of your instructor(s).

Corequisites. E328 and E343 must be taken as corequisites with E348.

Course Description. The M201 field experience is a combination of class sessions on campus and experience teaching mathematics and science to K-6 students in a local school. During the first part of the semester you will teach four mathematics lesson to a group of 4-6 children. Although all sections of E343 are assigned the same mathematics topic, the lessons you teach are up to you and your host teacher. Your E343 instructor will assign the mathematics topic. The remainder of the semester will be spent teaching science lessons, generally to the same students in the same classroom. All four science lessons should focus on the same “Big Idea,” and most sections of E328 require you to create a Mini-Unit while others require you to create a Science Learning Center. If you are not in my E328 section, check with your E328 instructor for specific requirements.

Responsibilities and Expectations. Field experience is an important part of the learning to teach process. Because of its importance, it is graded on a pass-fail basis. In fact, until you begin to work directly with children you may find it difficult to make connections between the lessons taught in your education courses and the real world of teaching and learning. You may even dismiss some vital content as irrelevant and of no value. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND EVERY M201 WORKSHOP AND FIELD EXPERIENCE. MISSING WORKSHOPS OR TEACHING CAN RESULT IN AN INCOMPLETE OR AN “F” FOR THE COURSE. It is also your responsibility to know the required procedures for handling problems (e.g., injuries, permission for early dismissal, discipline policy, etc.), and emergencies (e.g., tornado, fire, bomb threat, etc.) at your school site. Although your host teacher will be nearby at all times, s/he may be checking on one of your classmates in the hall or another area of the school when a problem arises. In the event of an emergency, it is critical that you know what to do.

xxResponsibilities before each field experience.

• Write a complete lesson plan using the format provided.
• Submit you lesson plan on time so that I may provide you with appropriate feedback.
• Pick up your lesson plans before you teach. Make needed revisions.
• Request, borrow, construct or purchase materials needed for your lesson. Math Lab manipulative and basic science supplies are available for checkout. Your cooperating teacher may also have materials you can use. A supply sign-up sheet will be available during a class period before the field experience.
• Practice, practice, practice. Activity directions that are clear to you may not be clear to others. Know what you plan to do. Know what changes or adaptations you might need to make while teaching your lesson. Bring note cards or an outline of your lesson plan with you.
• Have a back-up plan or folder with games (including supplies) you can use if you finish you lesson early. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cures.

xxResponsibilities at the school placement site.

• Before your first “official” observation, get together with others who will be working in the same classroom and arrange a group visit. The purpose of the visit is to introduce yourself to your cooperating teacher, to ask about her/his expectations, and to gather background information about your students (information is CONFIDENTIAL). Also ask about procedures for handling emergencies (fire drills, tornadoes, etc.).
• Be ON TIME!! Arrive at the field experience site fifteen minutes before you are scheduled to teach. IF there is an unexpected emergency, CALL YOUR COOPERATING TEACHER to let her/him know you will be late.
• Get the needed supplies for your lesson.
• Dress professionally and sensibly. Think twice before wearing outfits with short skirts or low necklines. Ask yourself, “Does my outfit pass the bend over test?”
• Be considerate of your cooperating teacher.
• Be responsible for yourself and your students. Ask for help if you encounter difficulties. Your cooperating teacher and I are here to help.

xxResponsibilities after each field experience.

• Share ideas and concerns during the debriefing session.
• Immediately after each teaching experience, write a journal entry reflecting on the experience—–use the reflective question prompts to help organize your thinking. As you write, be sure to record information about children’s learning (this is confidential information that should not be shared with others) for later use in your M343 Case Study paper.

I look forward to an exciting semester of getting to know you!