Expectations Concerning Field Placements
Every effort is made to place pre-student teachers in a setting approximating that in which they will eventually function. Given the limited number of available placements, it may not always be possible to guarantee this. Benefits are, however, derived from simply observing and participating in a classroom, regardless of the grade level and/or specialty area. Assignments for field experiences are made in Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Henderson, Transylvania, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Rutherford, Polk, McDowell and Swain counties and in Asheville City.
ALL STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THEIR FIELD EXPERIENCE SITES. The Office of Field Experiences absolutely will not get involved in transportation issues.
Absences: All personal absences, snow days, teacher workdays and school and national holidays must be made up at a time mutually convenient for the student and classroom teacher. Students are expected to contact the school to notify their host teacher prior to an absence. Students are also expected to determine early in the semester, the dates for school holidays and teacher workdays.
Time sheets, contracts and classroom evaluations: Forms and deadlines are available online here. The public school teacher must sign off on each on-site visit made by the pre-student teacher. Extra time sheets may be obtained from the Office of Field Experiences - Killian 228 or from our web site through the “time sheets” link. Students are NOT permitted to turn in time sheets with visits signed off by the teacher but which have not occurred. In no case should a student sign the time sheet for the teacher. This is a very serious offense and could result in the student’s removal from the Teacher Education.
Alternative Assignments/Settings: Form available here - requires pre-approval. Students taking any course with an early field experience component may be given permission by their host teacher and course instructor to complete up to ½ of their field experience hours (eight (8) of sixteen (16) required hours) in an alternative setting or assignment in the school in which they are placed. The alternative setting or assignment must, however, be related to their area of study and the course in which they are enrolled with an approved application form in advance.
For example, English majors may work after hours on a play performed by students in that or a related department. Social Science majors may spend some time critiquing a World History textbook and taking notes or suggesting revisions. Any student may create a bulletin board or display with student work or grade papers and make valuable comments. It may be helpful for a student to observe an in-school suspension class or students socializing in a breezeway or cafeteria. The student may observe several teachers in the same school and academic area and compare teaching styles. Other examples would include attendance at an athletic event, band practice or an IEP meeting.
If course instructors allow their class to participate in alternative assignments or settings, students are responsible for choosing an alternative setting or assignment, and for obtaining permission from the host teacher and course instructor on the individual alternative assignment or setting. All alternative assignments must be approved by the host teacher and course instructor.
The student must initiate the request for an alternative setting or assignment. Students should expect the host teacher or course instructor to be involved by granting signed approval but they will not be responsible for supervising the experience. Host teacher and course instructor must sign the form, and forms should be stapled to and turned in with application.
Conduct: While in school, students are expected to be professional in deportment. As guests of the school, all students must adhere to the rules and regulations of the school system and its Board of Education.
Dress: It is expected that students will dress appropriately using discretion and tact. Students who are deemed inappropriately dressed may be asked to leave the school premises and will not be permitted to return until they are appropriately dressed.
Changes: Minor time changes may be worked out with the host teacher. Major time or assignment changes must be approved by the field experience director.
Evaluation: At the end of every semester, students will be evaluated by the classroom teacher who hosted them for the semester. Areas of evaluation include: Willingness of student to participate; promptness; attendance; conduct; recommendations for the student; and overall performance in the program. The evaluation is made available for the student's review, after which it will be filed in the Office of Field Experiences & Licensure and in the student's major department and becomes part of the TaskStream Electronic Portfolio. All students are strongly encouraged to review their evaluations after each semester of field experiences. Your university professor and advisor will have access to your evaluation. Grades may be changed at the professor’s discretion based on evaluations. All evaluations are reviewed by the Director of Field Experiences with referrals to the Associate Dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions where appropriate. Students will also have the opportunity to evaluate their field experience situation.
Course Failure and required Time sheets: All students taking EDCI 231, PSY321, and SPED 335/336/337 courses are required to turn in associated records to the Office of Field Experiences twice during the semester. Failure to turn in the time sheet, contract, and TaskStream evaluation or submitting one or more late will be reported to course instructors and may reduce course grade. Students failing to turn in final time sheets, with appropriate signatures and completed hours by the due date will automatically fail the course. Students not completing the required number of hours will automatically fail the course. Appeals should be made to the Associate Dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions who will then make recommendations to instructors. The above policy was approved by the CEAP Policy Committee, Spring Semester 2004.
Dual Placements: Students are rarely permitted to enroll in EDCI 231 and PSY 321 simultaneously, however students may PSY 321 and SPED 335/336/337 simultaneously if they are fully admitted to the teacher education program. If a student is enrolled in two courses simultaneously, he/she will be expected to complete two (2) field experiences for a total of thirty-two (32) clock hours for the semester.
Individualized Placements: Individualized placements are only allowed if a student has extenuating circumstances. A written explanation must be submitted to the field experience director with the Early Field Experience Application for the request to be considered. These forms can be obtained from the field experience director. INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENTS IN JACKSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NOT ALLOWED. Students seeking individual placements are still subject to the Diversity requirement.
Lateral Entry Students/Students Working Full-Time in a Public School: Students who are working full-time in a school may conduct their field experiences at the school in which they are employed. They are still required to turn in all required paperwork, and must complete all other requirements of the course related to field experience.
Non-Education Majors Enrolled in EDCI 231, SPED 335/336/337, and PSY 321: Non-education majors enrolled in EDCI 231, SPED 335/336/337, and PSY 321 must complete all requirements of the course given by the instructor related to field experience. These students may request placement in a non-public school setting. Options of placements for non-education majors include day care centers and adolescent or adult rehabilitation centers.
Block/Practicum Students in Elementary Education, SUTEP Internship I and Special Education: Students enrolled in Block, SPED 486 or SPED 487, or SUTEP Internship I may conduct their field experiences at the school during the time their practicum will take place. They are still required to turn in all required paperwork, and must complete all other requirements of the course related to field experience.
The Office of Field Experiences & Licensure retains time sheets for at least one (1) year after the last day of final exams of the semester in which the field experience was completed. Excess hours of field experiences in one semester are not transferred to another semester.
If you attend your pre-student teaching field experience on a weekly basis and are enthusiastic about your participation, both you and our public schools will benefit.