The
primary goal of the ELED/SED 300 Early Field Experience (EFE)
is to help students gain an understanding of the expectations
of teachers in a modern society, and make an informed decision
on whether or not teaching matches his/her career aspirations.
After reading all of the information below, you may scroll down
and click on the "Early Field Experience Application"
link to submit your application. Consult your ELED/SED 300
instructor if you have any questions after reading this page.
Note:
If you are required
to fulfill a field experience for ELED/SED 300 and RDG 350 or
370,ELED/SED 200 ,you must only submit one application. You will
be able to designate the courses you are requesting a field experience
for on the the application form.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK – IMPORTANT
INFORMATION!!!
Most school districts now require a criminal background
check be performed before allowing an observer in the district.
If a background check is required, it is YOUR (applicant’s)
responsibility to complete the required form.
Forms are available in the Teacher Certification Office, Ed North,
Room 205. It is IMPERATIVE the criminal background forms be completed.
Your application will NOT be processed / sent to the district
without the required criminal background form.
All forms may be returned to the Teacher Certification Office,
Ed North, Room 205, once completed. We will ensure forms are submitted
to respective districts.
Districts Requiring Background Checks:
| Allen ISD |
Ft. Worth ISD |
Quitman ISD |
| Arlington ISD |
Frisco ISD |
Richardson ISD |
| Caddo Mills ISD |
Garland ISD |
Rockwall ISD |
| Canton ISD |
Greenville ISD |
Sherman ISD |
| Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD |
Maypearl ISD |
Terrell ISD |
| Dallas ISD |
McKinney ISD |
Waxahachie ISD |
| Denton ISD |
Mesquite ISD |
Wills Point ISD |
| DeSoto ISD |
Midlothian ISD |
| Ennis ISD |
Plano ISD |
Note: There may be additional districts requiring background checks;
we will make you aware as we learn of them.
30 Hours of Early Field Experience (EFE)
A minimum of 30, verified, clock hours must
be spent in a school setting, working with one or more assigned
mentor teacher(s). The EFE intern (ELED/SED 300 student)
will only be able to log hours spent during the school day (excluding
lunch).
The EFE intern will benefit
from the EFE in the following ways:
- Early exposure to public school students,
teachers, and other school professionals
- Highly relevant experiences in a classroom
setting
- Exposure to the policies, programs, and
activities of the school
- Extended periods of time in a classroom
setting to study classroom organization and management, instructional
strategies, curriculum planning, and many other teaching practices
and procedures from an experienced public school teacher (i.e.,
your assigned mentor)
- Exposure to content curriculum, resources,
technology, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) objectives,
Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) objectives, etc...
- Opportunities to study ethnic, racial,
and cultural diversity
- Opportunity to make a firm decision on
whether or not a career in teaching is right for you
Responsibilities in the
Classroom
First and foremost, the EFE intern is required
to observe the mentor teacher and his/her students in the classroom
setting. Particular focus should be placed on interaction
from teacher-to-student, student-to-teacher, and student-to-student.
You may participate in additional activities at the discretion
of your assigned mentor(s) and SED/ELED instructor. (See
"Activities" section below) The EFE intern is
expected to continually maintain "acceptable" ratings
in areas of professional appearance, social maturity, emotional
maturity, physical fitness, effective communication, role modeling,
punctuality, receptiveness to coaching (teachable), initiative
and willingness, ethical standards, interest and enthusiasm, cooperation,
and motivation, as will be assessed by each mentor teacher signing
your log sheet (see "Evaluation" section).
NOTE: Completing your
30 hours of EFE is mandatory in the Teacher Education Program
admission process. In addition, "Unacceptable"
ratings on your EFE Rating Form may result in consultation,
remediation, a growth plan, or denial of admission to the Teacher
Education Program.
Essential Memo and Forms
for the EFE (click links to access memo and forms):
You will need to submit the following memo
and forms to your mentor...
You will need to submit the memo
(linked above) to your mentor(s) prior to, or when you arrive
for your initial visit.
You must submit this form to your
ELED/SED 300 instructor when
you complete the EFE. You will need signatures from your
mentor and principal on campus. CECAS will need the original.
Remember to make copies for your own files.
Print and submit this form to all mentors
that you observe or work with during the EFE. Each mentor
will complete this form and submit it back to you. You will
give all, completed, original forms to your ELED/SED 300 instructor
at the end of your EFE. CECAS will need the original forms,
and they must be signed by the appropriate parties. Remember
to make copies for your own files.
- Upon Completion, Send "Thank
You" Note/Card
You should send a thank you note or card to
all mentors you worked with when you complete the EFE, especially
your primary mentor.
Evaluation
The mentor is asked to complete the "Early
Field Experience Rating Form" and submit the form
to the EFE intern. Students will supply this one-page form
to the mentor teacher at the beginning of the EFE. The mentor
teacher(s) is/are asked to complete the form and share it with
the EFE intern. It is not required that the teacher discuss
this evaluation with the student.
Suggested/Possible Activities
At the discretion of the ELED/SED 300 instructor
and mentor teacher(s), the EFE intern may participate in certain
activities while fulfilling his/her 30 hours of observation.
Suggested activities are listed below. Note:
The ELED/SED 300 instructor or mentor teacher(s) may or may not
allow the EFE intern to participate in the following activities.
Introductory Activities:
- Take a tour of the building to get acquainted
with how grade levels and subjects are grouped, classrooms arranged,
and special classrooms located.
- Become familiar with the daily schedule,
attendance forms, office referrals, etc…
- Learn the daily routine of the school;
teacher schedules, lunch breaks, planning time, class length,
and procedures for drills.
- Develop a seating chart for the classroom
and learn student names.
- Take attendance and lunch count.
- Visit the library center and become acquainted
with its organization and resources.
- Make a list of the materials used daily
in teaching.
- Become acquainted with course curriculum
guide, TAAS objectives, and TEKS.
- Observe a variety of classes (different
classes from different age levels)
Instructional
Experiences:
- Observe and list the variety of ways teachers
use to manage student behavior.
- Observe and list the non-verbal signals
the teacher uses to communicate with students.
- Serve as a resource for handling classroom
interruptions.
- Organize and supervise classroom activities.
- Design worksheets, overhead transparencies,
models, charts, or bulletin boards.
- Tutor individual students on homework,
projects, or makeup work.
- Assist teacher and/or students in using
media and technology equipment.
- Monitor and/or facilitate small groups.
- Team teach lessons with the teacher.
- Give directions for assignments.
- Monitor and assist the class while the
teacher works with small groups or individual students.
- Monitor seat work.
- With careful teacher supervision, prepare
and teach a short lesson.
- Discuss the effectiveness of classroom
strategies and assignments.
- Reflect on classroom management organization
and effectiveness.
- Assist in designing activities.
- Participate in classroom activities.
Additional Clerical
Experiences:
- Evaluate/grade written assignments and/or
homework of students.
- Distribute/collect instructional materials.
- Locate classroom resources.
Guidelines
to follow when fulfilling your EFE
- Plan to dress professionally.
Discuss with the principal and/or teacher the appropriate dress.
Avoid jeans, leggings, short skirts, shorts, sleeveless blouses,
and T-shirts. Men should wear a collared shirt with dress
pants. Women should wear pant suits or dresses.
Those observing in a physical education/exercise class environment
may wear (if approved by district) workout suits (absolutely
no cotton sweat pants or shorts).
- Always pre-schedule each time
that you visit.
- Arrive promptly and consistently.
- Follow parking and entering policies.
- Sign-in on the building sign-in
form in the office on each visit (no exceptions). If at
anytime you leave campus, sign-out on the same form.
- Wear a visitors badge if it is
required by the district.
- Submit the essential memo and
forms to your mentor(s).
- Provide your ELED/SED 300
instructor's contact information
to your mentor(s).
- Follow the rules of confidentiality.
- Follow all rules and regulations
of the school and district.
- Keep a good attitude.
- Be teachable and learn, learn,
learn.
- Review and excel in the
areas that you will be assessed on the "Early Field
Experience Rating Form."
- Make a copy of your records and
keep them on file.
- Direct all concerns to your instructor
or the Field Experiences office at 903-886-5182, ext 2.
Important Points to Consider
(If you have questions, please read the following
points.)
- Once you submit your application online
and it is sent to the school, the application request may not
be changed. You will be required to complete the placement
field experience according to the application that you submitted.
- You may complete your field experience
in only one school. For the sake of organization, time,
and the amount of work we request of our school district partners,
we will not request placement in multiple schools.
- You must complete and turn in all forms
for your 30 hours of EFE before the end of the semester, or
time designated by your ELED/SED 300 teacher (if before the
end of the semester). Not completing the 30 hours will
result in a grade of "F" in your ELED/SED 300 course.
- You must complete the 30 hours of EFE as
one admission requirement to the Teacher Education Program.
You may receive consultation, remediation, growth plan, or denial
of admission if you receive "Unacceptable" ratings
on your evaluation (i.e., EFE Rating Form).
- The 30 EFE hours may not be fulfilled outside
of your EFE placement in ELED/SED 300, with field experience
hours from other courses, or from past experience as a substitute
teacher.
- If you are an educational aide,
you may log in your EFE hours on-the-job at your current place
of employment, provided it is in a TEA-accredited school, or
petition the Director of Field Experiences to have your past
experiences considered in lieu of the 30 hour requirement.
Click HERE
to retrieve the form that you must use as an educational
aide (only) to petition waiving the 30 hour EFE requirement.
If you decide to log your hours in on-the-job, you must fill
out the application and be placed with a mentor; observing and,
if possible, participating in the "Suggested Activities"
from the list above.
- All field experiences are
made and verified through the CECAS Field Experiences office.
Do not contact districts or teachers for a placement, or prior
to receiving a placement (if your placement is pending).
- The school district
and school that you request for your field experience
must be accredited by the Texas Education Agency. Verify
this through the Texas
School Directory.
Consult
your ELED/SED 300 instructor
if you have any questions.
Your
placement confirmation will be sent to your instructor.
PLEASE
DO NOT CONTACT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PRIOR TO PLACEMENT!
Field
Experience Applications For Fall 2007 Must Be Submitted By
8
a.m. On Wednesday, September 5th.
(Applications accepted after Deadline may
be delayed)
Field
Experience Application
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