Elementary Education Field Experiences
Students participate in a variety of field experiences prior to student teaching. You will work with your instructor and the Professional Education Unit to set up a schedule where you will be observing a teacher in his/her classroom. You will be required to participate in a variety of diverse field/clinical experience settings (rural, suburban, and urban with varying socio-economic demographics). Student teaching/clinical practice is the culminating field experience for all elementary education majors.
Experiences in the School
CIED 2453: Introduction to Teaching and Learning
This is an initial pre-professional clinical experience in schools, first through eighth grade. The intention of this course is for students to have an introduction to elementary teaching. Students spend 24 hours during the semester with an elementary classroom teacher.
CIED 3430: Early Lab and Clinical Experience in Elementary Education II
Directed observation and participation in classrooms, first through eighth grade.
CIED 3622: Middle Level Education
An overview of the academic, social, and emotional nature and needs of early adolescents as well as an examination of how the needs of early adolescents are integrated into the curriculum, instruction, classroom management and physical structure of the middle school. The interaction and role of middle school personnel, parents/guardians, and community are examined. A field-based experience in a middle school allows for participation in classroom activities.
CIED 4450: Internship in Elementary Education
This advanced clinical experience, commonly referred to as student teaching, takes place in Oklahoma first through eighth grade classrooms. Students are placed for 16 weeks with a single mentor teacher who has been identified by their principal as a highly qualified teacher whose record demonstrates increased student achievement. For clinical practice both the student's mentor teacher and a university supervisor complete formal evaluations at the midterm and end of the student teaching experience. During the clinical practice semester students are only allowed to enroll in CIED 4453: Senior Seminar in Elementary Education.
Other Required Experiences
Literacy Tutoring
As a part of CIED 4233: Literacy Assessment and Instruction, elementary education majors are assigned to work one-on-one tutoring a child in grades 1-8 for at least ten sessions, under the supervision of a university instructor. Students conduct a variety of language and literacy assessments in emergent literacy, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing; determine tutoring goals based upon these assessments; and plan lessons based upon the assessment data. Additionally, the elementary education major has multiple opportunities to communicate with parents/guardians during the experience.
Mathematics Tutoring
As a part of CIED 4153: Teaching Mathematics at the Intermediate Level , elementary education majors are assigned to work one-on-one with a child in grades 3-7 for at least 10 sessions, under the supervision of a university instructor. Students assess the mathematics level of their child, determine tutoring goals based upon this assessment and plan weekly tutoring sessions based upon these goals. Additionally, the elementary education major has multiple opportunities to communicate with parents/guardians during the experience.
Clinical Interviews
As a part of CIED 3153: Teaching Mathematics at the Primary Level, elementary education majors conduct a series of a minimum of four clinical interviews with a child in grades K-3 over the course of the semester. The purpose of these interviews is to explore and analyze the mathematical thinking of a young child applying concepts and techniques learned in class. Students are expected to write up an analysis of each interview and then a final formal analysis across all interviews and make suggestions for.