B.Ed.

(TESL) Link Degree Programme Year Four

PRACTICUM Student Teachers Handbook

JUNE 2011

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

RATIONALE The practicum component is an integral part of the B.Ed. TESL Link Degree Programme. It allows you considerable time to engage in teaching in primary/secondary classrooms under the supervision of experienced supervisors and school teachers. AIM To provide you with the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in a supportive classroom context, and to introduce you to a wide range of roles as members of a school community. GENERAL OBJECTIVES The Year 4 Practicum will enable you to: Familiarize yourself with the organization and administration of the school. Carry out classroom organization and management in such areas as: classroom routines and procedures school and classroom disciplinary problems and management strategies teaching-learning strategies preparation and use of audio-visual aids assessment procedures and record keeping Put into practice the theory and skills acquired during the course. Make reasoned choices of methods, materials and assessment strategies based on an understanding and analysis of their students needs and abilities. Manage teaching and learning of English. Develop your self-confidence, self-awareness and professionalism through actual classroom teaching. Reflect on theory and practice as a step towards professional growth. Establish close rapport with school staff and peers. Participate in the wider aspects of school life such as co-curricular activities. IPBA

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

PRACTICUM ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE

There will be two phases in your practicum stint: formative and summative evaluation. In phase one, your supervisor/s and cooperating teachers as mentors will help you in terms of providing guidance and constructive criticism on your lesson plans and practicum in general. Form A1 will be used to provide feedback to you. There will not be any assessment at this point. However in the second phase which is the Summative evaluation phase, your supervisors and cooperating teachers will provide formal evaluations on each observed lesson using Form A. This Form A indicates the level of your progress in each observed lesson, in terms of `High Level of Competency, `Satisfactory or `Not satisfactory . Your Cooperating teacher will submit Form B indicating your overall performance in the school at the end of practicum. Form C will indicate the final assessment of your practicum in the program. You are required to achieve at least a level of `Satisfactory to obtain a PASS in this program. The table below illustrates the above mentioned details. Table 1.0 : Practicum Schedule Phase Duration Teaching Periods One (Formative) 27 June 26 July 2011 Mid Practicum Debriefing
27- 29 July 2011

Week 1week 4 (4 weeks)

Gradual build up of 8 -10 periods per week (English language). Maximum of 2 periods per week (Literature,)

Number of formal reports Supervisor Co operating Teacher 1 1 1 1

Week 5 3 days

Involves Student teachers, Supervisor and University Moderator (Note: All students MUST attend this forum at IPG KBA) 8 10 periods per week 3 2 (English language) Maximum of 2 periods per week (Literature,) 1 1

Two (Summative) 1 August 30 Sept 2011

Week 5 Week 12 (8 weeks)

Practicum Debriefing and Seminar

3 October 7

Week 13

Involves Student teachers and Supervisors

October 2011

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO :

BEFORE TEACHING PRACTICUM

Attend all Practicum briefings (pre-practicum, mid practicum and post practicum). The attendance for the briefing sessions is COMPULSORY and will be part of attendance for practicum. Collect necessary resources, e.g. books, teaching aids, etc. Make a preliminary visit to the school. DURING TEACHING PRACTICUM Report to school as scheduled. Submit to the supervisor and Year 4 B. Ed. (TESL) practicum Coordinator a copy of your timetable, together with name, address and telephone number. Behave in accordance with the professional expectations of the school, including punctuality and dress codes. Take the opportunity to use your time in school to develop your professional relationship with the school staff. Take care of any school materials used or borrowed. Borrowed materials must be returned before the final day of the Practicum.

Alert your supervisor or Head of Practicum Unit of any serious problem in a timely manner. Make expectations are understood. Take the outset of the practice. responsibility for becoming familiar with classroom routines, childrens names and needs, and the schools planning at sure that school systems, duties and

Set

up

practicum

file/portfolio

(with

background

information, planning and assessment records) according to guidance given, early in the first week of the practice. Refer to checklist on Appendix B

Write detailed lesson plans in your record book. Classes taught without lesson plans or inadequate lesson plans will be rated as not satisfactory and this will be documented in the practicum reports.

Discuss lesson plans, materials and strategies with cooperating teacher/supervisor before and after the lessons.

Immediately after the lesson, record your reflection of the lesson and file this next to the relevant lesson plan. Write at least one weekly reflection. Refer to section on Lesson ReflectionMark and return learners exercises promptly, whenever necessary.

Reflect on feedback after lesson observations and respond to advice from Supervisors / co-operating teachers. Use the Lesson Observation Form (Form A1 and A) as guides to relevant aspects.

when required. activities.

Ensure that practicum portfolio are kept up-to-date and made available to the school Principal, supervisor and co-operating teacher Be proactive in taking part for example in co-curricular

required by IPG KBA

Attend

mid-practicum

debriefing

sessions

as

STUDENT TEACHERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE PRACTICUM PHASE ONE, PRACTICUM PHASE TWO AS WELL AS THE REFELCTION TASK AFTER PRACTICUM

Submit claim forms and attendance forms to the college Head of Unit Practicum by the 5th of the following month. Submit Reflection task to your Supervisor by 7th October 2011 .

Attend Practicum Debriefing and Seminar as stipulated by IPG KBA

CONTENTS IN PRACTICUM PORTFOLIO During your practicum, you should keep a practicum portfolio. You should have the following in your portfolio: Personal details such as name, identity card number, address etc Time-table Background information of learners

Syllabuses Scheme of work and learning unit Lesson plans (Lesson plans are to be written or pasted in the record book)

Lesson Reflection / Weekly journal. For further information refer to the section below on lesson reflection. Evaluation record ( cooperating teacher and supervisor) Teaching aids or resources for e.g. charts, pictures in a folder ( in a separate folder)

LESSON REFLECTION / WEEKLY JOURNAL Lesson evaluation is most important in the development Should be analytical rather than descriptive and should

of teaching and learning. state the evidence on which your judgments are based (e.g. your teaching performance; learners oral contributions; their level of interest and motivation; the ability or inability of groups and individuals to learn from the resources provided; the equality of relationships in the classroom, etc). The evaluation might frequently take the form of a comparison of the ideal stated in lesson plans with the reality experienced in the classroom, giving reasons for the differences. Implications for future lessons should be stated. A minimum of one evaluation per week is required.

Use the prompt questions discussed during your practicum input sessions as a guide. (Refer to Appendix A)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE

PASS in practicum. For the award of a B. Ed. Degree, you must achieve a

You are awarded PASS/FAIL based on a set of criteria

determined by IPG KBA and link partners based on moderation of lesson observations and discussions with you and/or school staff. Moderation of grades by external examiners and moderators is confidential.

Failing in practicum will normally result in a referral.

The duration of referral will be at the discretion of Joint Examination Board. Student teachers are allowed to repeat the practicum stint only ONCE. Failure in the referral will result in a recommendation for withdrawal from the programme. The final grade for practicum will be an overall

summative assessment (Form C) based on: a) lesson observations and record of work ( Form A and practicum portfolio) b) school report on practicum ( Form B)

IMPORTANT

100% attendance Students teachers should complete Phase One before moving on to Phase Two Student teachers need to complete the duration of their practicum should they be absent without any valid documents.

Appendix A

Weekly Reflection Questions Instructional plan Learning Goals/Objectives: Reflection To what extent did students learn what I intended? How do I know that?

1 What are my goals for student learning?

That is, what do I intend students to learn? 2 Why have I chosen these goals? Student Grouping: 1 How will I group students for instruction? 2 Why have I chosen this grouping? Methods: 1 What teaching method(s) will I use for this lesson? 2 Why have I chosen this method or these methods? Activities: 1 What activities have I planned? (Activity and time allocated) 2 Why have I chosen this grouping?

How would I group students for similar instruction in the future? Why? In what ways were my teaching methods effective? How do I know that?

In what ways were my activities effective? How do I know that? (Activity and time used)

Materials: 1 What instructional materials will I use? 2 Why have I chosen these materials? Evaluation: 1 How and when do I plan to evaluate student learning on the content of this lesson? 1 Why have I chosen this approach to evaluation?

In what ways were my materials effective?

Has anything that happened during this lesson influenced my evaluation plan? If so, how has it changed, and why? How will I use the information from the evaluation to plan future instruction?

Appendix B Checklist for Student Teachers Pre-Practicum No Activity 1 Attend Pre- practicum briefing 2 Meet Supervisor 3 Meet Cooperating Teacher 4 Make Preliminary Visit to the school 5 Collect necessary teaching and learning resources ( ongoing) While Practicum

No 1

Activity Submit to the supervisor and Year 4 B. Ed. (TESL) practicum Coordinator a copy of your timetable, together with name, address and telephone number. Set up practicum Portfolio . Your Portfolio should contain the following :Personal details such as name, identity card number, address etc Time-table Background information of learners Syllabuses Scheme of work and learning unit Daily Lesson plans Weekly Lesson Reflections Evaluation record ( cooperating teacher and supervisor) Form A 1 and Form A Teaching aids or resources for e.g. charts, pictures in a folder ( in a separate folder) Weekly Reflections

3 4 5

Attend Mid Practicum Briefing Submit Reflection task to Supervisor by 7th. October 2011 Submit monthly Attendance form

Post Practicum No Activity 1 Submit to college practicum coordinator at the end of practicum a) claim forms (To the Head of Practicum Unit) b) Attendance form

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