Student teaching

Information about Student Teaching

Student Teaching Placement Process

Below is the typical placement process:

• Apply to Student Teach in August

• Placement coordinator will accept applications in September

• Placement coordinator works on placements Oct and November

• Student Teachers will be introduced by email to Cooperating Teachers in late November or early December

• Student Teacher and Cooperating Teacher will fill out Placement Confirmation form in December

• Student can start observing once Placement Confirmation Form is submitted, or can wait for January

• Student teach and complete FSoS 5949 throughout spring semester

  • Note: In order to experience group closure, student teachers are strongly encouraged to stay with at least one of their student teaching classes through the end of the district's year, even if it extends beyond the end of the UMN academic semester.

Student Teaching Requirements

A student may not have any incomplete required courses. All parent education and required child development courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C prior to beginning student teaching placement, with the exception of:

• FSoS 5946 (Assessment and Evaluation in Parent Education)

  • Many students complete this course during the student teaching semester

• Alcohol and Drug Education coursework

FSoS Student Teaching Course

In addition to the field experience, students are required to enroll in FSoS 5949 Student Teaching in Parent Education (3 credits). Eligible students will be given permission to register for this course in late November – early December. Permission information will be provided via UMN email. 

Dispositions Assessment

To be recommended by the program for student teaching placement, all requirements for the demonstration of professional teaching dispositions must be successfully completed. The program Licensure Program Lead (LPL) will complete a Pre-Placement Dispositions assessment approximately 10 to 12 weeks before the student teaching placement. Students who receive  “below expectations” or “not observed” in one or more areas will be given an improvement plan. If appropriate progress is not made, the student cannot be recommended for a student teaching placement the following semester. 

Criminal Background Checks

Minnesota school districts require background checks on every candidate before beginning any clinical experiences, which may include practicums. School districts may require students to pay for a district-determined background check. In all cases, decisions about candidate eligibility will be made by the district approving the student teaching assignment. Questions about background checks should be directed to cehdlic@umn.edu.

Candidates are also subject to a separate background check at the time of Minnesota teaching license application. Background checks are required by the PELSB and conducted by the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

What to Expect During the Student Teaching Experience

Student Teaching in Parent Education is the culminating field experience in which licensure and certificate students assume increasing responsibility for teaching in parent education while under the supervision of an experienced, qualified Cooperating Parent Educator (CPE)/Cooperating Teacher (CT). This experience is broken into thirds as follows.

Transition to Teaching During Student Teaching 

Note: Student Teachers will follow this Transition to Teaching in each of their ST placements/classes.

• First 1/3: Observation

  • Cooperating Teacher is lead teacher

  • ST begins taking on small roles (greeting families, ice breakers, etc.)

• Second 1/3: Co-Teaching 

  • Student Teacher and Cooperating Teacher share lead teaching role

  • ST takes on additional teaching roles over these weeks

• Final 1/3: Lead Teaching

  • Student Teacher is lead teacher

  • Cooperating Teacher provides reflective supervision and support

Minimum Required Hours

The student teaching field experience runs concurrently with FSoS 5949 (Student Teaching in Parent Education) and continues throughout the spring semester. During this time, student teachers are required to log a minimum of 100 hours of field experience. 

These hours are divided as follows:

• At least 50 direct hours including the time that student teachers spend in contact with parents (e.g. during classes, home visits, consultations, phone calls, etc.) and their Cooperating Teacher, and

• At least 50 indirect hours including everything parent educators do outside the presence of parents (e.g. in-services, planning, meetings, etc.).

PFE Student Teaching runs throughout the semester, even if you meet your minimum required hours before the semester is finished. 

Student Teaching After the UMN Academic Year 

The UMN spring semester may end before your placement class is done for the year. Some student teachers might not complete their minimum hours before the end of the UMN academic year. If you will be finishing your required hours after the end of the UMN academic year, please communicate this to the course instructor in order to develop a plan. 

If your minimum required hours are complete at the end of the UMN academic year but your ECFE placement classes are still continuing, we strongly recommend that you stay with at least one of your student teaching classes until the end of their year so you can experience group closure and the conclusion of the class. 

Some students choose to begin observing before spring semester begins. While this may be an option in some situations, we cannot guarantee it will work in all cases and it does not shorten your student teaching experience. You are still required to student teach throughout the spring semester.

Number of Student Teaching Placement Classes

In order to meet the hour requirements, most students need to student teach in 2-3 ECFE classes. In some cases classes may be shorter, and more classes may be required.

Student Teaching in Multiple Sites or Districts

Due to scheduling or proximity to ECFE programs, there are times when a student teacher may be placed in multiple sites. If this is the case:

• The student teacher will still follow the Observing, Co-Teaching, Lead Teaching schedule detailed above in each location.

• One Cooperating Teacher (CT) will be designated as the Primary Cooperating Teacher. This CT will conduct assessments and be responsible for triad meetings, etc. Both CTs will be responsible for supporting the student teacher, debriefing, and facilitating the transition to lead teaching. The student teacher will follow the same Transition to Teaching plan at each placement site.

Student Teaching Placement Preferences, Restrictions, and Limitations

Many student teachers are familiar with an ECFE program through their work or experience as a parent. When you fill out your Student Teaching Application, there will be a section where you can list preferred programs where you’d like to student teach. We will contact the coordinator at these programs and determine whether it would be a good fit. 

A few things to note:

• Student Teachers will not be placed with a direct report (either supervisor or supervisee). It is also highly recommended that Student Teachers be placed outside of the district they currently work in.

• We cannot guarantee specific student teaching locations.

• To meet licensing requirements, there are restrictions on who can serve as a Cooperating Teacher. (For example, CTs must be licensed Parent and Family Educators with at least 3 years of experience as the teacher of record.)

• We have additional requirements and limitations as a program, so final confirmation of student teaching placements will happen through the PFE office.

Regional Faculty Supervisor

For students in Minnesota who are pursuing the teaching license, an additional match will be made to a Regional Faculty Supervisor (RFS). The RFS will be someone other than the CPE or the FSoS 5949 course instructor. The RFS is another experienced, licensed parent educator who resides near the placement location, and will serve as another professional mentor, provide support for Cooperating Teachers, and conduct two observations of the student’s teaching practice during the semester placement. Additional information specific to the various roles and expectations of each is provided on the PFE Student Teaching website.

Responsibilities of each person involved in student teaching in parent education

Student teaching is a collaboration between the teacher candidate, the cooperating teacher, the Regional Faculty Supervisor, and the University of Minnesota instructor/placement coordinator. Each has important responsibilities.

Student Teaching FAQS

 Am I eligible to student teach?

All child development and parent education courses must be successfully completed prior to beginning student teaching. FSoS 5946 can be taken simultaneously with FSoS 5949. The student teaching coordinator will determine your eligibility for student teaching based on your student teaching application. To be recommended by the program for student teaching placement, all requirements for the demonstration of professional teaching dispositions, must be successfully completed. This assessment is typically completed at the end of fall semester (as the students completes FSoS 4944 and 5945).

 How is the placement made?

When you complete your student teaching application, you have the opportunity to list sites where you would like to student teaching, as well as availability preferences. Once your student teaching application is approved by the student teaching coordinator, he/she will coordinate your student teaching site with you and will confirm your placement.

 How do I choose a site or program where I would like to student teach?

This process varies depending on the student. If you are already familiar with the program and specific sites, you may list specific sites or educators you would like to work with. For those who are less familiar with the program (or out of state students), you can work with your advisor and student teaching coordinator to find a suitable placement.

Throughout your program, we encourage you to explore parent education happening in your community to begin identifying potential student teaching sites. This is also a great opportunity to develop relationships with parent educators in the field and begin building a professional network.

 What is the timeline leading up to the start of FSoS 5949?

Applications are due mid-September the semester before you plan to student teach. Students will be notified by late September if they are eligible to move towards student teaching. In most cases, placements will be confirmed between October 30 and December 15. Students must also register for the online course. Permission for course registration will be made available in November or when it is clear that all requirements will be met. 

Once your placement is confirmed you are expected to initiate communication and to set up an initial meeting with your cooperating parent educator (CPE). The purpose of this meeting is to get to know each other and make sure schedules fit. If both the student and CPE agree that the placement is a good fit, a Placement Confirmation form is sent to the student. The student and CPE will complete and sign the form and return it to the student teaching coordinator. If you feel like the student teaching placement is not a good fit, contact the placement coordinator as soon as possible.

 How do I know if a program can meet my student teaching hour requirements?

Most students can complete their direct hours with 2-3 classes per week and their indirect hours with prep time and lesson planning. You are expected to meet with your CPE to determine how you are going to meet the required hours as specified.

EXAMPLE: The Terrific Toddlers class is two hours long and runs for 15 weeks. You are expected to arrive 30 minutes before class for prep and have 30 minutes after class for clean-up and lesson planning. This class would provide you with 30 hours of direct time (15 weeks x 2 hours) and 15 hours of indirect time (15 weeks x 1 hour). Students are expected to work with their CPE to fulfill the remaining hours.

 Do I need to complete student teaching if I am currently teaching?

All students in the licensure program need to participate in student teaching even if they are currently teaching. M.Ed. and certificate students who wish to take the student teaching course also need a placement even if they are already teaching.

If you are currently an early childhood teacher you will need to complete student teaching in our program since you will be working with a different population. If you are currently teaching parent education on a variance, we would like to place you with a different population for student teaching in order to gain experience in a new setting and get the most out of your student teaching experience.

 Is it possible to do student teaching outside of Minnesota?

Yes! Student teaching can be done outside of Minnesota for students pursuing the certificate or M.Ed. only programs. Students pursuing a Minnesota teaching license must complete the placement in a Minnesota ECFE program. For those outside of Minnesota, you will need to work with your assigned advisor and the student teaching placement coordinator to find a placement outside of Minnesota. We have had many out-of-state students that were able to successfully complete their student teaching!

 Who can I contact if I have questions about student teaching?

Please address all student teaching placement related inquiries to Maggie Beaupre DeYoung (famed@umn.edu).