Overview

At the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, your pre-practicum experience will consist of engaging with PK-12 students, teachers and families at least one day per week for the duration of the semester. Teacher candidates are expected to follow their placement school's daily academic calendar (i.e., start/end time, bell schedule, etc.) and school-based mentor's schedule. Placements traditionally begin in the middle of September and continue for 10 weeks. Teacher candidates are directly placed by the Field Placement team in a range of PK-12 school settings - urban, suburban, Catholic, and private schools. This field experience is designed to align with your teacher education coursework and provide you with distinct opportunities to engage PK- 12 students in the work of teaching and learning. Below you will find specific information about the pre-practicum experience as it relates to your specific program and level at the Lynch School.

All undergraduate and graduate teacher candidates, even if employed, must register for the appropriate pre-practicum course and complete an online teacher education application. Please follow the process below:

1. Register through Eagle Apps for the appropriate pre-practicum course and the co-requisite Inquiry Seminar.

   • Undergraduate students: EDUC2151, EDUC3152 or EDUC3153

   • Graduate students: EDUC7429 

2. Apply for the pre-practicum experience through this Pre-Practicum Application Form. You will be required to provide the following information:

   • Two days, not including Friday, that you are able to complete a full-day field experience aligned with a PK-12 school schedule.

   • Your MEPID (Massachusetts Education Personal ID) is assigned to you by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. The number is accessible from ELAR. 

Note: Employed graduate teacher candidates may fill out this Employment Form to indicate that a pre-practicum experience will be completed at their place of employment. 

Please note that the application must be completed by April 15 for a fall placement and by October 23 for a spring placement.

The Office of Field Placement & Outreach team manages the placement process and actively works with PK-12 school partners who are committed to mentoring, coaching and supporting teacher education candidates through the licensure pathway. Teacher candidates are placed in range of grades/levels in alignment with their licensure area. The field and grades levels in Massachusetts are outlined below:

• Early Childhood Education: Grades PreK-2

• Elementary Education: Grades 1-6

• Secondary Education:

  • English: Grades 5-12

  • Foreign Language: Grades 5-12

  • History: Grades 5-12

  • Mathematics: Grades 8-12

  • Biology: Grades 8-12

  • Chemistry: Grades 8-12

  • Physics: Grades 8-12

  • Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities: PreK-8 and 5-12

  • Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities: All Grades

Please note that in Massachusetts, secondary licenses span both middle and high school levels. Teacher candidates will be guided by a qualified school-based mentor (Supervising Practitioner) and a university-based mentor (Program Supervisor).

As outlined on the Program of Study, all teacher education candidates must complete a pre-practicum field experience (EDUC 7429) in alignment with the state requirements for endorsement from Boston College and licensure in Massachusetts. Teacher candidates must register for the Pre-Practicum field experience course (EDUC 7429) and the co-requisite Graduate Inquiry Seminar I (EDUC 7431). In order to be recommended for the full practicum experience, teacher candidates must successfully pass a licensure-specific assessment task or Gateway Assessment; the Gateway Assessment is embedded in the pre-practicum field experience.

In-Person Pre-Practicum Pathway

Graduate teacher candidates are required to complete a traditional, face-to-face pre-practicum experience. Candidates will be assigned to a PK-12 classroom and will complete an in-person field experience supervised by the Office of Field Placement & Partnership Outreach. Teacher candidates will be assigned a Program Supervisor who will assess their work in the field. Program Supervisors will administer the Gateway assessment and monitor candidates’ performance in the classroom. Please note that this pathway is required for teacher candidates enrolled in the Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars Program, and/or in a dual licensure program at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development.

Virtual Pre-Practicum Pathway via Mursion

Teacher candidates who are 1) enrolled in the Boston College 5th Year Program and completed an appropriate pre/full teaching practicum experience in Massachusetts, or 2) currently licensed in Massachusetts and are pursuing an additional license (e.g., Moderate Disabilities), or 3) have more than 3 years of documented teaching experience in a PK-12 school are eligible to complete a virtual pre-practicum field experience in Mursion. Approved teacher candidates will be assigned a performance task in Mursion, a mixed reality setting, that will serve as the Gateway Assessment. Teacher candidates will be assigned a Program Supervisor who will assess their work in Mursion. Program Supervisors will review the teaching video(s) and assess teacher candidates’ performance on the Gateway Assessment. Please note that this pathway is not applicable to teacher candidates enrolled in the Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars Program and/or in a dual licensure program at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. Candidates who meet the qualification criteria for this pre-practicum experience are advised to discuss this pathway with their Faculty Advisor and to submit a request online.  

August/January

Teacher candidates return to campus and finalize their course schedules. Pre-practicum Launch sessions (orientations) are held and teacher candidates begin the CORI process.

September/February

Placement details are announced to partner schools and teacher candidates the week prior to placement start period and CORIs are completed. Pre-Practicum experiences begin and Program Supervisors (Boston College-based mentors) are assigned.

October/March through December/May

Teacher candidates continue to attend the placement once a week on the assigned day throughout the semester providing direct support to PK-12 teachers, students, and the larger school community. Donovan Scholars attend two days per week in the Fall and employed teacher candidates attend per employment requirements (typically 5 days per week for full-time positions). Pre-Practicum placements formally conclude before BC breaks.