Elementary Solo Plans
The Vermont Agency of Education requires at least one week of solo teaching. As a culminating experience, solo week should fall as close to the end of the student teaching placement as possible while still allowing time for the student teacher to transition out and the cooperating teacher to transition back in to full responsibility. The student teacher, in consultation with the cooperating teacher and supervisor, may choose to have a shadow week prior to solo week during which the student teacher assumes full responsibility for planning and teaches most of the day, with the cooperating teacher present in the classroom at least part of each day. Student teachers will create an overview of the week (week at a glance) and a detailed lesson plan for each routine area or subject with attached notes for each day of the week. Notes should include learning objective, grouping, materials, assessment, and key vocabulary in a format agreed upon with the supervisor and in consultation and collaboration with the cooperating teacher. Fuller lesson plans may be useful and/or required for special topics. They are due to the supervisor at least one week in advance of solo week. As with all lessons, supervisors will give feedback which students will incorporate into final plans.
Middle/Secondary Solo Plans
While the Vermont Agency of Education requires a minimum of one week of solo teaching, we suggest a minimum of two. During the solo weeks, the student teacher will take over all responsibilities, teach all periods/classes, and can co-design with their CT and/or redesign their CT’s lessons. Any lesson that is part of the unit will be designed and taught by the ST. The ST will facilitate a discussion about the unit due date and teaching schedule. We suggest a draft of the unit be submitted to the supervisor and cooperating teacher one week in advance for feedback.
ELL & Art Solo Plans
ELL and Art Licensure Students seeking PK-12 endorsement may be in one placement for all 13 weeks or be on a 13 week/2 week schedule if they have not yet completed their 60 hours of field experience in the grade range opposite their student teaching. In either case, soloing will typically occur in the last 4 weeks of the 13-week placement. Licensing rules require at least one week of solo teaching, and we encourage two.