FAQs

When will I do my student teaching?

Student teaching occurs in three phases distributed over three semesters. Typically on a full-time schedule, MTED 184X student teaching occurs the spring semester of Year 3. MTED 184Y student teaching occurs the fall semester of Year 4 and MTED 184Z in spring semester of Year 4.

What subjects will I teach?

You will be assigned to teach Grades 6-12 classes in mathematics in which you intend to be credentialed and in which you have demonstrated subject matter competency. You may also be required to teach in diverse classrooms and, in many cases, at more than one grade level in any phase of student teaching.

Do I need to be subject matter competent in math before I start student teaching?

Subject matter competence is not required to complete MTED 184X, Early Field Experience. However, you  need to be 80% subject matter competent with a minimum math GPA of  2.25 before you are permitted to start MTED 184Y, Initial Student Teaching. This is a CTC requirement. Also, you need to meet a minimum overall GPA of 2.67 for all college and university work taken by the time you graduate from the Integrate Program; this is a Chancellor's requirement for all CSU teacher educator preparation programs. 

Aside from being on good academic standing, what are other basic requirements that I need to satisfy before I am permitted to start MTED 184X?

When you are officially accepted to the credential part of the Integrated Program, which should happen before you take MTED 394 (Secondary School Math Methods), you need to pass a TB test and a Certificate of Clearance from the CTC. These two requirements are required by all districts and schools and are non-negotiable. 

How many classes will I be required to teach?

In MTED 184X, you will observe and assist in one math classroom where you will observe and assist a mentor teacher. In MTED 184Y and 184Z student teaching, you will teach and observe a minimum of two different periods or classes (level and/or subject or equivalently a 90-minute block) for the entire semester. In addition, in MTED 184Y and 184Z, each student teacher must spend a minimum of two full teaching days on-site at the school. Over the entirety of the program, you will be in your student teaching placements for at least 600 hours to provide a solid experience and mentorship.

How frequently will my university supervisor visit me?

The number of times you are visited will depend upon several factors. Your supervisor will observe you teach, give you feedback, and provide the necessary support to help you succeed. Generally, each semester during student teaching, student teachers are visited six times (for two triad meetings--at the start and end of the semester--and four in-person observations). All student teachers are visited often enough throughout each semester of student teaching to determine student teacher competence and readiness for certification. Observations and visits could exceed the minimum of 6. 

How much autonomy will I have as a student teacher?

This will depend primarily upon your mentor teacher and how fast you develop. Some mentor teachers will turn over responsibility for the classes almost immediately. Others increase student teacher responsibility for the classes more slowly. Be prepared for a continuum of pacing or mentor teacher styles. You must comply with your mentor teacher’s instructions on planning lessons, organizing the class, correcting papers, giving grades, and so forth. In no case should you engage in a practice in which your mentor teacher or university supervisor does not approve. In addition, you should contact your university supervisor if you have any concerns about adequate opportunities to complete your instruction requirements.

How will I be evaluated?

Your mentor teacher will provide you with both verbal and written feedback during the course of the semester. At the end of your teaching assignment, your mentor teacher will complete a written evaluation of your performance and submit it to the university supervisor. Your university supervisor also will provide verbal feedback and will complete the official summative evaluation for the semester. Student teacher self-evaluations will also be completed. Note that all prior summative evaluations from mentor teachers and university supervisors will be brought to and shared with your university supervisor and mentor teacher of the next semester and/or phase of student teaching.

How is student teaching graded? 

Student teaching is graded on a credit/no credit basis.

Will I be told in advance about visits from my university supervisor?

Some university supervisors plan visits in advance and others like to make unscheduled observations. Check with your university supervisor to see which approach will be used. When visits are scheduled, it is expected that the student teacher will provide a description of the lesson planned in advance of the visit (and at the very least, at the time of the visit).

What lesson plan template must I use?

You are required to use the Math Lesson Plan template that you used in your methods course. It can also happen that the Integrated Program Coordinator may require you to use a different template especially if it will help you complete the CalTPA successfully. You are not permitted to use your own template.

Will the mentor teacher ever leave the room while I am student teaching? 

This is an issue of “In Loco Parentis.” As the classroom teacher, you are caring for students in place of their parents. You are the teacher of record, not the student teacher. Should anything happen which is detrimental to a student’s welfare while you are absent from the classroom, you are responsible. You are the district’s employee, not the student  teacher. California Education Code, Section  48907. The  CTC and  SJSU requires the mentor teacher is in the classroom at all times.

For how many hours per day am I required to be on school campus?

We ask that you plan to be on campus for your assigned time each day (1 class in MTED 184X, 2 classes in MTED 184Y, and 2 classes in MTED 184Z, or equivalent), plus additional time to confer with your mentor teacher to be determined by the mentor teacher, student teacher, and university supervisor (e.g., before school, after school, during break, lunch, or your mentor teacher’s preparation period). Per the CTC, “over the arch of the program you will be in your student teaching placements for at least 600 hours, providing you a solid experience and mentorship.”

What do I do if I need to request leave from teaching for a day?

In general, you are responsible for being at your school site every day of your placement (including days that are holidays on the SJSU academic calendar) and all absences must be approved in advance by both your mentor teacher and university supervisor. If you need to take a day off you must contact both your mentor teacher and university supervisor to request permission in advance. If you are sick, you should prepare a substitute plan (if you are in the solo teaching phase of student teaching), and in the case of MTED 184X you may be asked to make up the missed day. You should always contact both your mentor teacher and your university supervisor to apprise them of the situation and give them as much advance notice as possible. Identifying the best way to reach both mentor teacher and university supervisor and practices for such an event would be an important topic to address at the beginning of the semester.

Should I request a letter of recommendation from my mentor teacher?

Yes, if you believe your mentor teacher knows you well enough to write one. You may request a letter of recommendation from any of your mentor teachers, especially if you have performed well. Remember: It is your responsibility to request letters of recommendation. You might also ask permission to have another faculty observe your teaching for the purpose of a letter or additional feedback.

What should I do if problems arise?

If you have a problem pertaining to your responsibilities as a classroom teacher, discuss it first with your mentor teacher. If the difficulty pertains to your relationship with your mentor teacher, contact your university supervisor. Most problems are minor and can be resolved easily if communicated promptly. If the problem persists, contact Dr. Ferdie Rivera (ferdinand.rivera@sjsu.edu), the BA Integrated Math Program Coordinator. If you are still unhappy about the way the problem is being addressed, contact Dr. Cheryl Roddick (cheryl.roddick@sjsu.edu), Mathematics Education Coordinator.