Intern Academic Responsibilities

The Internship Seminar, Classes, and Meetings

The Internship consists of over 100 days of student teaching. The 10-month MAT program consists of a summer session beginning in early July, a full academic year in the classroom, and a second summer session in May. Throughout the program, Interns attend regularly scheduled classes, Internship seminars and other meetings (e.g. internship abroad preparation meetings).

Coursework is delivered both in traditional classes during and after the school day, during summer sessions, and online through Blackboard and other tools.  The Fall semester’s courses and internship experiences follow a block schedule where interns attend campus-based classes for a block of weeks followed by blocks of school-based internship experiences.  The Spring semester consists of full-time placements in public schools. The second summer session allows for the completion of the ePortfolio and the Master’s Research Project (MRP). (See the MAT  Schedule of Responsibilities.) 

Academic Responsibilities

• Registration for coursework and payment of tuition at specified intervals throughout the program.

• Full-time commitment to the Internship; holding of additional employment during the entire period of the program is strongly discouraged.

• PROMPT attendance and participation at all Internship seminars, meetings, and classes as well as at all school-based functions.

Absences

The MAT Program confers a master’s degree in one year.  Students are expected to be present during their internship and while on campus. . The MAT Council’s decisions about approved leave are final.  ALL leave counts toward the total absences allowed.

Interns are allowed a total of two hours absence from graduate courses.  During the compressed academic blocks, Interns are expected to attend all classes.  An Intern may be absent a total of six days from their public school Internship placement during the 11-month program.  Exceeding that number places the Internship in jeopardy. Absences are allowed if an Intern is sick, if there has been a dire family emergency, or if the Intern is unavoidably scheduled for a job interview.  If an Intern must be absent from the Internship placement, he or she MUST follow the school’s exact procedures for communicating with the Mentor Teacher and/or Administration.  Appropriate forms for absences must be submitted electronically to the Director of Student Teaching.

Graduate Level Student Expectations

Academic Integrity

Students will complete all work on time and with academic integrity.  Late work without prior notice for an approved reason (by the course instructor) will not be accepted.  Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. An Intern found guilty of academic dishonesty faces possible dismissal from the MAT program. The same policies and procedures established at the SMCM undergraduate level apply.

Assignment Quality

All work must be completed professionally – typewritten, grammatically correct, properly punctuated, and, if turned in as a hard copy, printed on clean white paper. You are a future teacher.  You MUST be able to write clearly and correctly.

Campus Classroom Behavior

Come to class rested, alert, and ready to participate. Please show the same courtesy in class that you will expect of your students by being present and attentive.  Your computer is a valuable tool that should accompany you to class. However, your course instructors expect you to refrain from completing other coursework, checking e-mail, perusing Facebook, texting, and/or attending to any other off topic material. Participating in side conversations during lecture or class discussion  is not acceptable and will be addressed. 

Grades

If an Intern receives any MAT coursework grade lower than a “C,” the matter will be referred to the MAT Council for review.

Demonstrations of Competencies to Meet Standards

During the entire MAT program, students will be expected to accomplish the following:

Pedagogy (INTASC Principles 1,2,7)

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of their disciplines.

• Demonstrate competence in developing the reading ability of all students.

• Plan independently: create long-term, unit, and daily lesson plans.

• Plan, conduct, and critique a variety of lesson types: introductory, review, inductive, synthesizing, directed readings, etc.

• Plan and conduct lessons that encourage the development of higher order thinking skills.

Research (INTASC Principles 4,8)

• Demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of all Maryland assessment mandates for public school students.

• Construct formal and informal, formative and summative assessments that evaluate student attainment of stated lesson objectives.

• Use assessment of classroom issues to plan and carry out a Master’s Research Project that will enhance student learning.

• Use results from assessments to plan for remediation, extension, re-teaching, and individualization.

• Evaluate and report student progress

• Evaluate and report effectiveness of Master’s Research Project.

Reflection (INTASC Principles 5,9)

• Show by their actions that they understand and abide by professional standards of conduct.

• Use standard English in all written and oral communication and in all material used in the classroom.

• Participate in all MAT classes, meetings, seminars, and programs.

• Engage in reflection on and evaluation of their own teaching through journals, conferences, progress reports, and student feedback.

Diversity (INTASC Principles 2,3,4,9)

• Describe and make adaptations for the cultural and socio-economic structure of the community served by the school.

• Adapt instruction for students with different learning styles, varying abilities, different cultures, and special needs.

• Demonstrate equal treatment of gender and culturally diverse groups with regard to language choices, material selection, and general interaction with students.

Technology (INTASC Principle 6, MTTS 1-7)

• Use appropriate audio, visual, technological, computer, and other technological components in lessons.

• Create an ePortfolio that exhibits a depth of knowledge and growth in professional skills over time. 

Classroom Management (INTASC Principle 5, 9)

• Maintain a classroom atmosphere that is inviting and conducive to learning both with and without the supervising teacher present.

• Analyze causes of unacceptable student behavior and implement appropriate corrective action, including parent contact, as appropriate.

Ties to Community (INTASC Principle 10)

• Demonstrate effective relationships and rapport with students, parents, colleagues, administrators, and supervisors.

• Participate appropriately and effectively in parent conferences.

• Participate in department, grade level, and faculty meetings, duties, and extracurricular activities assigned to the supervising teacher and expected of faculty.