Block Teacher Role and Responsibilities

Block Teacher-Candidate Role

Block A teacher candidates are apprentices in the profession of teaching. Student teachers are expected to demonstrate effective planning, teaching and communication skills. The Block A teaching experience is the foundation for developing and demonstrating professional relationships.

Each Block A Teacher-Candidate will complete 3 Formal Observations in Block A:

One in EDUC 4033- Social Studies

One in EDUC 4043- Math

One in EDUC 4053- Science

Block Teacher-Candidate Responsibilities

• Be on time and prepared for your field day. If late or absent, you must notify, as soon as possible, both the cooperating teacher and the university supervisor. Please make plans to ensure that you are consistently on time.

• Learn from every experience and contact with other teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, students, and parents.

• Be aware of your mentor's teacher’s plans for seating, routine activities, changing classes and groups, grading, managing, teaching, and assessing student learning.

• Submit lesson plans on time. Reflect after teaching each lesson; discuss ideas with the cooperating teacher and the university supervisor via face-to-face interaction, e-mail, or Desire2Learn (D2L).

• Plan and implement lessons that follow the researched best practices whether for a small or a large group. This includes reflection to determine that objectives are met or that will dictate the next steps in instruction.

• Use conferences with cooperating teacher and university supervisor to share, plan, reflect, etc. Be open to suggestions and input.

• Recognize and modify personal behavior and attitude when planning work with individual students, teachers, parents, and others.

• Successful completion and submission of Block A Unit Plan and other required documents.

• Use student records to facilitate growth and development while respecting confidentiality. It is imperative to request confidentiality.

Relationship to Mentor Teacher

• The mentor teacher has the final responsibility for the quality of instruction and learning environment.

• The Block A teacher candidate will effectively establish communication with the mentor teacher to learn about instructional techniques and assessment processes.

• The Block A teacher candidate will strictly adhere to a policy of not discussing information about students with other teachers, students, friends, or relatives.

• Block A teacher candidates are responsible for knowing and following confidential policies of the school district.

• The mentor teacher has final responsibilities for the daily program and for the student's welfare. It is expected that the mentor teacher will allow more initiative and responsibility as the student teacher demonstrates increasing skill.

• The Block A teacher candidate will perform all assigned tasks and be flexible in assumption of classroom responsibilities.

• The Block A teacher candidate will keep the mentor teacher informed of any problems or changes in classroom plans. He/she will also inform the cooperating teacher of any necessary/required absences.

Relationship to the University Professor

In establishing a relationship with the university supervisor, the student teacher will:

• Partcipate each and every class. Notes will need to be taken each week in class and submiited with your module notes to D2L in EDUC 4033 and EDUC 4053.

• Immediately email Dr. Hinchman, Dr. Gupta, or Professor Bullard if you miss field or class. This is a professional block course and has expectations different from other courses.