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Student Teaching

All traditional Early Childhood Education (ECE)students at NLU are required to complete both a Practicum and Student Teaching experience. Student teaching is the application of your acquired knowledge during your Early Childhood Program.

These placements are a core part of preparing to work with young learners and are typically completed in back-to-back quarters. You will work with your Advisor and OFE Specialist to set up the experience and be assigned a Field Coach to help you as you enter the field.

Student Teaching means you will be in the classroom full time Mon-Fri for the full school day (10 weeks total).

More questions? Consult the ECE Handbook.

Linked Placement Model

NLU uses a Linked Placement model, meaning students are placed in the same classroom across two terms:

Fall → Winter or Winter → Spring

This structure allows you to build stronger relationships with students, families, and your cooperating teacher, and to gradually increase your teaching responsibilities across the six months.

Time Commitment

Practicum (First Term):

2 full days per week (approximately 16 hours/week)
Emphasis on observation, small group work, and early instructional practice

Student Teaching (Second Term):

5 full days per week (Monday–Friday, full school day)
Full-time teaching for 10 weeks in the same classroom
Lead teaching responsibilities by the end of the placement

Planning Ahead:

Student teaching is a full-time, unpaid experience and many students reduce or pause outside work during this time.

The Patricia Cassin-Graft Scholarship is one resource designed to assist students during their student teaching term. You can find information, including instructions on applying, here.

Note - applications should be submitted no more than one term prior to Student Teaching.

The TEACH Grant is a federal grant for eligible undergraduate students who commit to teaching for four years in a high-need subject area at a school that serves low-income students.

Learn more about the requirements & post-graduate obligations here.

PCG Sco.pdf

Important Notes on Early Childhood Student Teaching

Your placements must reflect the birth–grade 2 age range of your license.
Settings must be in a public school or licensed early childhood program that aligns with state licensure requirements.

The majority of students cannot complete Practicum or Student Teaching at their current workplace.
If you're considering this option, speak with your school administrator early and notify the Office of Field Experience (OFE) once you are assigned a Field Specialist.
All placements are coordinated through OFE and must align with program expectations.

Learn More

For more detailed information on field placements, expectations, and policies, please review the Field Experience Handbook.

Note: Students must meet testing and academic eligibility requirements to begin Student Teaching. See our Content Test Information page for more.

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