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Student Teaching

All Elementary Education (ELE) majors at NLU are required to complete both a Practicum and Student Teaching experience. These placements are essential to preparing for a successful career in a 1st-6th classroom.

Practicum and Student Teaching are typically completed in consecutive quarters and will place you in a public or charter school classroom that aligns with the grade levels of your licensure. Student Teaching means you will be in the classroom full time Mon-Fri for the full school day (10 weeks total).

Still have questions? Check out the ELE 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 Elementary Student Teaching

Your placements must reflect the 1st-6th grade range covered by the Professional Educator License (PEL).
Settings must be public or state-recognized schools that meet Illinois licensure requirements for elementary education.
Student Teaching cannot be completed in a self-contained special education classroom.

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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