The Core 2 Practicum (CI 426E) takes place during spring semester of candidates’ junior year in the program. It is a 1-credit-hour field experience that provides middle/secondary level candidates with the opportunity to observe and apply instructional strategies introduced in CI 425E English Content Methods I. Major topics include backward design, enduring understandings, essential questions, goals for student learning, assessment, and designing learning activities.

Attendance and Participation Requirement = 3 hours per week in the placement

• Core 2 Candidates attend and participate appropriately in 1-2 (consistent) class period(s) per week, plus planning/conference time with the Mentor Teacher (MT) for the entire semester, observing and implementing learning activities and assessments.  

• Candidates work with MTs to plan and teach a minimum of 2-3 lessons (at least 20 minutes each).

• Candidates document their attendance in the attendance log, signed by MTs. Candidates must log a minimum of 3 hours per week.

Evaluations

Mentor teachers complete two evaluations of Core 2 candidates. Please also discuss your evaluations with your candidate.

Candidate Dispositions Rubric

• Typically due in early to mid-March.

• Assessment of professional attributes such as attendance, punctuality, appearance, respect for diversity, interactions with and attitude toward students.

• Hard copies will be provided to the MT by the candidate. Digital copies will also be provided by Dr. Cramer for MTs who prefer to type their evaluations.

KEEP Formative Feedback Evaluations for Candidate’s 2-3 lessons

• Completed each time the candidate teaches or co-teaches a required lesson.

• Provides an initial assessment of candidate’s instructional planning, content knowledge, instructional implementation, and reflective practice.

• The evaluation has been modified for Core 2; italics indicate criteria that may be difficult to assess in just 2-3 lessons. The KEEP is used throughout all Cores to show candidate growth and provide consistency in assessment data. Typically Core 2 candidates earn 1s and 2s.

• Hard copies will be provided to the MT by the candidate. Digital copies will also be provided by Dr. Cramer for MTs who prefer to type their evaluations.