Student Teaching Seminar Single Subject Science Teachers  Fall 2000 EDSS 472 A, B, C

Welcome to student teaching!  I hope that this semester is a rewarding, exciting time for you. I know that you will learn lots as you get settled in at your schools.  We will meet regularly as a group during your student teaching.  I will be leading the student teacher seminars. These meetings will provide you with an opportunity to share your experiences, learn from each other and from me (and other guests). Whether you are an intern or a student teacher you are expected to attend and participate at these seminars.

The topics of discussion will be determined in large part by you and your needs. The initial topics will be decided on by me.  Among other things, we will discuss some of the more mundane issues related to teaching which don't usually get talked about in methods classes. You will find out about on-campus inservice sessions. You will also begin to set up your file with the placement office. Depending upon your interests, I will have a workshop for creating web pages. In the past some student teachers have expressed interest in creating web pages for job application purposes & lesson planning. This page will be updated after our initial meeting. Meeting dates & times will be posted along with the topic(s) for discussion. One aspect of the seminar will involve you sharing videotapes of your classroom teaching along with a written analysis that relates your teaching and lesson plan to your goals.

I know that you all have e-mail accounts and your supervisors and I will be in contact with you regularly via e-mail in addition to our visits in the schools. As part of your methods class you became members of NSTA. Be sure to read The Science Teacher each month as we will discuss the articles during our meetings.

At the end of the term you will visit this semester's secondary methods class so you can share your insights and experiences with the current methods students. Many of you mentioned that the time spent in method's class with student teachers was valuable. This is your turn to provide your insights and expertise with the next group of prospective student teachers!

At the end of student teaching you will have met the following outcomes:

successful completion of your student teaching assignment(s) and related observation assignment (see Appendix of Student Teaching Handbook)
share a video taped segment of your own teaching during seminar &  submit a written a reflective essay about the lesson
attend the College of Education Inservice day (details to follow)
demonstrate that you have used at least 7 different types of activities in your own classroom (you select from a menu)
be familiar with (and evaluated by) the California Standards for the Teaching Profession

Additionally, we have begun incorporating a list of Science Education Program Goals which all students must attain before leaving the program. You are not going to be held to new program standards but we will spend time in seminar discussing the competencies and ways to demonstrate successful attainment. The list of program goals is as follows:

 1. Be well educated in science -
      critical consumers of scientific information
      have science confidence outside your discipline
      be able to read and understand science as reported in popular press (e.g., NY Times)
 2.  Demonstrate effective communication skills
 3.  Be aware of lab/demonstration skills for teaching (including safety issues) -
      Preparing lab materials
      Lab management skills
      Classroom management specifically for a hands-on science class
 4.   Articulate and support goals for your own teaching; have a rationale for teaching science
 5.   Demonstrate knowledge of how people learn AND how to apply that information
 6.   Demonstrate rudimentary abilities to plan for instruction (short & long term) -
      Assessment
      Standards
      Knowing the learner
 7.   Be aware of specific teaching strategies (detailed list elsewhere)
 8.   Demonstrate content depth and confidence sufficient to explain ideas multiple ways (requires knowledge of learning styles)
 9.   Critically reflect on & analyze your teaching skills
10.  Demonstrate you can do a scientific investigation - skills in the doing of science
11.  Understand the nature of science -
      History of science
      Historical understandings as it relates to misconceptions
13.  Understand day-to-day life of K-12 teachers
14.  Technology usage at the CTC Level 1 standards
15.  Demonstrate behaviors of lifelong learners - continued professional development
      Finding resources (materials and human)
      Workshops & inservice opportunities
      Professional organizations
      Professional journals
 
 

• National Science Education Standards
• California Science Standards
• Benchmarks for Scientific Literacy (Project 2061)
• Survival Guide for New Teachers
• ERIC's Science Education Reference Desk

Important things to keep in mind -

read and understand the Student Teaching Handbook (available from CopyPro)
understand and follow all school rules - remember that you are a guest in the school
let people know if you are not going to be at school
have a lesson plan for your supervisor and cooperating teacher
dress professionally
be punctual (both with attendance at school and paperwork)
be open to feedback

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send me an e-mail lhenriqu@csulb.edu