A preservice teacher's first clinical experience will consist of a
Visitation Day and eight days of participation. Working with a cooperating
teacher the clinical student will work with both large and small groups
and individual children in a primary, intermediate or middle school
classroom. Among many activities the clinical student will prepare
a bulletin board, complete a case study, create a classroom game,
and teach a lesson during the first clinical experience.
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The second clinical traditionally occurs in a three-week period. The
students meet with a university supervisor for a half-day of orientation
before they begin their experience. Students also attend a full-day
seminar with the supervisor at a date and time arranged by the supervisor.
More in-depth curriculum development and the integration of technology
and awareness of diversity within the second professional methods
curriculum are addressed in this experience.
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The office of Clinical Experiences will arrange student teaching placements
at school districts that have written agreements with NIU. These districts
are generally within a 50 to 60 mile radius of NIU. Grouped in clusters,
16-18 students are supervised by a university supervisor. Some students
living farther away may need to drive longer distances to selected
sites. A map indicating current student teaching placements is located
in the Office of Clinical Experiences in Gabel Hall, room 152. Students
may choose to student teach in either a public or a private school.
Students may not teach in a school they attended or in one
where a relative or close friend is employed or attends.
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Students in Elementary Education student teach for one semester (sixteen weeks). Students interested in a middle school placement are required to teach two different subjects (i.e., Language Arts, Science, Math, etc.). They may choose to teach both subjects throughout the sixteen-week experience or they may elect to teach one subject for the first eight weeks and the second subject for the last eight weeks.
Early Childhood majors
complete two eight-week experiences during the semester, one in a
Pre-K classroom and one in a primary classroom.
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Yes, if you are seeking a middle school endorsement, which requires
successful completion of CISE 422 and EPSY 419. Student teaching in
a middle school can be very advantageous when beginning teachers seek
their first teaching job.
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There are three meetings held every semester. They are: the first
professional orientation meeting, the student teacher sign-up meeting,
and student teacher orientation. Notices of these meetings are generally
posted on the bulletin boards outside and Clinical Experiences Office
(Gabel 152) and the Advising Office (Gabel 138). For further information
about the first, second, and third professional experiences log on
to: http://www.cedu.niu.edu/tedu/clinical.html
or call the Clinical Office at 815-753-9034.
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Our office is in Gabel Hall 138. Linda
Tucker (Secretary for Betsy Smith and Mary Keil) 815-753-8350. Jeanne
Johnston (Secretary for Cathy
Lubbers) 815-753-8361.
Appointments for Early Childhood Studies can be made with Jeanne Johnston.
If the first initial of your last name is:
A-J
Dr. Betsy Smith
(Elementary Education)
K-O Cathy Lubbers (Elementary Education)
P-Z
Mary Keil
(Elementary Education)
A-Z Cathy Lubbers
(Early Childhood Studies)
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Schedule an
appointment
early in the semester--before March 1 for fall semester or October
1 for spring semester.
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Illinois School districts are required
by state law to conduct criminal background investigations for applicants
for certified and non-certified positions with a school district.
Several school districts are requiring that applicants for field placements
be subjected to a criminal background review prior to placement in
the school districts. All
candidates for Illinois certification through programs under the purview
of the Committee on Initial Teacher Certification (CITC) are required
to submit to a criminal background check by the Illinois State Police
prior to their initial field experience in the schools. For more information
please visit http://www3.niu.edu/teachers/bcpolicy.htm
and www.niu.edu/teachers.
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You should have completed at least one
freshman English course and a Math course before you take this test.
You can pick up the registration bulletin in our office or in Testing
Services, Adams 128. You must bring
a copy
of your passing score report to
our office by the March 1 or October 1 deadline
to apply for the 1st Professional Semester.
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You must apply the semester prior to your enrollment in the 1st Professional Semester--by March 1 for the Fall semester, and October 1 for the Spring semester. You must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00. You must also have passed the Illinois Certification Basic Skills test, have completed the core competency requirements in communication studies and English with no grade lower than a C, and have a C or better (including NIU and transfer grades) in all of the following required courses by the beginning of the first professional semester:
*EPFE 201, Education as an Agent for Change (3)
EPS 300, Educational Psychology (3)
EPS 304, Development of the Elementary School Child (3)
ETT 229, Computers in Education (3)
TLEE 282/EPS 282X, Educational Participation in Clinical Experiences: Elementary Education (1)
TLSE 240, Introducation to Special Education (3)
*HIST 260, American History to 1865 (3)
*HIST 261, American History since 1865 (3)
KNPE 245, Physical Education for Children (3)
*MATH 201, Foundations of Elementary School Mathematics (3)
*PSYC 102, Introduction to Psychology (3)
ARTE 383, Teaching Art in Elementary Schools (3)
OR MUSC 373, Fundamentals, Principals, and Practices in Elementary Music (3)
One laboratory science course
Kindergarten - Ninth Grade (You must take
the 2 middle school endorsement classes
TLCI 422 and EPS 419 to teach middle school. Middle school is 5th
- 8th grades.)
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MATH
201 & 402 (6 hours)
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An endorsement is 18 hours in an approved
subject
area.
You must also
take
both middle school endorsement classes to have an endorsement.
Endorsements in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, General Science, and
Spanish are in high demand.
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The on-campus program is full time. The Rock Valley College/NIU
Initiative in Undergraduate Elementary Education is a part time program
with classes held in Rockford.
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No, not currently.
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No. We recommend that everyone take courses
in an area in which an expertise is desired.
These areas can lead to endorsements.
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Graduates from the
program have received positions with zoos, nature centers, museums,
government agencies, and private organizations.
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Your advisor will be a member of the Outdoor Teacher Education (OTE) Graduate Faculty. That person will be assigned to you by the faculty coordinator. Your advisor will assist you in working out a program of studies. You will need to get your advisor's approval on all proposed courses, including any transfer courses, if applicable.
Your completion depends upon how many
credits are earned each semester. The normal spring and fall credit
load is 12 semester hours (4 courses), but a full-time student may take
up to 15 hours with special permission. During the summer, a student
may enroll for a maximum of ten semester hours in eight weeks. Credits
may be earned in the May-June intersession period; through independent
study; or through acceptable transfer credits from other institutions.
Students holding assistantships are limited to nine semester hours during
the spring and fall semesters. A one hour overload may be earned each
semester with faculty approval. (Graduate teaching assistants are limited
to a maximum of 10 semester hours).
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The minimum credits
needed is thirty-three (33) semester hours.
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Students taking
courses before being admitted as a major are considered Students-at-Large
(SAL). If you intend to apply for admission, be aware that no more than
15 SAL credits may apply to your degree program. Be sure that courses
taken as a SAL will be acceptable in your degree program. A student
may not use more than 15 SAL and transfer credits combined.
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Yes, but you will
need to spend the necessary time to complete the requirements for both.
If you want Illinois Teacher Certification you must have your undergraduate
transcript evaluated to determine the courses needed for certification.
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An acceptable undergraduate
grade point average should be 2.75 in the last two years as indicated
on an official transcript.
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Lorado Taft Field
Campus is located in Oregon Illinois, approximately 40 miles west of
DeKalb, IL. Lorado Taft Field Campus P.O. Box 299 Oregon, IL 61061.
Contact Clifford Knapp at 815-753-9094.
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