CONTENTS
1.     CICE 282 Syllabus (Catalog Description, Course Objectives, Student Responsibilities
        and Requirements)

2.      Appendix A: Weekly Journal Sample Formats

3.      Appendix B: Developmentally Appropriate Practice for 3-Year Olds

4.     Appendix C: Developmentally Appropriate Practice for 4- and 5-Year Olds

5.    ATTACHMENTS:

• University Supervisor’s Visitation Report (sample)

• Cooperating Teacher’s Weekly Evaluation Forms (sample)

• Final Evaluation of Early Clinical Experience

DEPARTMENT: Department of Teacher Education                                                    SEMESTER: Fall, 2000

COURSE DESIGNATOR & NUMBER: CICE 282                                                       SEMESTER HOURS: 1

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

Pre-student-teaching practicum. Students are required to participate in a minimum of 30 clock hours per credit hour. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 semester hours of credit. S/U grading basis is used. PRQ: consent of Office of Clinical Education.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The main purpose of this clinical experience is to give students an opportunity to have direct contact with young children, under the guidance of a cooperating teacher and university supervisor. By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1.     Observe and record children’s behavior.

2.     Work with individual children and groups of children in planned activities.

3.     Keep a reflective journal of experiences and collect portfolio entries for children.

4.     Be aware of children’s special needs, cultural differences, and other aspects of diversity.

5.     Work effectively and cooperatively with other adults in a classroom.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.     Group meetings: Attendance at orientation meeting and closing meeting is mandatory.

2.     Weekly journals: A reflective journal entry is due by 4pm every Monday. Leave your journal entry in the container outside of my office door (GA 162-E). Include observations of the children, your cooperating teacher, the classroom, and the school. Also include feelings and insights about your personal successes and frustrations. Each entry must be typed or computer-generated, double-spaced, 12-pt font, 1-inch margins on all sides, and no more than one page in length. Samples of possible journal formats are attached.

3.     Attendance: Because of the short duration of this clinical, you are allowed only one absence. Additional absences must be made up—using afternoons or Fridays if necessary.

4.    Requirements:

• Participate in a state-funded pre-kindergarten classroom for a three week period, attending four mornings per week (Monday through Thursday) from 8:15-11:45am.
• Attend at least once on a Friday (more often, if possible) in order to participate in parent-teacher conferences, school-wide activities, in-service trainings, developmental screenings, home visits, toy learning center, etc.
• Plan and conduct at least one small group activity and one large group activity. Work with your cooperating teacher to determine the nature and planning of these activities.
• Collect portfolio entries for one child, selected in consultation with your cooperating teacher. Portfolio items can include developmental checklists, daily anecdotal notes, parent interviews, photos, samples of children’s work, etc. Portfolio entries must be submitted at the time of our closing group meeting.
• Cooperate with teachers, classroom aides, other students, and other school personnel.
• Assist your cooperating teacher as requested.

• If you will be late or absent, you must call the school (815-754-9546), your university supervisor (815-753-9337), and a student in your 282 group. Make up time is required for tardiness and absences.
• Dress and conduct must be professional. When in doubt, consult with your cooperating teacher or university supervisor. In general, err on the side of caution.
• Respect the children, the program, and the teachers with whom you work.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Make the most of this experience! Try new things, enjoy the children, and get to know other teachers.
• Schedule regular discussion times with your cooperating teacher, as time allows. Encourage open communication.
• Meet with your university supervisor as scheduled and as necessary.
• Send a written thank you note to the school and to your cooperating teacher upon completion of your clinical experience.

GRADING

In order to achieve an "S," students are expected to fulfill all of the requirements and responsibilities listed above. Failure to attend the site as scheduled (including making up any absences or tardiness) will result in an automatic "U."

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Your Name ______________________________ Date _________________

Cooperating Teacher ______________________

This week I...

Feelings of success...

Feelings of frustration...

Professionally significant activities...

Other Comments...

Do you need a conference with your university supervisor? ___Yes ___No
If so, contact your supervisor by phone (815-753-9337) or email (rwolfe@niu.edu).

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Your Name ______________________________ Date _________________

Cooperating Teacher ______________________

DIRECTIONS: A person learns by experience, but disciplined reflection is necessary for the fastest, most advanced learning to take place. Experience is not actually the best teacher; reflection or analysis on that experience is. Please reflect on the following…

1.     Give a brief description of a teaching or learning event that you observed or in which you participated.

2.     What were the consequences (i.e., effects, outcomes) of this event?

3.     Were the consequences positive or negative? Explain.

4.     What, if anything, could you have done differently? Explain.

5.     What are the next steps you might take to reinforce this learning event?

6.     What did you expect the students to learn from this experience?

7.     What did you learn from this experience?

8.     What further thoughts or questions were generated by the experience?

Do you need a conference with your university supervisor? ___Yes ___No
If so, contact your supervisor by phone (815-753-9337) or email (rwolfe@niu.edu).

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Your Name ______________________________ Date _________________

Cooperating Teacher ______________________

1.    What new ideas, materials, or teaching strategies have you learned this week?

2.     What went well or improved in your classroom this week?

3.     What was a problem or what was something that did not go well?

4.     How can you remedy what you have described above?

5.     Goals for the coming week:

6.     Evidence of personal and/or professional growth:

7.     Comment on your strengths or weaknesses:

8.     Other comments:

Do you need a conference with your university supervisor? ___Yes ___No
If so, contact your supervisor by phone (815-753-9337) or email (rwolfe@niu.edu).

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