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Clinical Program

Please note that clinical field experience requirements may vary from what is posted on this page due to COVID-19. Contact the Clinical Coordinator for more information on current clinical requirements.

The clinical program is the cornerstone of the teacher education department at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. As you begin your journey towards licensure, your experiences in the field allow you to try out the many roles of a teacher and practice taking responsibility for a classroom through planning, instruction, and assessment. Mentor teachers and university supervisors will work with you throughout these experiences, providing feedback and insight along the way. Our clinical program is based on a co-teaching model, where you and your mentor teacher collaborate as co-teachers as you develop expertise in teaching, demonstrate expertise in practice, and complete your pre-service learning with student teaching in Residency.

Within the clinical setting of the K-12 classroom, you will engage in experiences that link theoretical learning to classroom contexts and learning opportunities. You will use these clinical experiences to enrich your university coursework and to reflect on your role as a teacher and learner in the classroom setting. During these experiences, you will be observed by university supervisors, who provide feedback on your teaching and facilitate reflective conversations that guide your professional growth, along with supporting you and your mentor teacher as a co-teaching pair.

CLINICAL EXPECTATIONS


CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS | 100 LEVEL

Suspended for the 2022-2023 academic year

  • Complete a minimum of 10 hours in the classroom
  • Observe the mentor teacher during lessons
  • Interact with students in a variety of settings (one-on-one, small group, and large group)
  • Participate in planning for instruction at a basic level
  • Work with students one-on-one or in small groups (at the level of comfort of the candidate and mentor)
  • Complete directed observations and guided reflections for their EDU 100 seminar

MENTOR REQUIREMENTS | 100 LEVEL

  • Provide a welcoming environment for the teacher candidate and introduce them as a teacher-in-training to students and school faculty and staff
  • Discuss teaching practices with their teacher candidate
  • Support the candidate in completing course assignments
  • Allow the candidate to interact with students and participate in lessons at a basic level

  • Verify clinical hours as needed to meet course requirements

  • Complete an evaluation of the candidate as needed

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS | 200 LEVEL

Suspended for the 2022-2023 academic year

  • Complete a minimum of 20 hours in a community placement (20 hours for EDU 200 and 20 hours for EDU 210, or as required)
  • Interact with students in a variety of settings (one-on-one, small group, and large group)
  • Work with students one-on-one or in small groups (at the level of comfort of the candidate and mentor)
  • Complete directed observations and guided reflections for their EDU 200 and/or 210 seminar
  • Observe and/or interact with specific students as required for course assignments

MENTOR/SITE SUPERVISOR REQUIREMENTS | 200 LEVEL

  • Provide a welcoming environment for the teacher candidate and introduce them as a teacher-in-training to students and staff
  • Discuss placement practices with their teacher candidate
  • Support the candidate in completing course assignments
  • Allow the candidate to interact with students and participate in activities and/or lessons
  • Verify clinical hours as needed to meet course requirements
  • Complete an evaluation of the candidate as needed

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS | 300 LEVEL

  • Complete a minimum of 25 hours (music education) or 30 hours (all other licensure areas) in the classroom

  • Complete two formal observations, conducted by your university supervisor

  • Work with students in a variety of settings (one-on-one, small group, and large group)

  • Participate in co-teaching experiences with the mentor teacher, including co-planning

  • Complete guided reflections for their EDU 300/310 seminar course

  • Observe, teach, and/or interact with specific students as required for course assignments

MENTOR REQUIREMENTS | 300 LEVEL

  • Provide a welcoming environment for the teacher candidate and introduce them as a teacher-in-training to students and school faculty and staff

  • Discuss teaching practices with their teacher candidate and co-plan lessons as appropriate

  • Support the candidate in completing course assignments

  • Allow the candidate to interact with students and co-teach small group or whole group lessons as required for course assignments

  • Facilitate two formal observations in collaboration with teacher candidate and university supervisor

  • Provide teacher candidate constructive feedback on instruction and/or their performance in the classroom 

  • Verify clinical hours through the online Watermark system by designated due date

  • Complete an online evaluation of the candidate through the online Watermark system by designated due date

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS | 400 LEVEL

  • Complete a minimum of 40 hours (for art, music, and secondary education candidates) or 60 hours (all other licensure areas) in the classroom

  • Complete two formal observations, conducted by your university supervisor

  • Work with students in a variety of settings (one-on-one, small group, and large group)

  • Participate in co-teaching experiences with the mentor teacher, including co-planning 

  • Complete guided reflections for their EDU 430/440 seminar course 

  • Observe, teach, and/or interact with specific students as required for course assignments, including conducting a variety of assessments with students

  • For early childhood, elementary, and special education candidates: observe lessons in a variety of content areas (English language arts/reading, mathematics, social studies, and science), which may require working with the mentor to locate an appropriate classroom in the school to visit for observations and/or to complete course assignments

MENTOR REQUIREMENTS | 400 LEVEL

  • Provide a welcoming environment for the teacher candidate and introduce them as a teacher-in-training to students and school faculty and staff
  • Discuss teaching practices with their teacher candidate and co-plan lessons as appropriate
  • Support the candidate in completing course assignments
  • Allow the candidate to interact with students and co-teach small group or whole group lessons as required for course assignments
  • If needed, facilitate visits for the teacher candidate to other classrooms in the school to observe and participate in a variety of content areas 
  • Facilitate two formal observations in collaboration with teacher candidate and university supervisor
  • Provide teacher candidate constructive feedback on instruction and/or their performance in the classroom 
  • Verify clinical hours through the online Watermark system by designated due date
  • Complete an online evaluation of the candidate through the online Watermark system by designated due date

CLINICAL HOURS REQUIREMENTS

*Suspended for 2022-2023 academic year

PROGRAM EDU 100 EDU 200 EDU 210 EDU 300 EDU 310 EDU 430 EDU 440 Residency
Art Education 10* NA NA 30 30 40 40

 

 

Full-day,
full-semester
(per state statute)
Early Childhood Education WTCS WTCS WTCS WTCS WTCS 60 60
Elementary Education 10* 20* 20* 30 30 60 60
Music Education NA NA NA 25 25 40 40
Secondary Education 10* 20* NA 30 30 40 40
Special Education 10* 20* 20* 30 30 60 60

 

 

OBSERVATIONS

PROGRAM EDU 300 EDU 310 EDU 430 EDU 440 Residency
Art Education 2 2 2 2 4
Early Childhood Education WTCS WTCS 2 2 4
Elementary Education 2 2 2 2 4
Music Education 2 2 2 2 4
Secondary Education 2 2 2 2 4
Special Education 2 2 2 2 4

 

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK (CBC)

All students must have a criminal background check completed prior to receiving and reporting to their placement.  Criminal background checks are completed through Castlebranch. Criminal background checks are valid for two years.* Students need to have a current criminal background check that is valid for the duration of the entire semester.  It is the student’s responsibility to cover the cost of the criminal background check and the cost cannot be added to their tuition bill.  

Castlebranch login  (Initial cost $43)

Renewal (cost $19) 

*Students are able to submit a previously completed current Criminal Background Check for program review.  After the review process has been completed, students will be notified if their CBC meets the  program's requirement. To submit a current CBC students should reach out to the Clinical Coordinator, Melissa Andreoli  andreoli@uwp.edu.

 

The Institute of Professional Educator Development requires all teacher candidates enrolled in a course requiring a clinical placement in a school or community setting pass a criminal background check (CBC) prior to beginning the placement.

Teacher candidates will not be given their placement assignments before the educator preparation program receives the “passed” background check. Teacher candidates are responsible for all fees related to the CBC. Criminal background checks are valid for two years or prior to enrolling in Residency, whichever comes first. Teacher candidates are required to submit a Self-Reporting Statement each semester they are enrolled in a clinical field experience course during the period that the CBC is valid. 

Teacher candidates completing the Criminal Background Check or Self-Reporting Statement must answer all questions truthfully and honestly. Falsification, omission, and misrepresentation on either of the forms may constitute grounds for denying admission to the program, program progression (dismissal), or admission to Residency.

A “passed” background check is: 

·         A criminal background check response that has no records

·         A criminal background check that includes records that are not automatic denials by the Department of Public Instruction (see below)

·         A criminal background check that includes records, but, after further review are not deemed to meet the definition of immoral conduct (see below)

The existence of a criminal charges and/or record (misdemeanor or felony) does not automatically preclude candidates from admission to the program, program progression, and admission to Residency or endorsement of licensure. Each individual circumstance will be evaluated separately by the Chair of Teacher Education and the Certification Officer.

The following offenses will result in an automatic denial of a licensure application from the Department of Public Instruction as directed in Wisconsin Statute Chapter 118 and will be dismissed from the Educator Preparation Program immediately:

·         Applicant is certified “delinquent” by the WI Department of Revenue for paying taxes

·         A Class A, B, C, or D felony under ch. 940 or 948 for 6 years following the date of conviction

·         A Class E, F, G, or H felony under ch. 940 or 948 that occurs after February 1, 2003.

The following may result in denial of a licensure application from the Department of Public Instruction as directed in Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 34:

·         Applicant is “incompetent” 

·         Applicant has engaged in “immoral conduct” as defined in Wisconsin Statute Chapter 118. Immoral conduct means conduct or behavior that is contrary to commonly accepted moral or ethical standards and that endangers the health, safety, welfare or education of any pupil. “Immoral conduct” includes the intentional use of an educational agency’s equipment to download, view, solicit, seek, display, or distribute pornographic material.

The Chair of Teacher Education and Certification Officer in consultation with the university Provost will review all cases where “incompetence” or “immoral conduct” are a concern. A written decision will be issued to the teacher candidate within two weeks of receiving the background check results.

Self-Reporting of Criminal (Felony/Misdemeanor) Charges 

Teacher candidates are required to complete a Self-Reporting Statement during the first week of classes each semester. The forms will be distributed in the clinical seminar courses. Teacher candidates who do not complete the form within the first week of class will be administratively dropped from the course and will be required to meet with the Chair of Teacher Education if they wish to continue in the program.  

Teacher candidates must report any criminal misconduct charges and/or convictions that occur after a completed criminal background check or submitted Self-Reporting Statement. Charges/convictions must be reported to the Chair of Teacher Education and the Certification Officer as soon as possible, but no later than five business days, after the incident. Failure to report any incident may result in dismissal from the Teacher Education Program or failure of the candidate’s seminar course.  

Minor traffic incidents (speeding violations, parking tickets, etc.) are not required to be reported; however, any and all other legal violations should be reported to the teacher education program as soon as possible. When in doubt, it is better to report information than to find out later that it should have been reported.  

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