SPED Field Experiences
Block I courses are taken after students have been admitted to the Special Education Program and involves approximately 165 clock hours of practicum. This practicum is done in diverse settings in general education classrooms. Practicum activities include application of methods to teach reading, development and delivery of instruction plans and modified materials, and development of behavior management plans.
SEFB 310: Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities
SEFB 312: Effective Reading for Students with Disabilities
SEFB 471: Classroom and Behavior Management
EPFB 428: Collaboration in School Settings (writing intensive course)
EPFB 484.501: Field Experience
Field experiences are the full school day on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Associated seminar held on Wednesdays.
The student is able to:
- work collaboratively with school personnel
- follow rules established for school personnel
- take initiative in all classrooms in which you are placed
- establish and maintain positive rapport with students
- display professional behavior at all times
- implement classroom behavior management strategies appropriately
- have materials/equipment/technology prepared for lesson
- secure the student learners' attention while teaching
- introduce the lesson including stating the objective and purpose
- present lesson information in clear and sequential way
- provide and model activities to support the lesson objective
- effectively re-state lesson objective and purpose to provide lesson closure
Block I
Week 1: 1st Seminar
Week 2: Placements Distributed
Week 3: Placements Begin (Tuesday)
Week 8: Midterm Conferences (Friday)
Week 14: Placement Folders Due (Friday)
Block II consists of advanced methods in special education. During this semester, students will spend
approximately 160 clock hours of practicum in a variety of special education settings. Students will take
courses that include instructional methods in assessment and IEP development, teaching students
with low incidence disabilities, and teaching students with emotional and behavior problems. Practicum
activities include individual and small group teaching, applying methods to teach reading, development
and delivery of instruction plans and modified materials, and development of behavior management plans.
SEFB 311: Assessment of Students with Disabilities
EDTC 311: Adapted/Assistive Technologies
SEFB 414: Methods and Issues in Low Incidence Disabilities
SEFB 442: Teaching Students with Emotional Disturbances and Behavior Disorders
EPFB 484.510: Field Experience
Field experiences are the full school day on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Associated seminar held on Tuesdays.
The student is able to :
- work collaboratively with school personnel
- follow rules established for school personnel
- display professional behavior at all times
- take initiative in classroom activities
- deliver lessons from a written plan
- have materials/equipment/technology prepared for lesson
- establish climate of courtesy and rapport
- implement classroom behavior management strategies appropriately
- secure the students' attention and set behavioral expectations
- positively and specifically reinforce students' efforts and desired behaviors individually and collectively
- relate lesson to prior knowledge
- introduce the lesson to include stating the purpose, objective, and purpose
- present lesson information in clear and sequential way
- relate the content to the students' interests/experiences
- incorporate modifications appropriately
- monitor and assess students' understanding, participation, and progress; adjust instruction accordingly
- use questioning strategies for higher level thinking
- provide and model activities to support the lesson objective
- redirect off task/inappropriate behavior (verbal/non-verbal)
- ensure objective and purpose are stated while including students in lesson closure
Block II
Week 1: 1st Seminar
Week 2: Placements Distributed
Week 3: Placements Begin (Monday)
Week 9: Midterm Conferences (Friday)
Week 14: Placement Folders Due (Friday)
Block III includes education issues particular to adolescents, multicultural education, and students with limited English proficiency. SEFB 320 requires 36 clock hours or practicum working in a secondary classroom or related setting and focuses on transition from school to work. Other courses in this block may have associated labs that require additional practicum hours.
SEFB 320: Education and Employment Issues in Secondary Special Education (writing intensive course)
MASC 351: Problem Solving in Mathematics
RDNG 460: Language and Reading
or
RDNG 468: Acquisition of Literacy by Culturally Diverse Learners
INST 463: Second Language Methodology
TEFB 413: Science in the Elementary School
Field Experiences: Block IV (Student Teaching)
The final semester consists of student teaching, which provides field experience in a special education setting. It is designed to provide applied experiences in public schools that facilitate the development of acceptable and realistic perceptions of roles, responsibilities, and relationships. The cooperating teacher becomes the vital force in articulating what is expected of a professional teacher and in interpreting the culture of the school and its attitudes, values, and behaviors. During the application process and prior to making student placements, the students are asked about their grade level and setting preferences. Students are placed in classroom settings appropriate to their training program, with certified teachers who have a minimum of three years experience in that setting. Taken concurrently with student teaching is SEFB 426, which consists of planned seminars to be conducted by the supervisor.
Block IV Courses:
SEFB 425: Student Teaching
SEFB 426: Seminar in Student Teaching
Critical Meetings and Information:
- Mandatory Student Teacher Application Meeting: semester immediately prior to student teaching
- Student Teacher Application: due semester immediately prior to student teaching
- Mandatory Orientation: to be determined by field placement coordinator
- First Day of Student Teaching: no later than the first day of the semester public school students begin
- Duration: 15 weeks
- Graduation Reception: held the day prior to graduation
Professional Liability Insurance
All student teachers are required to have professional liability insurance. If you do not have professional liability insurance, you will need to get it before the start of the semester. There are several organizations that provide this insurance at little or no cost.
Liability Insurance Information for Preservice Teachers
Texas Classroom Teachers Association http://www.tcta.org/index.html
888-879-8282
School year - September 1 through August 31
Free
Association of Texas Professional Educators http://www.atpe.org/
800-777-2873
School year - September 1 through August 31
Free
Texas State Teachers Association http://www.tsta.org/legislative/update/index.shtml
877-777-2873
School year - September 1 through August 31
