GRADUATE TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Clinicals are voluntary learning experiences in an educational setting which must be completed prior to student teaching placements. Educational setting can be defined as a classroom, extra curricular activity, educational programs provided through before- and after-school programs, or educational programs provided for youth by organizations such as Special Olympics, Junior Achievement, the Zoo, and Museum to mention a few. Substitute teaching experiences may also be used in this capacity.
It is the expectation of students in the certification program to actively participate and interact with young people ages 5-18 to gain first-hand knowledge of the teaching profession. They need to be under the supervision of a qualified instructor, and may assist in whatever capacity is deemed appropriate for the setting. Clinicals are NOT an observation experience.
It is encouraged that clinical hours be accumulated at more than one site to gain a broader understanding of teaching techniques, styles and environments. It is your responsibility to arrange your clinicals. Clinical experiences at sites other than those approved by CUW need to be cleared with the GTC program director.
Completing Clinicals
A total of 110 clinical hours must be completed in the following categories:
- 40 hours general education
- 50 hours multi-cultural education
- 20 hours special needs education
- 15 hours reading
(Reading clinicals will be provided as part of the Graduate Teacher Certification Program.)
Each clinical has its own color-coded summary sheet:
- General - Yellow
- Multicultural - Lavender or Green
- Special Education - Salmon
- Reading ? White (will be provided as part of the GTC program)
When you turn in the completed work for each clinical, you will need to include these things in this order:
- Clinical Summary Sheet
- Evaluations by host educators (color coded)
- Log for each clinical experience
- Essay
As you complete various segments of your clinicals, fill out the color-coded corresponding summary sheet and have the host educator sign, documenting the time you spent and what you did. Use one line per site.
Log: You must also keep a log, a day-by-day record of what you did and learned, including reflections on what occurred. Each time you go to your clinical, you should use this heading format:
Date_________ Place______________ Supervisor___________________
Time of Arrival _______ Time of Departure_______ Total hours today____
Cumm. hours____
Beneath this heading write what you did and learned on this particular day. (Hint: Write an abbreviated log while you are still at the site. Then within the next day or so, write your entry onto a disk so that it will be ready to hand it in when the entire clinical is completed).
Your final log should be word processed and double-spaced using the above format. Good writing, grammar and mechanics are expected. This will become a part of your permanent file.
Essay: A 1-2 page, double-spaced, word-processed essay brings together all your experiences in the clinical sites for a given clinical, demonstrating how your understanding has been changed or reinforced, and what practical information you learned that would be helpful in the classroom.
You must do 50 hours of multicultural and 20 hours of special education. Any additional hours may be credited to the general clinical.
You need to dress appropriately. If the site personnel dress casually, you may dress casually. Unless you are going on a field trip or planning to be engaged in an activity for which jeans are appropriate, you should not wear jeans. You are engaged in a professional activity ? you must act and dress for that role. The impression you make with people with whom you work can have far-reaching implications in later years.
If you are unable to attend a clinical you have made arrangements for, it is your responsibility to call the site coordinator beforehand. They are counting on you.
Don't forget to make copies of your clinical reports for portfolios before you turn them in.
For more information on the program, please contact Barb Perlewitz by telephone in the Graduate Admission Office at 262-243-4582 or call toll free at 800-330-9866.
For information on the program at the Appleton and Green Bay sites contact Jan Hardesty or 920-968-0933.
