How does the internship program differ from a more traditional student teaching model?
The intern spends an entire school year matched with a mentor teacher. Interns experience the crucial first weeks of school, when routines and procedures are established, through the end of the year, when classrooms are closed for summer. In this model the mentor, intern and students are able to build quality relationships prior to the intern’s teaching residency in the spring.
With the year-long model, university courses are taken concurrently with classroom experiences. Educational theory becomes relevant as interns implement learning into their classroom practice.
How many days per week are interns in the schools?
Bachelor’s of Elementary/Early Childhood:
During the fall semester the internship is half time (18-20 hours per week). The exact schedule is worked out between mentor, intern and clinical faculty. The internship is to encompass all 5 days of the week. Concurrent with the internship, interns are taking BAEE/EC program coursework. In the spring semester, the internship is full time, that is, spending the entire day at the school. The 30-day Teaching Residency occurs during spring semester. Methods courses are reduced during residency and resume after the completion of the residency period.
MAT:
During the fall semester the internship is half time (18-20 hours per week). The exact schedule is worked out between mentor, intern and clinical faculty. The internship is to encompass all 5 days of the week. Concurrent with the internship, interns are taking 11 credits of MAT program coursework.
In the spring semester, the internship is full time, that is, spending the entire day at the school. The 30-day Teaching Residency occurs during spring semester. Beginning in May, interns will not be in the schools on Mondays in order for them to take their Capstone Class.
What is the intern’s role in the classroom?
In the first weeks of internship, the student observes and participates in classroom set-up, establishing routines and creating a learning community. The intern takes increasing responsibility in the classroom, implementing methods learned in university coursework.
In spring semester, interns spend more time in the classroom and take fewer university methods courses. The new schedule prepares interns for the 30 day teaching residency. During this period, they are solely responsible for planning, instruction and assessment.
Upon successful completion of the teaching residency, interns’ teaching responsibilities are reduced so they may visit other classrooms to experience a variety of classroom environments and teaching styles.
Who is responsible for evaluating the intern?
The intern’s UAA Clinical Faculty is the formal evaluator and supervisor of the intern’s classroom practice. The mentor teacher works in close collaboration with Clinical Faculty to give feedback to the intern, but their role is primarily one of support and model to the intern.
Are mentor teachers required to receive formal training?
Yes. The Anchorage School District is strongly committed to mentoring preservice and new teachers. The College of Education also supports and provides training opportunities for mentors. Research shows that mentoring contributes to success for new teachers, is a vital factor in retention and fosters the creation of learning communities in schools.
The ASD requires all mentor teachers receive a 15-hour beginning mentoring skills course. This course is free to all mentors and offered through Training and Professional Development. Mentor teachers who have not taken the course within the past three years are asked to take a refresher course.
Contact Teaching and Professional Development through the ASD at 742-3844 for information on class schedules or go to MyLearningPlan.com for class listings and registration.
(The Mat-Su school district does not require mentor teachers receive training but strongly recommends and supports mentor training. This course is offered free and for credit through the College of Education.)
The College of Education values our partnership with mentor teachers and offers on-going support for mentors through free, for credit coursework and one-on-one coaching. Contact your Mentoring Coordinator, Karen Laws, at 786-4870 or mail to: ankll1@uaa.alaska.edu for more information.
How are mentor-intern matches made and what are the criteria for being a mentor?
Principals determine mentor-intern matches using information about interns gathered through surveys and interviews. Principals establish their own criteria for selecting mentor teachers.
Are interns required to develop a portfolio as evidence they have met the Alaska State Standards for Teachers?
Yes. Through coursework and internship experiences, interns are required to create an electronic portfolio documenting their progression towards meeting AK Teacher Standards.
The MAT and BAEE/EC programs have adopted an on-line portfolio system, called Task Stream that guides interns through the process of developing their portfolios.
Additionally, clinical faculty works closely with interns to ensure they meet expectations for development of portfolios. Mentors are also a valuable resource to interns as they highlight opportunities for documentation of meeting teaching standards.
What is the Teaching Residency? When does it occur?
BAEE/EC:
Interns do their formal teaching residency during a six -week period in spring semester. Residency generally begins in January and runs through March. The interns also participate in testing and parent-teacher conferences to allow interns the experience of these important events in a school year.
After residency, interns will spend time school, working in the classroom, as well as, observing other classrooms. During the final month of school, they will visit other schools and work to complete their portfolios and attend a university capstone course.
MAT:
Secondary interns complete the 30-day Teaching Residency from January through March. Interns are responsible for the entire planning, delivery and assessment of instruction for four classes. The Teaching Residency is the culminating experience where they bring together information from all of their courses and demonstrate their competencies as a teacher.
How often does Clinical Faculty make classroom observations?
Generally, Clinical Faculty spend one hour per week per intern, although they may choose to schedule these hours in a flexible manner. The Clinical Faculty visit interns’ classrooms at least biweekly.
Do mentors remain in the classroom when the Clinical Faculty (CF) visits to observe the intern?
Initially, observations are more meaningful for the intern when both the CF and mentor are present. The intern gains benefits by receiving feedback from both perspectives. During the teaching residency, the CF observes the intern for evaluation purposes and the focus is on the intern. For informal and formal observations that do not have an evaluative focus, the mentor may be present.
Are interns required to submit lesson plans?
Methods course faculty requires interns to submit lesson plans as class assignments. In many instances, the mentor teacher will want to coordinate lesson plan development with the intern in order to model and give feedback to the intern. The CF may also ask the intern to submit a lesson plan before an observation.
Are interns allowed to substitute teach?
The Anchorage School District requires substitute teachers have a Bachelor’s degree. If your intern earned a Bachelor’s degree prior to his or her teacher education program, he or she must meet other appropriate qualifications in accordance with district policy to substitute teach. The College of Education and ASD have jointly agreed on the following requirements: Substituting will be for mentor only. Substituting will be discussed and agreed upon in advance by the mentoring committee (clinical faculty, mentor teacher, principal and intern). Substituting will not occur before the 30-day review. Substituting will be limited to 5 days per school district semester up to a maximum of 10 days total through the end of the Teaching Residency. After completion of the Teaching Residency, interns can sub for up to 7 additional days for their mentor. Interns may not add any unused days from the 10-day allotment before Residency. Substituting may not take precedence over attending university classes. Interns are not required to substitute. Interns need to go through the school district process to be placed on the substitute list with their particular school site as the only school available. *
* MAT and BAEE/EC 2005-06 Handbooks
Who are the contact persons at UAA for questions concerning internship programs?
Don’t hesitate to call the following university support persons:
Clinical Faculty assigned to your intern
Dr. Teresa Johnson, Director of Field Placements: 786-4403 or aftmj2@uaa.alaska
Jim Seitz, MAT Program Coordinator: 786-1680 or afjas2@uaa.alaska.edu
