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University of Illinois at Springfield's Teacher Education Secondary Preclinical Experiences

To qualify for secondary certification, UIS candidates must complete three methods courses. Each requires 40 hours of classroom participation. These courses are:

TEP 314 - Curriculum and Instruction - 40 hours (All candidates)
TEP 419 - Content Area Literacy - 40 hours (All candidates)

Content Area courses: One specific course for the certification area
TEP 435 - English Methods 6-12 - 40 hrs TEP 436 - Math Methods 6-12 -40 hrs
TEP 437 - Science Methods 6-12 - 40 hrs TEP 438 - Social Studies 6-12 - 40 hrs

Teacher candidates may take one or two preclinical experiences per semester. Occasionally, candidates will have one cooperating teacher for both preclinicals.

Teacher candidates make an initial appointment with the cooperating teacher in order to arrange a schedule of school visits. They will bring the following information to share:

a list of suggested classroom activities
a time record to be signed by both candidate and teacher
an assessment instrument to be completed and returned by the teacher

Most of the preclinical hours should focus on the subject being studied. Methods course instructors will have an assignment for candidates to complete during their 40 hours. Usually this is to teach a short lesson for the cooperating teacher to evaluate. Other possible activities include:

taking attendance
organizing materials for a lesson
arranging a bulletin board
helping individual learners
working with small groups
conducting a review session
monitoring a test

At the end of the 40 hours, the teacher and candidate sign the time record, and the teacher completes the assessment instrument. The teacher is encouraged to share this evaluation with the candidate, and then to return it to the Program. This valuable data is helpful to the Program and required by the State Board of Education.

Teacher Education would like to offer some form of remuneration to cooperating teachers who partner with us for this important work. At this time, no funds are available to offer this. CPDU's are available to teachers who host preclinical students for at least 40 hours.