Clinical Practice (Student Teaching)

Clinical practice is the culminating experience for all teacher candidates seeking initial state certification; it allows for full immersion in the learning community so that candidates are able to demonstrate proficiency in the professional roles for which they have been preparing.

To be eligible for student teaching, students in the teacher education program must have successfully completed the following: All field experience hours associated with program coursework (60 hours in public settings if student teaching for 16 weeks in a private setting); passing the ICTS Basic Skills Test and the ICTS Subject-Matter Test with scores available by August 1st for fall student teaching or December 1st for spring student teaching; Stage II and Stage III Portfolios; all general education coursework, all major and area of concentration coursework, and all professional education coursework with minimum grade levels and a minimum GPA of 2.5 (for undergraduate students) or 3.0 (for graduate students).

The experience of student teaching involves a unique, full-time commitment. It is five days a week, for 16 weeks: no exceptions. Student teachers are apprentices to their cooperating teachers and take on their schedules and duty requirements; student teachers follow the host school calendar and arrive and leave each day when the teachers in the host school are required to arrive and leave. Student teachers must also attend weekly seminars with their student teaching peers and supervisor at Saint Xavier University during 16-week student teaching period.

Student teaching placements are arranged and confirmed only by the Director of Clinical Practice in conjunction with P-12 school officials. Student teaching candidates are prohibited from contacting school personnel to negotiate their student teaching placement. Candidates may indicate their regional, district, and/or school preferences on their student teaching applications. There is no guarantee, however, that students will be placed in their preferred sites. Teacher candidates student teach in schools where professional relationships and agreements with Saint Xavier University have been established and where no conflicts of interest may exist.

Applications are available early in the fall and spring semesters in the Office of Teacher Education (G-200). Student teaching candidates should complete and submit their applications one semester prior to their student teaching experience. (Only secondary and music program candidates apply in the spring semester for the following fall or following spring terms.) Graduate students who are employed as teachers by Chicago Public Schools or by private schools, or who hold certain provisional certification by the Illinois State Board of Education, should contact the Director of Clinical Practice about possible student teaching during employment.

Student teachers will be provided with regular and systematic feedback on their performance during the semester-long experience. This feedback, as well as essential mentoring, comes from the cooperating teacher in the hosting P-12 school, assigned by the school principal, and from the Saint Xavier University supervisor, assigned by the Director of Clinical Practice. The purpose and the desire of the School of Education are to provide each student teacher with a challenging, stimulating, rewarding experience, in effect, preparing the future teacher to "teach all children in all schools."

It is during the student teaching experience that teacher candidates encounter the realistic teaching and learning that best help them understand how theory and practice come together. It is most often the highlight of a teacher candidate's program - the fulfillment of a long-term dream, a dedication to student-learning and development, and the verification of entry into the teaching profession.