Department of Teacher Education Student Teaching Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Many students ask the same questions that their peers have asked numerous times. The purpose of this web page is to list some of those frequently asked questions so that you can easily find answers without waiting to make a phone call, and waiting for a response. Will will update these questions and answers on a regular basis, so please check here first whenever you have a question. The newest questions will be at the top of the page!

1. How do I apply to be a substitute teacher?

Pick up an application at the district office for the school district where you want to student teach. It takes at least six weeks for the State Department of Education to process your application.

2. How do I get my teaching license?

After

(1) you have a passing grade for student teaching on your transcript

(2) your transcript confirms that you have been awarded your bachelors degree,

(3) you have completed your student teaching portfolio,

(4) all of your teacher education course work is completed with grade of C- or better,

(5) you have a passing score on the PLACE or PRAXIS content exam,

then you can visit with the teacher licensing officer here in the department of teacher education. Currently, the licensing officer is David Hayes, in room EBH 244, phone number 247-7150. You must submit a form 3030 to Dr. Hayes.

You will receive the institutional recommendation form that is signed by the licensing officer which YOU will send to the Colorado Department of Education with your application for licensure. You will include a check for $60. Plan ahead: It takes about two months for Colorado Department of Education to process your license.

3. When is the job fair? Do I have to sign up with Career Services to attend the job fair?

The job fair is on March 21-22. Make sure you have your placement file up to date in the Career Services Center here on campus. If your file is up to date, Allyn Talg will send information to you about the job fair. Please sign up early so that Allyn Talg can make arrangements for the job fair.

Call Allyn Talg at (970) 247-7562 to register.

4. I have just found out that I have an interview in about three weeks. How can I prepare for my interview?

There is a list of interview questions on this student teaching web site which you should be prepared to answer before going to your interview.

If you want to practice interviewing, call Allyn Talg at the Career Services Center and schedule a practice interview with her. Her phone number is 247-7562.

5. My supervising teacher was looking for her mid-term evaluation form and the only one she has shows it is a sample. Should I ask her to look somewhere else, or will they get sent out later?

Your College Consultant has the midterm and final evaluation forms. Ask your College Consultant to give it to your super teacher. Remember that only one copy of the midterm is turned in to me, not three copies of the same form. The College Consultant, the supervising teacher and the student teacher should all three be sitting in the same room when the supervising teacher explains the evaluation to the student teacher. If the supervising teacher has any concerns about the student teacher or if there are areas that need improvement, the student teacher and the College Consultant are informed at this time. The director of student teaching, (Maggie) is the one who uses the midterm evaluation as well as the College Consultant observations and the super teacher observations to determine the midterm and final grades...

6. What do I have to do to earn an A for student teaching?

Grades for student teaching are "S" meaning Satisfactory or "U" meaning Unsatisfactory. Please do not expect to receive a letter grade for student teaching.

7. Do I have to keep a journal while I am student teaching?

You should keep a journal while you student teach. Look at outcome VIII on page 5 of your portfolio rubric (which is in the back of your Student Teaching Handbook). In order to score in the proficient range you must show that you have kept a journal with several entries made on a weekly basis. You could use that journal to also record information about your developing philosophy of teaching and that will help you score advanced.

8. Do I have to keep track of my attendance while I student teach?

Yes. Your attendance record is on page 18 of your Student Teaching Handbook. Remember that you MUST complete 75 days of student teaching. In addition, you must keep track of your hours of student teaching. You must have at least 600 hours of student teaching. This means BOTH, 75 days and 600 hours. Please do not call me at the end of 600 hours and ask me if you have to complete 75 days. Yes you do. You will probably complete your 600 hours before you complete your 75 days.

9. How many weeks do I have to be a full-time-teacher in the classroom?

You are required to teach full time for a minimum of three weeks. All planning, teaching, and grading are the responsibility of the student teacher during this time. Your supervising teacher may choose to be in the classroom or out of the classroom for the entire time. If you and your supervising teacher BOTH agree to it, you can full-time-teach for more than three weeks, however it is not necessary.

10. What if I am sick during my student teaching experience?

If you are sick, please call your supervising teacher as soon as you know you will not be able to make it to school so that he/she can make arrangements for a day without you in the classroom. Make sure that you record your absence on your time sheet and make up the day later so that you will have a total of 75 days of student teaching.

11. When do I go on breaks while I am student teaching? Do I follow the schedule of the school I am in, or do I follow FLC's schedule?

You must adhere to the schedule of the school where you are student teaching.

12. I am writing because on the portfolio presentation schedule, April 25th is the last day of portfolios and my seventy five days will not be completed by then. Therefore, I am not sure when to sign up for my presentation.

None of the student teachers have completed their 75 days at the time of their portfolio presentation. You can sign up for your portfolio at any time and complete your 75 days after your portfolio.

13. How can I turn in my time sheet after my portfolio if I am not done with my 75 days yet?

Don't worry about turning in your student teaching paperwork ( including time sheet and evaluations) immediately after your portfolio. Check due dates in your handbook.

14. About my portfolio... Do all of my materials have to be taken from my student teaching experience?

No. You can use any materials from any of your teacher education courses, field study experiences, or prior experiences.

15. Can I change my portfolio date after the portfolio schedule has been made?

Once the portfolio schedule has been set in stone, I cannot change your date. It is a great deal of work to set up three panelists for every portfolio each term. Changing the date means that all of the work that was done, must be redone. A change of date or time requires that all three panelists have the same time available to be at your portfolio. If you insist on changing your date, you will do all of the work. You will need to (1) let Will  know as soon as possible so that he can cancel your existing portfolio, (2) set your own date and time and let me know when it will be, (3) make sure the room is available at that date and time, and then (4) find THREE panelists for your portfolio using the rules for panelists that are explained under portfolio information.

16. Will you be sending something to our portfolio advocates to let them know when and where to be, or do we have to contact them ourselves?

You are required to contact your advocate to make sure they are available at the time and date of your portfolio before you submit their name as a panelist. It doesn't hurt for you to thank them again just before and just after your portfolio so that they know their efforts are appreciated, and so that they won't forget to show up. I do send a mailing to every advocate and every panelist. The mailing includes the portfolio rubric and the schedule. That's just another reason everything has to be done early, so that mailings have a time to get to advocates and panelists.