What is a Teaching Practicum?
A teaching practicum is a precursor to student teaching, a staple component to graduate education programs. Students are asked to observe the teacher and take notes, noticing teaching style, management, and other focus areas their professors have asked them to observe. Some practicums ask students to work with a small group or teach one to three whole group lessons, while others do not. The university determines what their practicum experiences are designed to do, and they have specific requirements for the college student while in the classroom doing their observing.
This is also a way for college students to determine what grade levels and content areas they most like and get a variety of experiences at various levels. These are valuable experiences, and there are things that one can do to make the most of them.
Ways to Make the Most Out of the Teaching Practicum
Keep an Open Mind
Keep an open mind when considering placements or making requests. This is the time to get into as many different grade levels and content areas as possible. Avoid being too narrow in focus; there are so many different kinds of jobs as teachers, and it is a benefit to experience as wide a variety as possible.
When observing in a placement, keep an open mind to what is taking place. A teacher may be strict or more nurturing, depending upon the circumstances. They may do some things in a small group and others in a whole class group. If there is something puzzling going on, ask questions. Every teaching strategy is not outlined in a textbook, and one must be open to those as well. Ultimately, the teacher will do what is best for the individual child, and that may not look the same in all cases.
Come Prepared
Thoroughly research the practicum expectations and what will need to be done to be considered successful, and don’t stop at what the syllabus is showing. Talk with your professor and get ideas about what they would like to see when one is going above and beyond expectations. Be sure to communicate with the classroom teacher to organize the observation dates well in advance: set up a meeting to apprise them of the expectations for the observation and practicum. This is an excellent time to get ideas from them as to how they’d like to see you fit into their classroom and what things can be done that will make students comfortable. It is important to find out what will be the most helpful to the teacher.
Ask to Be a Part of Staff Meetings
Every school and grade level/content department will have its own list of staff meetings and team meetings. Be sure to ask if you’re allowed to attend these meetings because this is a way to get a sense of the school and climate. It will provide you the opportunity to see how the relationship-building process works with staff members. It will become clear how the school focuses its improvement efforts and in what areas. If professional development is a part of these meetings, it will be a great benefit as well.
At team meetings, observe the working dynamics of a team and how they set goals to help students. Suppose the team is participating in professional learning communities. In that case, it will be a bonus in hearing professionals discuss data and share strategies to help one another be successful with their students.
Volunteer
It is a benefit to be as involved as possible at the school. This will enable one to see how things are ran and how input directly affects outcomes. Schools and districts have committees, and they are usually welcoming to anyone who wants to volunteer. There may also be a need for a helper for a club or sport. Getting involved with some of these extra-curricular activities is a good way to learn more about how a school runs.
There are lunch and recess duties that can be eye-opening as well. Attending grade level concerts, open houses, curriculum nights, parent teacher conferences, etc. are great ways to continue developing as the progression takes place into the role as a student teacher from the practicum experience.
Be Reflective
Consider keeping a log or journal documenting interesting things that are noticed or good practices. You can use those as jumping-off points when having conversations in college practicum classes or with the supervising teacher. Write down practices that change due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then reflect upon those and discuss which ones may be beneficial to keep. Reread and reflect upon the things written about regularly. The items that are discussed are good preparation for the interviewing process.
Use Good Judgment
When interacting in the practicum, use common sense about the everyday things that take place. Be on time, stay the entire time committed to, do not ask to leave early, and take the initiative in the classroom and offer to help with students. When doing assignments that require a teacher interview, do not simply send a list of questions to the teacher via email and ask them to fill it out, which eliminates the opportunity to have other interactions with them. If something is happening that is confusing, speak up and ask the question; speaking up and letting the teacher know there are questions is the best way to learn.
Taking time to do the “extras” during the practicum and observer experiences will set a student up nicely for student teaching and give them more to discuss in interviews. Some districts will require an interview to student teach, and others will not. Either way, these “extras” can pay off nicely!
