Placement for Clinical Experiences
Our clinical experiences include field experiences, student teaching, internships and practicums all designed to meet PELSB licensure requirements. We provide clinical experiences that are aligned to the scope and content of the license sought while providing experiences with students that have a range of exceptionalities and who differ in race, ethnicity, home language, socioeconomic status, including students on individualized education plans. Your clinical experiences will be in a variety of schools, settings and grade bands.
School of Education Placement and Application Policy
As you work toward your degree and license, you will be completing applications required for field experiences.
Field experience applications must be submitted by the first Monday in October for fall semester, third Monday in February for spring semester, and third Monday in March for summer session. Students who do not meet the deadline are recommended they withdraw from the course as a placement may not be secured for you.
For a list of courses that are "self-placed" vs. "placement office" see Chapter 3 in the School of Education Candidate Handbook, which can be found under the Teacher Candidate Resources in the side bar.
When listing placement preferences please include the school name, town, and district/ISD#.
Placements
Every experience is aligned to the scope and content of the licensure you are seeking.
- SMSU School of Education Professional Dispositions should be displayed at all times.
- Candidates should plan on being placed in 3 or more schools/districts over the course of their clinical experiences to meet diversity of placement requirements.
- Reference the School of Education Candidate Handbook for a Summary of Clinical Experiences and the list of Dispositions.
Student Learning and Licensure
All placements are required to be documented in the Student Learning and Licensure system. Reference Chapter 3 in the School of Education Candidate Handbook for more directions, user guides, and video tutorials.
Sign in directions:
- Go to https://login.watermarkinsights.com
- First time signing in you must create a password. Subsequent sign ins enter the password you created.
- Enter your email address (@smsu.edu) or (@my.smsu.edu). Cooperating Teachers use your school email.
- If prompted to choose a product, select "Student Learning and Licensure".
Liability Insurance
All candidates must have Liability Insurance Coverage before beginning any clinical experiences. The process can be completed at the Education Minnesota website.
- Click on Membership & Benefits > Aspiring educator > Join Now.
- Complete the NEA (National Education Association) application.
- Save your "proof of membership" as it must be attached to every clinical experience application.
Student Teaching and Practicum Experiences
Student teaching is the last step in earning your degree and being recommended for licensure. We want the student teaching experience to be a positive and rewarding experience for our teacher candidates, cooperating teachers and university supervisors.
Practicums are the culminating clinical experience for those that are already licensed and are seeking an additional license.
Student Teaching Application
Practicum Applications
Candidates must submit one of the following applications along with a current resume, and current licensure pdf.
- Practicum Application - updated AY24
- Practicum Application Process
- Evaluation of Practicum Candidate Experience - Filled out during practicum design meeting
Student Teaching Resources
- 3 Key Components Document - updated AY25
- Education Department Lesson Plan - updated AY18
- Education Department Lesson Plan with Frames - updated AY18
- Special Education Lesson Plan - updated AY18
- Special Education Lesson Plan with Frames - updated AY18
- Physical Education Lesson Plan - updated AY19
Practicum Resources
- Education Department Lesson Plan - updated AY18
- Education Department Lesson Plan with Frames - updated AY18
- Special Education Lesson Plan - updated AY18
- Special Education Lesson Plan with Frames - updated AY18
- Physical Education Lesson Plan - updated AY19
Cooperating Teachers and University Supervisors
We greatly appreciate all our Cooperating Teachers and University Supervisors!
As a Cooperating Teacher, we couldn’t do this without you. Your willingness to mentor a future teacher shows your dedication to the wonderful field of education. Thank you so much for opening up your classroom and sharing your students!
As a University Supervisor, you oversee this collaborative experience in a way that is evidence of your long-standing value of education and dedication to teaching. Thank you for the guidance and experience you offer our teacher candidates.
Cooperating Teacher Resources
School Partners for Teacher Candidate Clinical Experiences
Contracts Typically run August 1st through July 31st for a term of 5 years.
Information shared with Partnering Schools via contracts/agreements, training materials, manuals, and handbooks:
- Expectations for the candidate during a clinical experience.
- Responsibilities held by the school partner during a clinical experience.
- Grounds for removing a candidate from a clinical experience and the process for removal.
- Identifying cooperating teachers who model effective instruction, including the use of state academic standards or, if unavailable, national discipline-specific standards and culturally responsive teaching.
- Training on the cooperating teacher’s role, program expectations, candidate assessments, procedures, and timelines.
- Ensuring cooperating teachers during student teaching and practicum have at least 3 years teaching experience as a teacher of record in the licensure area; holds a professional license aligned to the assignment; has completed professional development in coaching strategies for adult learners; and meet all other requirements set forth in state statute.
- Ensuring each cooperating teacher during a field experience has at least 2 years of teaching experience; holds a Tier 2 license or professional license aligned to the assignment; and meet all other requirements set forth in state statute.
- List of School Partners
Last Modified: 10/21/24 8:19 PM | Website Feedback