EDUC 4004 Internship and Seminar: Birth Kindergarten Course Syllabus: Spring 2016

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1 1 Catawba College Department of Teacher Education Birth to Kindergarten Preparing Teachers as Reflective Practitioners EDUC 4004 Internship and Seminar: Birth Kindergarten Course Syllabus: Spring 2016 Professor: Dr. Donna James Office: Ketner 206 Telephone: (office) ext Location and Time: Ketner 213 Course Description: A full semester of practical field experience related to Early Childhood Education under the direction of a site supervisor and a college supervisor. Conferences and seminars required. This course is not designed to fulfill teacher licensure requirements. Students seeking B-K licensure in North Carolina should enroll in EDUC Prerequisites: Senior classification, a 2.0 cumulative grade point average, and recommendation of the advisor. (S-U grading). Purpose of the Course: This course is the last of a sequential series of field-based experiences designed to ensure that the BK degree candidate develops and demonstrates the ability to apply the knowledge and skills learned in content and professional courses. The course is consistent with the academic goals of the Birth to Kindergarten program. The course is designed to meet all of the B-K Specialty Area Standards. The Internship satisfies the expected outcomes specified by the Teacher Education Department for field experience and clinical practice; productive collaboration with North Carolina public school partners and other stakeholders; well designed, developmentally appropriate field experiences; and the development and demonstration of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions reflective practitioners require in order to help all individuals in their care. Approval for admission to the internship course is granted from the program coordinator after the student successfully submits an internship application and a review of the pre-requisites is completed. The course is based on a pass or fail model and does not contribute to the overall student GPA. In a Pass or Fail Course, all assignments must be satisfactorily submitted in order to pass the course. The accompanying seminars are required and provide opportunities for the B-K level candidate to demonstrate the ability to identify problems, possible solutions, and share successful practices with colleagues as part of the ongoing professional development process. Student Learning Outcome Objectives: The purpose of this course is to enable Birth-Kindergarten professionals to meet all B-K standards:

2 Outcomes: 2 1) BK teacher candidates have a comprehensive knowledge of typical as well as atypical patterns of child development; 2) BK teacher candidates foster relationships with families that support children s development and learning; 3) BK teacher candidates build community partnerships in support of children and families; 4) BK teacher candidates use authentic, ongoing assessment of children s abilities to plan, implement, and evaluate programs that build upon each child s unique strengths; and 5) BK teacher candidates create and adapt environments and intentionally plan and implement an integrated curriculum that facilitates every child s construction of knowledge and provides a strong foundation for lifelong learning. The developing expertise of the BK degree candidate will be measured through observations and assessment of demonstrated knowledge, skills, and dispositions through class projects. Final grades will be based on S/U grading criteria. Course Requirements/Assignments: 1. Field Hours: A full semester of field experience (12 hours a week in an approved setting) for a total of 180 hours is required. Internship notebook should be available and up-to-date in the classroom during visits. Classroom observations are unannounced. College supervisor will visit one time during the semester. The other visit will be conducted by video. More visits will be conducted if necessary. Internship Days and Times are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (8-12). Students will need to be present in the internship placement during those days and times. 2. Seminars: Attendance and participation in all seminars scheduled throughout the semester is required. Seminars are scheduled every other Tuesday during the semester. Some sessions may be scheduled in Blackboard. 3. SNCAE or NAEYC Membership: Professional membership in an Education organization is required for B-K Students. This membership assists students in meeting their professionalism component. Proof of membership should be provided in the internship notebook and will be a part of the Professional eportfolio. 4. Criminal Background and Educators Liability Required: Each teacher education student is responsible for obtaining liability insurance coverage and a clean criminal background check before participating in education field experiences, internships and student teaching in private and public school settings. The liability insurance may be obtained through membership in the Student North Carolina Education Association (SNCAE) if the individual student does not have coverage through an early childhood center. Applications for membership in SNCAE may be obtained in the Department of Teacher Education. Applications may also be accessed online at

3 3 by selecting Student Membership. Students should note that educator s liability insurance coverage provided by membership in SNCAE extends from September 1 st through August 31 st of each academic year and must be renewed each academic year when enrolled in methods classes or student teaching. Proof of a clean criminal background check can be satisfied by providing a copy of the letter from the Division of Child Development if the student is already employed in a childcare agency. Any students that are not employed by a childcare agency should contact the B-K program coordinator (Dr. Donna James -dcjames@catawba.edu) for information about obtaining a current background check. Proof of criminal background and liability coverage should be turned in to the class instructor and a copy placed in the internship notebook. No hours can be logged for the internship until the Criminal Background and Liability Insurance have been submitted to the course instructor. 5. Internship Notebook: Students will be required to keep a notebook in the internship setting. Students will keep everything pertaining to the internship in the notebook. The sections of your notebook should be in order with the following headings: (1) Time Log, (2) Documentation (Liability Insurance, Criminal Background, Professional Membership), (3) Research Topic Articles (Topics assigned in class), (4) Documentation Project (Pictures, Classroom Observations and Anecdotal Records), (5) Professional Development Workshop, (6) Professional Portfolio Artifacts. 6. Weekly Reflections: Students will submit a weekly reflection of progress in the internship classroom. A template will be provided and is the required format. As part of the reflection, students will also reflect on an activity they implemented in the internship classroom. Students will need to maintain high levels of professionalism in the weekly reflections with confidentiality and proper grammar. Reflections will be typed and submitted to Blackboard each week by Sunday evenings 11pm for the previous week. 7. Research Topic Articles: These articles will be assigned by the classroom instructor and will be aligned with topics discussed in seminars. A printed copy of the articles will be brought to class for discussion and then placed in your internship notebook. 8. Documentation Project: Students will document development based on observations in the classroom. Documentation will include pictures of activities, examples of children s work and written narration of observed activities. Projects will be turned in to Blackboard, so documentation will need to be converted to an electronic document. Criteria will be discussed in class. 9. Professional Development Project: Students will choose a professional development book from the approved list to read and create a workshop for the class providing an overview of the main points. A power point presentation will accompany a class presentation of the workshop. The power point and outline will be included in the professional e-portfolio. Books are on reserve in the Catawba library for checkout under James. (CPCC students can access books at their local library). 10. Write It Down! Journal Activities: Students will record lesson ideas, activities and websites in the Write It Down Journal each week. A schedule will be discussed during the first seminar. This journal will assist students in keeping track of ideas gained during the internship semester. Students will have an opportunity to share ideas from the journal during the Pair & Share time in seminar.

4 4 11. Professional eportfolio: Students will compile items to include in a professional portfolio during the internship semester. The portfolio will include the student s philosophy, training opportunities, professional memberships, leadership achievements, professional development workshop and other reflective assignments that will highlight your professional achievements. These items will be in electronic format for later use during interviewing and will be presented during the Exit Interview with the instructor. 12. Activity Plan and Video Analysis: In order to analyze and reflect on teaching, students will need to create an activity plan and video the full activity. A transition to or from the activity should be included on the video. The video should not be less than 10 minutes. Students will not need to turn in the video with the activity plan through Blackboard, but will need to keep the video available so the college instructor can view the video during a classroom visit and verify that it was completed. Students will provide the video and analysis to their on-site supervisor/director for their signature verifying they have watched the video lesson and have read the video analysis. The video will serve as the second classroom observation for the course. 12. Exit Interview Process: At the end of the semester, students will sign up for individual meeting times with the instructor to present the Professional eportfolio and to discuss future paths after graduation. Students should prepare for this like a mock interview where interview skills can be practiced in a non-punitive environment. Attendance: Students must attend the internship placement site or designate internship hours in the work setting every week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8am-12pm)- (12 hours per week). Alternate schedules will need prior approval from the course instructor. VERY IMPORTANT: Notify the site supervisor and the college supervisor if you are unable to attend your placement BEFORE the time you are to report to the placement. If you are sick, s should be sent prior to 8:00am to avoid unnecessary travel for the supervisor. Notify the college supervisor immediately should any problems arise related to your placement. Students are expected to attend and be on time for all scheduled Seminars, unless there is an emergency or serious health issue that prevents them from doing so. The policy stated in the College Catalog on class attendance applies to the Seminars. An Unsatisfactory grade for the course will be assigned to any student who misses more than one seminar meeting or who does not meet the required 180 Hours. Textbook: Write It Down!: A Guided Journal of Ideas, Strategies, and Reflections for Beginning Teachers by Dawn L. Kolakoski, Ed.D. NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development by NC Foundations Taskforce Download free

5 Other Required Items: Notebook with clear pocket front with tab dividers Flashdrive to back up presentations and for gathering professional materials Supplies needed to implement activity plans in the classroom 5 Seminar Topics and Due Dates: Seminar 1: January 12 Course Overview Professionalism in the Classroom Being a Reflective Teacher Seminar 2: January 26 Classroom Observation The Role of Documentation in the Classroom Purposeful Planning Seminar 3: February 9 Questioning to Extend (Online) Learning Seminar 4: February 23 (Online) Partnering with Families Seminar 5: March 8 Creating Professional Portfolios Seminar 6: March 22 Professional Development for Education Professionals Seminar 7: April 5 Positive Guidance (Online) Approaches Encouraging Future Leaders in Children Seminar 8: April 19 Advocating for Young Children Individual Appointments: May 3 Exit Interviews *Weekly reflections begin after the first full week at the internship site. Post in Blackboard by Sunday each week. Professional Development Workshop Outline Due Activity Plan Due (for Video Analysis Assignment) Video Analysis Due Documentation Project Due Professional eportfolios Due Professional Development Presentations (Posted in Blackboard and on Flashdrive) Bring Professional eportfolio on Flashdrive, Write It Down Journal, Time Log, Self-Evaluation and Site Supervisor Evaluation

6 Evaluation: 6 On-going assessment of the BK degree candidate s performance will be made throughout the field experience and seminars. The college supervisor will be noting professionalism, speaking ability, initiative, cooperative behavior, appearance, academic and professional knowledge and skills, concern for individuals at the placement site, and in essence, all of the criteria frequently found on reference forms requested from personnel offices. The degree candidate is expected to engage in self-assessment, well evidenced by the reflections. College supervisors will complete at least (2) formal observations during the semester and will provide feedback after the observation. One observation will be in the classroom and the other will be a video observation (Activity Plan and Video Analysis Assignment). Additional observations will be conducted as needed. The student s performance in the internship setting will be evaluated utilizing a performance rubric. This final evaluation will be completed by the student, the co-teacher or director, and then by the college supervisor. A grade of satisfactory or unsatisfactory (S or U) will be submitted at the completion of the field experience based on the student s seminar work and internship classroom evaluation. All work must be submitted in order to receive a satisfactory grade.