Mentor Teachers of Early Childhood Education Student Teachers

Welcome!  We are glad that you have committed to mentoring an Early Childhood Education student teacher from UCO this semester.  The experience that both you as a mentor and the candidate as a student teacher has is CENTRAL to us!  Because you are so important to the Early Childhood Education program, our faculty has created this blog for you.  We hope you find it full of all kinds of helpful tips, explanations concerning why we do what we do, and suggestions for making this both a successful experience for the student teacher, and a rewarding experience for you.

Important dates for the Fall 2008 Semester:

August 11-13               Student teachers attend class Contemporary Issues on campus
August 13                     (9:30-noon) Student teaching orientation
August 18-Sept. 5       Transition Block: For 3 weeks, student teachers will come to your classroom for the morning, then go back to campus for the afternoon for the course Classroom Management and Instruction
Sept 8-Oct 24               Student Teaching Block I
Oct 23                            "Touch Back Day"--student teachers report back to campus for a professional day
Oct 27-Dec 9                Student Teaching Block II

Why do the Early Childhood Education student teachers go to two different classrooms for Blocks I & II?
Traditionally a state requirement, ECED majors spend part of their time in either a pre-k or kindergarten classroom, and the other part of their time in the primary grades.  While there are disadvantages to having to become acquainted with a new group of children and a new teacher, the benefits of practicing the different pedagogies for the different grade levels makes this an important practice to continue.

Meet the Mentor night?  What is that?
Originally begun as a part of the Early Childhood Education's student teaching pilot in Spring 2007, this is a time for all the ECED faculty, university supervisors, the student teachers, and all the mentors to meet on campus for refreshments and to get to know one another.  Mentors and student teachers alike have commented on how much they enjoyed this chance to get acquainted.

 Interested in knowing the qualifications teacher candidates must meet prior to being admitted to student teaching?
See the Teacher Education Handbook attachment below for more details.  (The Mentor Teacher Handbook and the Student Teaching Handbook is currently being revised, and will be ready to upload on this blog soon.)