Classroom Experiences

Clinicals

• Early Childhood Education

  Students in this program will gain hands-on experience in classrooms with mentor teachers during three semesters. Clinical courses for Early Childhood Education majors include TCH 292, TCH 293, and TCH 294 which will result in approximately 300 hours of classroom experience prior to student teaching.

• Elementary Education

  In the Elementary Education program, as well as the Bilingual/Bicultural sequence, students participate in clinical experiences during three semesters. Clinical courses for this major include TCH 205, TCH 209, and TCH 260 which will result in approximately 300 hours of hands-on experience in classrooms with mentor teachers prior to student teaching.

• Middle Level Education

  Students majoring in Middle Level Education will spend two semesters in classrooms gaining hands-on experience with mentor teachers. Clinical courses in this program include TCH 296 and TCH 396 which will result in approximately 350 hours of classroom experience prior to student teaching.

• Questions?

  For additional information about clinical experiences and pre-student teaching requirements, visit the Teacher Education Center site.

  Please send individual questions about clinical experiences to Kelly Schlouch at knbevie@IllinoisState.edu.

Student Teaching

• Traditional Student Teaching

  Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Level Education majors can student teach in any area of Illinois during the final semester of their program. Traditional student teaching is a 16-week program in the placement school. Students will be mentored by the assigned cooperating teacher in the school and university supervisor from Illinois State University.

• San Antonio, Texas

  Students in the Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle Level Education programs can also student teach in San Antonio, Texas during the final semester of their program. This is a 16-week program in the Northside Independent School District. Students choosing to participate in this program are responsible for obtaining housing in San Antonio for their student teaching semester.

• Alcala de Henares, Spain

  Students majoring in the Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle Level Education who are earning an endorsement in English as a Second Language can apply for the student teaching study abroad program in Alcala de Henares, Spain. This program includes two student teaching placements. During the first 8 weeks, students are placed in a school in Illinois and then completed the second 8 weeks of student teaching abroad in Spain. Students are mentored by the assigned cooperating teachers in the Illinois and Spain schools, as well as their university supervisors from Illinois State University and the Universidad de Alcala.

  Find more information about this program

• Professional Development Schools

  Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Level Education majors can apply to participate in the Professional Development Schools (PDS) program. PDS is a year-long experience in which the students complete their fall senior-block clinical and spring student teaching in the same placement school. The fall coursework is taught on-site by university professors. PDS programs are offered in the following districts:

  • Bloomington District 87 (ECE, ELED, MLE)
  • Chicago Public Schools (ELED, BIL)
  • East Maine District 63 (ELED)
  • Elgin U46 (ELED, BIL)
  • McLean County Unit 5 (ECE, ELED, MLE)
  • Pekin District 108 (ELED)
  • Wheeling District 21 (ELED, BIL)

• Questions?

  For additional information about student teaching requirements and the application process, visit the Teacher Education Center site.

  Please send individual questions about student teaching to Nikki Maurer at nlmaure@IllinoisState.edu.