Yearlong Internship Orientation for Cooperating Teachers

1. Yearlong Internship Orientation for Cooperating Teachers A review of the Cooperating Teacher’s role in the first-semester experience

2. What is the “yearlong internship?” • At UNC Charlotte, our undergraduate students in most content areas complete a two-semester field experience during the senior year. The first semester is called the “intern semester.” The second semester is full-time student teaching. • During the intern semester, candidates are still full time students at UNC Charlotte, taking a full load of classes. • This presentation focuses on the expectations for the “intern” semester. Another, more detailed orientation will be offered next semester regarding the candidate’s second semester, full-time experience.

3. Requirements for interns in the first semester experience

4. The Student Teaching Handbook • All interns are REQUIRED to purchase a copy of the Student Teaching Handbook for their Cooperating Teachers (CTs). • Part 2 of the Student Teaching Handbook applies to the Yearlong Internship (YLI) Semester – it begins on page 41. • Responsibilities for the Yearlong Intern, CT, and the University are on pages 46-47.

5. Attendance • Attendance  expectation is that the intern will come to the classroom the equivalent of one day per week. • This can be broken down into smaller increments as the intern’s schedule permits, as long as the overall hours are equivalent to one day per week. • Attendance should be recorded on the Attendance Log found on page 63. • Cooperating Teachers should keep a copy along with the interns.

7. Interns should communicate immediately with their CTs if they will not be able to attend on a scheduled day. • Any time missed should be made up. • Attendance schedules should be determined in advance!! • Interns will turn in a copy of the attendance log to OFE at the end of the semester. • Interns are also required to communicate regularly with OFE and complete paperwork to prepare for the full time student teaching semester.

8. Clear Communication • Clear and frequent communication between the Intern and the CT is VITAL for a successful semester. It is the intern’s responsibility to inform the CT of changes to the schedule!! • CTs and interns should arrange to hold an initial planning meeting early in the semester. • At the initial planning meeting, interns should complete the Data Form on page 53 and exchange information with the CT.

10. First Semester Guidelines Checklist • A copy of the checklist is on pages 55-57 (B-K version p. 59-61). • Directions for completing each section are on the checklist. • After the intern completes a task, the CT initials and dates to verify. • Interns turn in a copy of the checklist to OFE at the end of the semester. • Note the last item in each section is “CT request” … interns are not limited to the checklist!

12. Evaluation of the Intern • Interns do NOT receive a grade for the internship semester; however, they are evaluated twice by the CT. • At the midterm (early March/October) and again at the end of the semester, CTs will receive via their school email a link to the online evaluation of their interns’ performance to that point. • CTs should print and share the results of the evaluation with their interns. • All evaluations are reviewed by OFE personnel; unsatisfactory evaluations will be discussed with individual interns.

14. Contact with OFE – by student-interns • Interns are required to send a monthly paragraph update to their OFE contact that elaborates on the candidate’s experiences in the classroom. • Interns will be notified who their OFE contact person is within 2 weeks of orientation. • All monthly paragraphs are due by the 20th of each month.

15. Contact with OFE – by Cooperating Teachers • The OFE contact for ALL Cooperating Teachers is Dr. Joyce Frazier, Director of Field Experiences. Any CT who has a concern about an intern’s performance or a question about the internship process is encouraged to contact Dr. Frazier as soon as possible. • Phone: 704-687-8802 / 8807 • Email: jwfrazie@uncc.edu

16. Additional Information • The intern semester is intended to be a precursor for the full time student teaching semester. Please provide the intern with opportunities for meaningful involvement in the classroom. • Examples: teaching small lessons, working directly with students, participating in planning sessions, evaluating work, attending staff meetings, meeting colleagues, etc. • Please give the interns constructive and meaningful feedback regarding their work in the classroom. Feedback is critical! Interns cannot improve without feedback on their performance.

17. Professionalism is an expectation for all College of Education teaching candidates! This includes: • Professional dress • Professional behaviors (including personal electronic use) • Professional interactions with faculty and students • High School interns only: interns may not teach Advanced Placement (AP) classes during the full time student teaching semester (it’s fine to work with AP classes during the intern semester). Interns may have to go to a different teacher’s classroom during full time student teaching for the AP class only. Interns should contact OFE if their teaching schedules include AP courses.

18. An honorarium is paid to the Cooperating Teacher at the end of the full time student teaching semester. CTs will receive more information about this honorarium at the CT Orientation next semester. • A timeline for the two semester experience (including full time student teaching) is found of page 50 (beginning August) or 51 (beginning January).

19. Questions or Concerns? • Interns  Contact OFE • Phone: 704-687-8802 • Cooperating Teachers  Contact Dr. Frazier (Director of OFE) • Phone: 704-687-8802 / 8807 • Email: jwfrazie@uncc.edu

20. THANK YOUTHANK YOU THANK YOU Thank you for all you do in helping us to prepare future education professionals!!