SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE
Office of Field and Clinical Experiences
Preclinical and Student Teaching Candidate Agreement
The Preclinical is the beginning phase of the Student Teaching capstone experience. It is the first
level of consistent practice in a P-12 classroom and occurs one semester prior to Student Teaching.
The Preclinical experience allows the candidate to actively participate in modified teaching
experiences under the supervision of a licensed P-12 teacher with a focus on designing an Impact on
Student Learning project that will address diagnosis of student learning, instructional development,
the use of assessment strategies, and the use of data for teaching/learning improvement. Preclinical
is a required activity and a pre-requisite to EDU 4981.
1. Preclinical Classroom Scheduling: The Preclinical classroom assignment lasts for a minimum of
fifteen consecutive weeks. The beginning date is determined by the candidate’s semester of enrollment:
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Fall preclinical teacher candidates begin their fifteen-week preclinical experience on the same
day that P-12 teachers begin the school year and are required to participate in the professional
development and room readiness activities conducted by the school at the beginning of the
school year.
Spring preclinical teacher candidates begin their fifteen-week pre-clinical experience in
January when P-12 teachers return from their Winter Break and are required to participate in
the annual Career Fair held at WSSU
All preclinical teacher candidates must be in the classroom for one full day or two half-days each week,
except Physical Education candidates who must be in the schools for three half-days each week, and
Elementary Education candidates who must be in the classroom for two full days each week. Candidates
who elect the half-day schedule must alter their visits to include a combination of mornings and
afternoons so as to experience the entire day in the assigned classroom. You will create an attendance
schedule in collaboration with your cooperating teacher and submit a copy of the schedule to your
cooperating teacher and your university supervisor. The attendance schedule is due by the second Friday
of the semester. Physical education majors must arrange their schedule with the Physical Education
program coordinator and submit it to the cooperating teacher, the program coordinator, and their
university supervisor.
2. Preclinical Logs: Preclinical teacher candidates must obtain the signature of their cooperating
teachers on attendance logs each week to verify their visits to the school. These log sheets must be
submitted to the university supervisor promptly upon completion of the preclinical. The log sheet will be
part of the preclinical candidate’s packet submitted to the Office of Field and Clinical Experiences by the
university supervisor at the end of the semester. See Preclinical Document Submission Checklist for exact
dates.
3. Lesson Planning: Preclinical teacher candidates are required to prepare lesson plans (using a word
processing program) and teach a minimum of three small or large group lessons during the semester (four
for Elementary Education candidates). Lesson plans must be detailed and prepared in accordance with
program guidelines and in alignment with expectations of the host school/cooperating teacher. The
cooperating teacher must approve all lesson plans before the lessons are taught.
4. Classroom Teaching: Once the lesson plans have been approved, you will teach at least three lessons
(four for Elementary Education candidates) under the supervision of the cooperating teacher. Your
cooperating teacher will observe two lessons, and your university supervisor will observe one (two for
Elementary Education candidates), and then provide written feedback to you. Some of these lessons may
be videotaped as determined by your program or university supervisor. You are required to submit your
lesson plans, the completed observation forms, and your written reflections to your university supervisor
within one week of teaching the lessons. All lesson plan sets, including written reflections, will be part of
the preclinical candidate’s packet submitted by the university supervisor to the Office of Field and
Clinical Experiences at the end of the semester. See Preclinical Document Submission Checklist for exact
dates.
5. Faculty Observation: Preclinical teacher candidates are required to notify their university supervisors
when they are scheduled to teach lessons. University supervisors are expected to observe and provide
written documentation of lessons observed based on program requirement (two for Elementary Education
and one for all other programs).
6. Impact on Student Learning (ISL) Project: Preclinical teacher candidates enrolled in EDU 4338
Psychological Foundations of Education will complete an ISL Project following a prescribed template for
preparation which should be discussed thoroughly with the cooperating teacher. The instructor for EDU
4338 will evaluate this project.
7. Teacher Education Portfolio: Preclinical teacher candidates will create and submit required electronic
evidences according to instructions given by program faculty.
8. Preclinical Assignments: During the semester, you will be required to complete various assignments
(including Electronic Evidences) related to your preclinical classroom setting. These assignments will be
submitted to the designated program faculty member by announced deadlines. These assignments are
considered as a part of your overall preclinical evaluation and will be evaluated to help determine your
readiness for student teaching.
9. Professional Demeanor: Preclinical teacher candidates must exhibit professional demeanor in attitude,
appearance, and behavior and uphold academic, professional, and ethical standards.
10. Attendance: You are required to maintain consistent weekly attendance in your assigned classroom.
Failure to maintain satisfactory attendance will result in a review of your status to determine your
continuation in the preclinical experience, which will also affect your eligibility for student teaching.
11. Preclinical Evaluation: Preclinical candidates are expected to participate in ongoing reflection
regarding their growth throughout the semester and to complete a self-evaluation at the end of the
semester. The Pre-clinical Evaluation must be submitted to TaskStream, printed out, signed by the
preclinical teacher candidate and the university supervisor at the final three-way conference. The
university supervisor will submit the Pre-clinical Evaluation to the Office of Field and Clinical
Experiences as part of the preclinical candidate’s packet at the end of the semester. See Preclinical
Document Submission Checklist for exact dates.
12. Student Teaching Assignment: Student teaching assignments are confirmed only upon successful
completion of the preclinical experience, after all other course requirements have been met, and if your
cumulative grade point average is 2.5 or higher. Fall student teachers begin their assignment when their
cooperating teachers begin the school year. Spring student teachers begin the experience in January when
their cooperating teachers return from the winter break. Verify specific start dates with your assigned
cooperating teacher or school principal. Dates are usually at least one week before the University’s
semester begins.
In addition to receiving a Field Experiences, Preclinical, and Student Teaching Handbook which I
am required to read and use as a guide, I have been apprised of the Preclinical Requirements listed
above and described during the Preclinical Orientation. I understand that additional requirements
will be prescribed by my program area courses. I agree to abide by ALL requirements. I also agree
to abide by the Code of Ethics – Public Schools of North Carolina (also in Handbook):
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/effectiveness-model/ncees/standards/code-of-ethics.pdf, and
the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards:
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/effectiveness-model/ncees/standards/prof-teach-standards.pdf.
I will maintain conduct and behavior that is consistent with the teaching profession. Furthermore, I
will comply with all federal, state and local regulations of the school to which I have been assigned.
I will plan, teach, and direct learning experiences to the best of my ability, and I will participate in
the customary non-teacher duties expected of teachers on those days I am in attendance at the
assigned school.
I understand that failure to comply with the preclinical requirements as presented in this document
and by the Office of Field and Clinical Experiences, and as prescribed by my program, will be
considered grounds for removal from the Preclinical Experience/Practicum, which will void my
eligibility for preclinical, and subsequently, student teaching. I also understand that these
expectations will continue to apply until I complete the student teaching experience and my
licensure program.
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Preclinical Teacher Candidate’s Printed Name
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Preclinical Teacher Candidate’s Banner ID#
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Preclinical Teacher Candidate’s Signature
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Date