Spring 2013
Student Teacher
Information Meeting
December 6, 2012
Mrs. Staci Fuqua
Coordinator Field Services
sfuqua@utm.edu
ESS Web Address
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www.utm.edu/ess
Dates
Handbook
Forms
PRAXIS Information
Licensure
Dates
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Orientation Seminars:
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January 8-11, 2013
March 8, 2013 (Mid-Session)
Specific time details provided on calendar.
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DRESS PROFESSIONALLY!
There are NO excused absences for these
days. Do NOT schedule a trip or surgery or
other appointments during this time.
Dates, continued
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January 11 (Not before January 3): Meet with
your first placement principal and cooperating
teacher(s) ONLY.
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Call before you go and schedule an appointment. Find
out when to arrive, when does CT leave for the day, the
dress code, lunch arrangements, where to park, teacher
edition textbooks, and anything else the principal and
CT want you to know. Share your assignments for
student teaching. Google phone numbers and
directions.
Dates, continued
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First Placement: January 14 – March 7
Second Placement: March 11 – April 26
You will have a spring break at some point.
You are not allowed to be absent from
student teaching for UTM’s spring break.
For those schools with an inter-session,
please attend one week of inter-session,
even if your CT is not working if school
permits.
Dates, continued
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Mid-Semester Seminar:
March 8, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Required)
Additionally, your supervisor may schedule
a mid-semester seminar. This would be
scheduled after school. Your supervisor will
notify you of the date/time they plan to hold
this mid-session conference with you.
Dates, continued
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Reception/Celebration: April 24, 2012
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The Reception/Celebration will begin at 6:00
p.m. in the Boling University Center Ballroom.
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Our reception/celebration is immediately
following the “Grand Finale/Senior Walk”
graduation festivities scheduled for this date.
**More to come later in the spring semester. 
Final Exit Conference with
University Supervisor
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Final exit conference with University
Supervisor will be held April 29 – May 1
Your supervisor will inform you of date,
time, and location.
Absences
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For each absence, you must notify your CT, principal,
supervisor, and me. Seminar days scheduled by me,
professional development days, conferences scheduled
by your school, parent-teacher conferences, and inservice days are not counted as absences. Only
contagious illness and death in the immediate family are
excused. I will entertain other excuses on a case-bycase basis and may require a doctor’s note.
You will make up all unexcused absences and any
excused absences over 5, no matter what the reason
and no matter who approves the absence.
Student Teaching Handbook
and Student Teaching Forms
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www.utm.edu/ess
Print one copy of the handbook and bring to
orientation. I recommend using a 3-ring binder.
Read and study it. Failure to adhere to student
teaching policy could result in removal from
student teaching.
Print ONE copy of EACH form and bring to
orientation. Read and study each form. Prepare
questions.
Student Teaching Orientation Info
Everything you will need for the Student
Teaching Orientation can be found at
http://www.utm.edu/departments/ess/orientati
onInfo.php
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-Handbook
-Student Teaching “forms”
-TN State Standard info
-Common Core Standard info
PRAXIS Information
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View Praxis info
http://www.utm.edu/departments/ess/praxis.php for
information and test requirements for Tennessee.
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Upcoming PRAXIS Dates: Check the ETS website.
www.ets.org
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Notice that registration is typically about a month before
the test date. MANY tests are now available via
computer delivery. All scheduled through www.ets.org .
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YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEMPT YOUR CONTENT
AREA PRAXIS BEFORE GRADUATION!!!!
Testing Information Continued…..
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2012-2013 PRAXIS II Required Exams
and Scores
Required “Exit Exams” specific to each major are
highlighted on the above list. Please be certain you take
the correct test.
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Post Comp-Gen Ed. Exam-
MUST be taken to graduate. The test is FREE!
IF you have not taken it, sign-up IMMEDIATELY!!!
Click this link to register- http://www.registerblast.com/utm/exam
**This test only takes about 1- 1 ½ hours to complete.
Praxis II Content Area
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Everyone has a Praxis II content area exam that
is also your exit exam for graduation. Check the
ESS website (www.utm.edu/ess) , call 7203
(Gooch 205) or talk with your advisor for the test
with an asterisk (*) if you are not sure what your
content area/exit exam is.
Music, Art, Dance, and FCS, check the Praxis test
list on the previous slide. Info is highlighted.
Everyone must TAKE it for graduation. You must
PASS it (and any others required by the state) in
order to get a teaching license.
Praxis II - PLT
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Everyone must take one of the PLT tests for
licensure. Check in Gooch 205 if you are
unsure which one is required for your program.
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If you are in a K-12 program, you may choose
any of the PLT exams. Go on the Praxis web
site and try the practice exams to help you
decide which one to take. The library also has
practice tests.
When Do I Take Praxis II?
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You should have already taken your
*content area/exit exam. If not, register
NOW for it. We must provide Academic
Records Office your score or proof that you
have taken it before the end of April.
The best time to take the PLT for you is
NOW. If you can only take one test soon,
take the *content area/exit exam first.
Licensure
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Mrs. Jenny Hahn is our Licensure
Coordinator. She will attend mid session
seminar in March and help you complete
the application for licensure.
How many of you have taken the PLT?
Your * major field test? All Praxis exams?
Is there anyone who has passed all of your
Praxis II, including PLT?
Student Teaching Assignments
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PreK-K
Radius
Changes
Schools Attended
Notification
University Supervisors
PreK and K Assignments
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All K-6 MSIL students must have a K assignment
because they do not take K-Prac.
I generally request PreK for PreK-3 majors and grades
1-3 for K-6 majors instead of K for the lower grade
placement. Especially in the fall, I need all
kindergartens that are nearby for K-Prac.
Secondary students (7-12) will have a middle school
and a high school placement (except Ag., FCS, and
Business).
K-12 majors will have placement in two different school
levels (SPED and PE).
Radius
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Placements are typically assigned within a
60-mile radius. University Supervisors
must be able to drive easily to placements.
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Expect some driving. That way, you’ll be
pleasantly surprised if you don’t have to!
Changes
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All placements have been requested, most of
them are confirmed.
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Per state and university policy, the Coordinator of
Field Placements is the only person who
requests placements; placements are made
through principals and other administrators, NOT
through cooperating teachers. You may NOT
request your own placement!
Additional Policies
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According to placement policy, student
teachers may not be placed in schools
which they themselves attended or in
schools where relatives, children, or
siblings currently attend/work.
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Student teachers may not be placed where
they have been employed.
Notification of Placements
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If time permits, you will be notified via email once
placements are confirmed. The email will come from me
(sfuqua@utm.edu or Debbie Stigall dstigall@utm.edu).
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Everyone will be given final placement and University
Supervisor details at orientation. Don’t worry, you WILL
have a placement! 
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Contact your first placement no earlier than January 3rd (if you
know it) and let them know you will arrive on January 14th and
would like to schedule a visit before that time to meet the
principal and CT. Scheduling your intro visit with CT (and
Principal is possible) for January 11th is preferred.
Meeting with Principal and CT
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Ask about hours, parking, lunch arrangements, dress code, and policies.
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Ask to see textbooks. Record publisher, title, and edition information for each
subject. The LRC has Tennessee textbooks and resources. Some CT’s will
provide these for you if you will ask. 
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Ask the principal and CT for other information they want you to know.
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The cooperating teacher packet will be given to CT by you during your “intro
meeting” in January. This is why I really prefer you schedule your meeting for
January 11th. Packets are distributed at seminar NOT before.
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Be sure to share contact information for you, your supervisor, and our office.
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TREAT THIS MEETING AS AN OFFICIAL INTERVIEW!
Criminal Background Checks
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Everyone should already have this.
 If not, Due NOW!
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YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO
STUDENT TEACH UNTIL I HAVE THIS
ON FILE.
**I will notify you if I do not have one!
Grade/Prerequisite Checks
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I have already performed my first grade/prerequisite check for all
students. I will be notifying anyone that has an issue via email.
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I will perform my final check when fall grades are submitted and
posted in Banner. All course prerequisites must be completed with
a passing grade.
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Anyone receiving an “F” or an “I” in a prerequisite course OR
having a cumulative GPA <2.75, will not be allowed to student
teach in the spring ‘13. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Materials to Bring to Orientation
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Student Teaching Handbook
All Student Teaching Forms
Highlighters, Post-It’s, a calendar
A check for STEA (“if needed”-We will
discuss at orientation)
**I will send everyone a reminder email the
week before seminar begins. 
Planning Ahead
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Appropriate clothing
Gas money
Child care for emergencies for those with
children of your own.
Focus on student teaching and not on other
coursework and outside jobs.
Medical appointments - no excused
absences for checkups of any kind.
Student Teaching I.D. Badge
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I will distribute UT Martin Student Teaching
I.D. badges to all student teachers during
orientation. This includes a badge holder.
COST= $5.00
*You will see this on your Banner account
within the next 2-3 weeks. Please pay as soon as
you are billed. Must be paid by January 3rd!
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!
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For information regarding weather related
issues, please check the UT Martin homepage
or your email.
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Make-up days for snow days missed during
your placement will be evaluated before the end
of the term. Making up days depends on the
number of days missed. Don’t worry about this!
I will let you know my decision. 
???? QUESTIONS ????
Dispositions, continued
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Assumes responsibility.
Analyzes problems critically and attempts to
resolve them independently.
Exhibits interest in the learner and enthusiasm for
the learning process.
Adheres to professional guidelines regarding
academic conduct. (PLAGIARISM IS AN
OFFENSE!)
Adheres to established guidelines for the Teacher
Education Program.
The following dispositions characterize the UTM
teacher education UG and G candidate:
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Communicates effectively, both orally and in
writing.
Attends and is punctual for all classes and field
experiences.
Demonstrates positive interactions with peers,
faculty, and P-12 school personnel.
Accepts constructive criticism.
Changes behavior in response to faculty
suggestions.