Spring 2012
Student Teacher
Information Meeting
December 1, 2011
Mrs. Staci Fuqua, Director
Education Student Services
sfuqua@utm.edu
ESS Web Address






www.utm.edu/ess
Dates
Handbook
Forms
PRAXIS Information
Licensure
Dates

Orientation Seminars:




January 10-12, 2012
February 20, 2012
March 9, 2012 (Mid-Session)
April 9, 2012
Specific time details provided on calendar.
 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


January 13 (or before): Meet with your first
placement principal and cooperating teacher(s).
Call before you go and let them know you will be
there. Find out when to arrive, how long to be at
school each day, the dress code, lunch
arrangements, where to park, and anything else
the principal and CT want you to know. Share
your assignments for student teaching. Google
phone numbers and directions.
Dates, continued



First Placement: January 17 – March 8
Second Placement: March 12 – April 27
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.
Dates, continued


Mid-Semester Seminar:
March 9, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM (Required)
Additionally, your supervisor may also
schedule a mid-semester seminar. This
would be scheduled after school.
Dates, continued


Exit Seminar/Reception: April 25, 2012
The exit seminar with Dr. Beth Quick, Dept.
Chair, will take place at 4:00. This is a whole
group seminar with Dr. Quick. You will also
have an individual meeting with your supervisor,
who will inform you of the date and time.
Immediately after the exit seminar, we will start
the reception.
Final Exit Conference with
University Supervisor


Final exit conference with University
Supervisor will be held April 30 - May 2
Your supervisor will inform you of date,
time, and location.
Absences


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 excuses on a case-by-case
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 cause
and no matter who approves the absence.
Student Teaching Handbook
and Student Teaching Forms



www.utm.edu/ess
Print one copy of the handbook and bring to
orientation. You may want to have it bound in the
LRC in the Paul Meek Library. 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.
PRAXIS Information

View Praxis info
http://www.utm.edu/departments/ess/praxis.php for
information and test requirements for Tennessee.

Upcoming PRAXIS Dates: Check the ETS website.
www.ets.org

Notice that registration is typically about a month before
the test date.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEMPT YOUR CONTENT
AREA PRAXIS BEFORE GRADUATION!!!!
Praxis II Content Area



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 using the
above options also.
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

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.

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 to Take Praxis II


You should have already taken your
*content area/exit exam. If not, register
NOW for it. The Records Office has to
have 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


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 * test? All Praxis exams? Is there
anyone who has passed all of your Praxis
II, including PLT?
Student Teaching Assignments






PreK-K
Radius
Changes
Schools Attended
Notification
University Supervisors
PreK and K Assignments




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

Placements are typically assigned within a
60-mile radius. University Supervisors
must be able to drive easily to placements.

Expect some driving. That way, you’ll be
pleasantly surprised if you don’t have to!
Changes

All placements have been requested, most of
them are confirmed.

Per state and university policy, the Director 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

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.

Student teachers may not be placed where
they have been employed.
Notification of Placements

You will be notified via email once placements are
confirmed. The email will come from me
(sfuqua@utm.edu or dstigall@utm.edu).

Everyone will be given final placement and University
Supervisor details at orientation.

Contact your first placement no earlier than January 4th (if
you know it) and let them know you will arrive on January
17th and would like to schedule a visit before that time to
meet the principal and CT. If you can schedule it for
January 13th that will be preferred.
Meeting with Principal and CT





Ask about hours, parking, lunch arrangements, dress
code, and policies.
Ask to see textbooks. Record publisher, title, and
edition information for each subject. The LRC has
Tennessee textbooks and resources.
Ask the principal and CT for other information they want
you to know.
The cooperating teacher packet will be given to CT by
Univ. Supervisor. Share contact information for you,
your supervisor, and our office.
TREAT THIS MEETING AS AN OFFICIAL INTERVIEW!
The following dispositions characterize the UTM
teacher education UG and G candidate:





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.
Dispositions, continued





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.
Criminal Background Checks

Everyone should already have this.
 If not, Due NOW!

YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO
STUDENT TEACH UNTIL I HAVE BOTH
ON FILE.
Grade/Prerequisite Checks

I have already performed my first grade/prerequisite
check for all students. If I have found an issue, I have
sent you an email.

I will perform my final check when fall grades are
submitted. All course prerequisites must be completed
with a passing grade. Anyone receiving an “F” or an “I”
in a prerequisite course will not be allowed to student
teach. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Materials to Bring to Orientation




Student Teaching Handbook
All Student Teaching Forms and Student
Teaching Handbook
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





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.
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

For information regarding weather related
issues, please check the UT Martin homepage
or your email.

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????