MOSAIC/ Special Education/ Form 11
Low Incidence MOSAIC Phase-in Schedule and Supervisor Responsibilities1
What follows is a suggested phase-in schedule for MOSAIC students; however, it must be
stressed that the time and degree of how MOSAIC students assume teaching responsibilities
is truly an individual process and must be made jointly with input from the MOSAIC student,
the mentor, and the university supervisor. Although a MOSAIC student may assume
responsibility for teaching a class, he/she should still have the continual support, input,
and feedback from the mentor teacher. This is essential for the growth of the MOSAIC
student and for the students in the class(es) to receive effective instruction.
FALL SEMESTER – Students in the MOSAIC program participate in both a content practicum
experience and a low incidence (special education) practicum experience during the fall
semester. The low incidence special education placement takes place during the fall
semester. MOSAIC students will split their time equally between their content area
placement and their special education placement. The students will be in school all day
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and a half day on Wednesday. The low incidence
special education practicum placement should mirror the three stages of practicum
experiences outlined by PDE (observing, assisting/pre-student teaching, and teaching).
* September & October: MOSAIC students should use the month of September to
acclimate into their school and classroom environments by conducting many
observations. Students may wish to observe students in school environments outside
of a low incidence classroom where they are receiving direct services (e.g.,
cafeteria, hallways, “specials”, general education classrooms). A meeting should
take place towards the beginning of the practicum between the MOSAIC student, the
mentor teacher, and the university supervisor (initial meeting). Towards the end of
September the MOSAIC student and the university supervisor should co-plan a lesson
together. The university supervisor should then observe the lesson and conduct a
post-observation conference (observation #1). During the month of October the
MOSAIC student should assume some planning and instruction. The university
supervisor should conduct observation #2 & #3 in October. MOSAIC students will
begin work on their PDE 430 in October and the supervisor will read and comment on
this work.
* November & December: During the months of November and December MOSAIC
students should increasingly assume responsibility for pieces of the mentor's daily
teaching schedule. During this time the university supervisor should conduct at least
two additional observations (observation #4 & #5), however some MOSAIC students
may be in need of additional observations during this time period. The university
supervisor should convene a final evaluation conference no later than Friday,
December 11th.
***Throughout the entire low incidence placement the mentor teacher is expected to
make frequent observations and participate in scheduled feedback conferences with
the MOSAIC student. The mentor teacher must provide copies of five observations
electronically (preferred) or in hard copy to the university supervisor following each
1
Updated 6.12.15
MOSAIC/ Special Education/ Form 11
observation. The MOSIAC student is also responsible for submitting all formal
observation forms for placement in their university file.
MOSAIC/ Special Education/ Form 11
During the fall semester, the university supervisor responsibilities are as follows:
 An initial meeting on site with the MOSAIC student and the mentor teacher to
review program expectations and responsibilities (initial meeting – Use Form 2
as guide).
 Ongoing communication with the mentor teacher about the student teacher’s
progress and growth.
 Co-planning meeting with the MOSAIC student. In this meeting, the MOSAIC
student and university supervisor should co-plan at least one lesson so that
they share common planning expectations and so that the university
supervisor can give her/his expert guidance to the MOSAIC student. The
university supervisor is then asked to conduct an observation when the
MOSAIC student teaches this lesson (observation #1 – submit Co-Planning
Cover Form).
 A minimum of 3 additional teaching observations of the MOSAIC student
implementing an instructional activity or a full lesson (observation #2, #3, &
#4).
 The supervisor will read and evaluate student’s entries to their PDE 430
portfolio.
 The supervisor should submit a formative evaluation of the MOSAIC student,
with mentor input, no later than December 11th. The formative final
evaluation will use the MOSAIC/Special Education Final Evaluation Form and
should be submitted to the student’s seminar instructor, Dr. Sheila Conway
(sjconway@pitt.edu). The student will also upload a copy of this form into
Task Stream.
 Grades for the Low Incidence Practicum are Pass/Fail. Supervisor assign
grades with input from the mentor teacher.
 MOSAIC students must receive a “Pass” in their field experience and the
Practicum course to receive credit for the Low Incidence experience.
 The University Supervisor is responsible to notify the program coordinator
Sheila Conway (sjconway@pitt.edu) if there are any concerns about the
placement experience or the student teacher.
Any questions or concerns about the program or a MOSAIC student
teacher’s progress should be addressed to the Program Coordinator,
Sheila Conway (sjconway@pitt.edu) 412-648-7212.