New ECU Junior 2 Practicum
Thank you for your continued support of our ECU students in the Elementary Education Program. We
value the opportunities you provide for our students to learn in your schools. In our efforts to
continually improve our program and strengthen our partnerships with the public schools in which we
work, we are making changes to our junior level practicum experience. We have heard from
classroom teachers and faculty at ECU that multiple practicum placements can be interruptive to
students and teachers as ECU students come out at different times and on several days. To address
this, we are moving to a cohort system where ECU students will go into one classroom and work with
one teacher and group of students, rather than multiple classrooms and schools. The Junior Level
practicum will require of 10 classrooms per school each semester (Junior 1 requires K-2 placements
and Junior 2 requires 3-5 placements). Below is an outline of the changes we are implementing, a
timeline for Spring 2015, and the benefits to all involved.
Changes to the Junior 2 Practicum:

ECU students will be cohorted into a practicum block in conjunction with four methods courses
they take on campus.

Students will be in the field for at least 11 of the 15-week semester. They will be in the schools
for 3 hours (8 -11 am) one day a week.

Teachers will host one group of 3 ECU students during this practicum block versus having
students in and out of the school several days a week.

Students will complete all assignments for the four methods courses throughout the semester
with input and final approval from the classroom teacher.

This is a Supervised Practicum - university faculty will accompany ECU students and assist
with any issues that may arise.

There will be 3 or 4 weeks were students will be in the school 3 days a week to teach a social
studies unit and science lessons (lessons will be 30-50 minutes and then students will assist
the teacher with other work). A schedule for these lessons will be set several weeks prior to
the teaching and all lessons must be approved by the classroom teacher prior to being taught.
Contact Information:
If you have questions about the new practicum please feel free to email or call.
Dr. Christina Tschida
Department of Elementary and Middles Grades Education
tschidac@ecu.edu
252-737-4161
Office of Clinical Experiences
practicum@ecu.edu
Junior 2 Practicum Schedule for Spring 2015
Grades 3-5
Week
Week X – Jan. 12-16
Week X – Jan. 19-23
Week X – Jan. 26-30
Week 1 – Feb. 2-6
Week 2 – Feb. 9-13
Week 3 – Feb. 16-20
Week 4 – Feb. 23-27
Week 5 – March 2-6
Week X – March 9-13
Week 6 – March 16-20
Week 7 – March 23-27
Week 8 – March 30- April 2
Week X – April 6-10
Week 9 – April 13-17
Week 10 – April 20-24
Week 11 – April 27-28
(Last Day – 4/28)
In field
ECU students on campus (Video Grand Rounds)
ECU students on campus (VGR)
ECU students on campus (VGR)
Start in field (3 hours X 1 day a wk)
In field (1 day a wk)
In field (1 day a wk)
In field (1 day a wk)
In field (1 day a wk)
SPRING BREAK – ECU
In field – unit (3 days a wk)
In field – unit (3 days a wk)
In field – unit (3 days a wk)
PCS Spring Break
In field (1 day a wk) (EOG prep help)
In field (1 day a wk) (EOG prep help)
In field (1 day a wk) (EOG prep help)
Total Hours
Hours
0
0
0
3
3
3
3
3
0
7
7
7
0
3
3
3
____
45
Benefits of the new Junior 2 Practicum
Benefits for Teachers and Schools
 More flexibility for scheduling –
students are in the schools for 3
hours once a week
 3 ECU students per classroom, which
limits the required practicum
placements to a maximum 10 per
school
 Students should assist the classroom
teacher at all times. They can do
things such as:
 run small groups
 tutor individual students
 help develop instructional
materials
 run whole group activities
 assist with EOG prep
 Allows more time for the classroom
teacher up to assess or work with
students individually
 Assist with more complex activities
such as research projects, projectbased learning, parallel or station
teaching, and co-taught lessons
Benefits for K-5 students
 More adults in the
classroom
 More individualized
instruction and attention
 Assistance and answers to
questions more quickly
 Possible increased student
learning outcomes
 More supervision leading to
better behavior
 Opportunities for more
complex teaching strategies
leading to deeper learning
Benefits for ECU students
 Increased time in
elementary classrooms
 More integration in the
classroom versus
teaching a lesson and
leaving
 Getting to know students
so they can plan more
effective lessons
 Extended experience
teaching all subject areas
and observing classroom
 More opportunities for
being mentored by strong
classroom teachers
 One practicum placement
versus multiple
placements
 Supervision by university
faculty for better
assessment of teaching
and dispositions