Mary Baldwin College Adult Education Degree Program
Ed 111K Practicum in Education Syllabus
Fall 2015
Theresa Schmitt, Instructor
1-540-204-2141
tschmitt@mbc.edu
Class Meetings
Mondays from 6:00-8:00 p.m
Sept. 14, 28, Oct. 12, Nov. 2, 16, and 30
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to provide students who are considering teaching as a career the
opportunity to observe and assist teachers in the classroom. Students will be expected to
complete a 60 hour practicum; the equivalent of two weeks in the classroom. Although
some flexibility may be allowed in the scheduling of the 60 hours, the expectation of Mary
Baldwin College is that at least 30 hours will be accomplished in five consecutive days.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To involve students in activities designed to promote the understanding of:
 the roles and responsibilities of school personnel
 the nature of classroom life
 the impact of home life and influences on student performance in school
 the day-to-day realities of the classroom
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Complete the Practicum Placement Form at the time of registration. Send the
completed form to your advisor for his/her signature no later than the first week of
class.
http://academic.mbc.edu.adp/reference/redocs/Practicum_Placement_Request.pdf
2. Attend the 2 mandatory class meetings. One meeting is optional and can be used
for those who are in need of instructional support, classroom management needs,
etc.
3. Contact your instructor and supervising teacher once your placement is approved.
4. Confer with the supervising teacher during/after each classroom visit. Contacat
your instructor as needs arise.
5. Report to your school placement on time each day. As scheduled.
6. Keep a daily Reflective Journal; (see information below)
7. Complete at least 8 of the Projects for Practicum Students listed in this syllabus.
Your supervising teacher must sign your list.
8. Develop and maintain a Practicum Notebook of your experience. This notebook
should include:
 The Reflective Journal
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Class schedule(s)
Classroom Activities
Lesson Plans
Photos (check with school regarding policy for photographing students)
Additional materials gathered from supervising teacher
Clock hours form, signed by supervising teacher
Praxis 1 scores
A copy of certificate documenting completion of CHILD ABUSE
AWARENESS TRAINGING module
(www.vcu.edu/vissta/training/va_teachers)
9. Read Educating Esme. Be prepared to participate in class discussions with
classmates and instructor via Blackboard discussion board and during last class.
Write a brief book review, based on questions listed in this syllabus, and turn it in
at the last class.
10. Write a final reflective paper about your experience in the classroom.
EVALUATION:
Criteria for evaluating student performance will include attitude and performance in the
classroom, as reported by the supervising teacher. Also, weight will be given for the
quality, depth and insight of the Practicum Notebook, most notably the Reflective Journal
entries and Final Reflection paper. Please give special attention to spelling, grammar and
sentence structure.
 20 points: practicum projects and evaluation by supervising teacher
 50 points: Journal
 15 points: Book review
 15 points Final Reflection Paper
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
1) All assignments must be typed, 14 font and double spaced.
2) Include your name, mailing address, email address and telephone number on the front
page of each assignment.
3) Practicum Notebooks are due 2 weeks after the completion of your practicum. DO
NOT wait until the end of the semester to submit your notebook.
4) An ET will only be granted in dire circumstances.
5) READ…..The Practicum Handbook
(http://academic.mbc.edu.adp/reference/redocs/PracticumHandbook.pdf
DESCRIPTION OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
The Book Review
Read Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher’s First Year. ISBN 1565122798 (Esme
Raji Codell). Your paper should include a brief summary of the book’s contents,
but should focus on the alignment between the book and what you have
experienced/learned about teaching, the profession and life in schools. How did the
book affect you? Explain. What insight did it provide? Explain. Assess the author’s
style, credibility and overall accuracy of the book’s content.
Projects for Practicum Students
During your 60 hours in the classroom, you must complete 8 of the following tasks.
#1,2 and 3 are mandatory tasks.
**Please download the Practicum student Handbook and bring to the first class. The list
is included in the Handbook. **
Please have your supervising teacher initial for each completed task. Be sure to
document your participation for your Practicum Notebook. You may complete and
submit the following page to meet this requirement.
Reflective Journal Entries
SECTION 1
Journal entries should be approximately 1-2 pages in length and should focus on three
areas of consideration. There should be one entry for each day in the classroom.
Areas of Consideration
ACTION (technical): This is an account of the day. Describe what occurred, how
activities were structured, the schedule, unusual circumstances, etc.
INTERPRETATION: Describe the teacher’s instructional behaviors. What did
he/she do or not do? What was the basis for that response? Describe teaching
techniques that you observed. Offer an explanation or justification for this
“action” in relation to classroom needs, your assumptions, and/or predispositions.
Were goals of the lesson evident? Were they met? How do you know? Integrate
educational theory and knowledge into this section.
CRITICAL REFLECTION: Were lessons a success? Were students authentically
engaged? Were considerations such as moral and ethical issues explored? (ex.
democracy, gender, equity, diversity, multiculturalism, etc.) Explain with
examples.
***These three areas of reflection form a continuous interrelationship. Each entry may
not necessarily address all three areas of consideration, but the journal should
demonstrate awareness of the connection of these areas. If you are having difficulty
integrating reflection across the three areas, please see me for assistance. ***
SECTION 2
Submit a collection of materials you have collected during your time in the classroom.
These may include sample calendars, daily schedules, newsletters or letters to parents,
instructional materials, and organizational materials. If you prepare a bulletin board or
learning enter, include photographs, students work samples. Etc. Also, this section is for
lesson plans and other direct teaching activities.
SECTION 3
Include your Praxis 1 scores.
Include a copy of your certification of completion for the Child Abuse training module.
FINAL REFLECTION PAPER
After completion of the 60 hours in the classroom, as well as the compilation of
materials in the Journal and reading of Educating Esme, reflect on what you have
learned about teaching throughout this semester. Has this course strengthened
your decision to become a teacher or has it caused you to reconsider this decision?
Explain and give examples. What surprised you about the nature of teaching or
about life in schools? What advice, information or insight would you give a friend
who is considering entering into this profession? This paper should be 2-3 pages in
length and, in short, tell what you have learned through the Practicum experience.
CHILD ABUSE RECOGNITION MODULE
This requirement is met by participating in a free, on-line “course” offered
through Virginia Commonwealth University. Please print a copy of the certificate
documenting completion of the CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS TRAINGING
module. This should take about one hour to complete.
(www.vcu.edu/vissta/training/va_teachers)