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This page provides information on the Student Teaching experience in Science Education.
Requirements. To do student teaching in science you must:
Be registered for Education 65.04 or 613.2
Satisfy all pre-requisites and any co-requisites for 65.04 or 613.2
Have completed undergraduate science courses, including advanced electives, in the topic areas covered by the senior high school curriculum in the subject in which you will do your student teaching
Have maintained close to a "B" average in science and related courses
Be able to communicate effectively with students in a high school classroom
Normally you should be a science major or have completed a B.A. or B.S. degree in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics. You should have most of the 36 science credits needed for New York State teacher certification. You must apply in advance for admission to student teaching courses, submit your transcripts, and be approved by the Secondary Education program and the course instructor.
Placement. All students approved for student teaching in science are assigned to a senior high school, normally one near the college campus. Student teachers are grouped together at particular schools to facilitate supervision and evaluation of your work; special requests for placement in particular schools normally cannot be honored.
You will receive a letter of assignment to a particular school informing you of the department and department head (usually an Assistant Principal) to whom you should report at the start of the public school semester. You should normally report to the school before the first class at the College. It is a good idea to telephone the school a day ahead and speak with the department head.
Be on time for all work at the school. Call in if you must be late or absent, just as a teacher would do.
Follow the directions of your Co-operating Teacher regarding all school procedures.
Your conduct and dress should be appropriate and meet the school's standards
You should be well-prepared for all lessons, tutorials, or other formal work with students
You should refer all problems to your Co-operating Teacher, department head, or college instructor
Activities:
Observing teachers and their classes, particularly your Co-operating Teacher; Guidelines
Teaching whole-class lessons or portions of lessons
Assisting your Co-operating Teacher in class and/or team teaching
Helping or tutoring students individually and in small groups
Assisting with laboratory work, field trips, demonstrations, work in the science preparation room
Learning and carrying out routine classroom and school duties of a teacher, as appropriate
NOTE that normally you will mainly observe and assist in the first few weeks of the semester, teach the class for all or part of a period about once a week during the middle of the term, and teach whole lessons once a week or more often in the final weeks of the term. You should teach your first lesson to the class no later than early March. You will normally do most of your teaching in one class of your Co-operating Teacher's program, but may also teach occasionally in other classes.
Observations.
Your teaching will be observed during the term by a supervisor from Brooklyn College, either the course instructor or another faculty member. You will also get advice on your teaching from your Co-operating Teacher and perhaps from the department head. In the early part of the semester you should model your teaching after the routines and procedures of your Co-operating Teacher. Later you can try out various methods discussed in the seminar or original ideas of your own, with the Co-operating Teacher's approval. Your first official observation will mainly be diagnostic and count least toward your final evaluation. The last two observations of the term will normally count more and will look for progress and attention to recommendations made to you after the first observation.
Co-operating Teachers.
Your Co-operating Teacher, also known as a Mentor Teacher, receives credit from the College for working with you. You should regard the C.T. as a primary source of information, advice, and guidance as you learn how to perform the role of a teacher. The classes in which you may teach are the responsibility of the C.T., and so you should defer to the C.T.'s policies with regard to the class. If you want to try something different, discuss it in advance. Co-operating Teachers know that you are there to learn and to try out teaching methods of various kinds and will generally be willing to let you use methods presented in the college seminar. Remember that students get used to particular policies and procedures and teaching methods and that while they like variety, they may find new approaches confusing at first. Accept the guidance of your C.T. in general, but also show some initiative in proposing teaching ideas.