Education Specialist Credential in Mild/Moderate Disabilities
Traditional Student Teaching with a Cooperating Teacher
Traditional student teachers participate in a one-semester student teaching experience under the supervision of a credentialed, experienced cooperating teacher.
Student Teaching Requirements
Traditional student teaching lasts a minimum of 15 weeks and takes place during one semester. From time to time, the student teacher may be required to extend the experience in order to master all the competencies.
Preparatory Coursework
Traditional student teachers must have completed all of their SPED coursework prior to student teaching. (One course may be completed during the student teaching experience.) They are expected to have a solid understanding of all the basic skills and competencies of the special education professional before beginning student teaching.
Assessment of Student Teachers
Observation Requirements
Traditional student teachers will be observed a minimum of 5 times during the semester by their University Supervisor, and 6 times by their Cooperating Teacher. The observer will fill out an Education Specialist Feedback Form, and discuss it with the student teacher before distributing the copies as indicated on the form. Informal observations and feedback should be conducted throughout both semesters as appropriate.
Expected Competencies
- At the end of the student teaching experience, traditional student teachers are expected to have attained competency in all 6 domains of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession. They should be able to plan and implement all of the instructional, assessment and management responsibilities of a special education teacher.
Evaluations
Traditional student teachers will be evaluated twice during the semester, by both their University Supervisor and their Cooperating Teacher.
- Passwords and links for on-line evaluations are send out to Supervisors and Cooperating Teachers by email twice each semester, near at mid-term and at the end of the semester. For information about passwords, please contact Keisha Douglas, the Teacher Education Assistant, at 818 677-2596.
- By the end of their second semester, traditional student teachers must receive an average score of 3 on the final evaluation, completed by their University Supervisor in collaboration with the Cooperating Teacher, with no scores of 1.
Inclusive Experiences
Traditional student teachers must participate in at least 25 hours of observation/participation in an inclusive classroom during student teaching experience.
Other Expectations
Traditional student teachers are expected to observe and/or participate in assessment of students with disabilities, writing of IEPs, IEP meetings, SST meetings, and other responsibilities of the special educator during their student teaching experience.