ACT (Accelerated Collaborative Teaching Program)
ACT student teachers participate in two-semester supervised fieldwork and student teaching experiences--one in the fall semester and the other in the spring semester. Student teaching is expected to be completed in classrooms of coaches in LAUSD’s Local District B or collaborating teachers in other approved sites.
Student Teaching Requirements
- First semester. In the fall semester, ACT student teachers will complete a 16-week assignment in a 3-track school or a 20-week assignment in a traditional-track school for one hour a day. The first 8 weeks are primarily observation, and guidelines for the remaining weeks appear in the ACT Handbook, which can be accessed at http://www.csun.edu/coe/eed/programs/act/.
- Second semester. In the spring semester, ACT student teachers will complete a 16-week assignment in a 3-track school or a 20-week assignment in a traditional-track school for three hours a day plus one of conference or planning.
Preparatory Coursework
As ACT is a ONE-year program, student teachers complete their supervised fieldwork and student teaching experiences concurrently with the requisite coursework in the single subject credential program.
Observation Requirements
- First semester. ACT student teachers will be formally observed a minimum of 4 times by both their University Supervisor and work daily with their Collaborating Teachers (aka Master Teacher).
- Second semester. ACT student teachers will be formally observed 6 times by their University Supervisor and work daily with their Master Teacher.
Expected Competencies
- By the end of the first semester, ACT student teachers are expected to have begun to develop skills in teaching and classroom management. They should be skilled at working with students one-on-one, facilitating small groups, and planning and teaching small or whole group lessons.
- By the end of the second semester, ACT student teachers are expected to demonstrate the competencies required of a beginning teacher as reflected in the 6 domains of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP) and the 13 Teacher Performance Expectations (TPEs). They should be able to plan and implement all of the instructional, assessment, and management responsibilities of a single subject credentialed teacher. The student teachers are expected to assume full responsibility for all matters related to teaching from the first day of the teaching assignment.
Evaluations
Formal evaluation of ACT student teachers will be conducted twice during each semester of student teaching--midterm and final—by both the University Supervisor and the Collaborating Teacher (aka Master Teacher), using the Secondary Education Department’s evaluation forms, which are available ONLINE at http://www.csun.edu/education/sed/student_teaching/forms/. Please consult the evaluation forms for detailed explanations of minimum passing score requirements for the midterm and the final evaluation of student teaching.
Passwords and links for ONLINE evaluations are sent out to University Supervisors and Supervising Mentor Teachers (aka Master Teachers) by email twice each semester—two weeks before midterm and final evaluation due dates. For further information about passwords, please contact the Secondary Education student teaching coordinator assistant, at christina.perez@csun.edu or call (818) 677-2580.
Other Expectations
During the two semesters of student teaching, ACT student teachers are to gain experiences in working with diverse learners, English learners, and students with special needs. In addition, ACT student teachers are also expected to attend IEP meetings, SST meetings, and other assessment, and/or professional development meetings shadowing their Collaborating Teachers.