UECH Block 1 Field Experience
In Block 1 of the UECH program, teacher candidates typically spend 5-6 hours per week in one setting and approximately 2 hours per week as part of “Family Partnerships'' (ECH 3104) in another setting where they have experiences that bring them into direct contact with young children and their families/caregivers.
Each teacher candidate signs a Field Experience contract for their classroom placement and is responsible for contacting their cooperating teacher immediately after Professional Day. Honorarium forms will be sent to cooperating teachers electronically by the Accreditation, Licensing and Field Experience Office. Return these forms via email to the ALFE Office.
In addition to monitoring the candidate’s progress during the field experience, cooperating teachers verify the candidate's time log and provide a final evaluation of the candidate in Tk20. UECH faculty will visit the teacher candidate at their field experience.
UECH teacher candidates complete coursework related to their Block 1 courses while in the school classroom. UECH faculty inform them of these assignments.
Teacher candidates must successfully complete all Block 1 coursework and receive an acceptable field experience evaluation from their cooperating teacher to move on to Block 2.
UECH Block 2 Field Experience
In Block 2 of the UECH program, teacher candidates typically spend 5 hours per week with students in ECH settings across the continuum of services, ranging from homes and other settings designed for typically developing children to classrooms and environments where students with disabilities receive specialized instruction outside of the general education setting.They begin their placements after attending UMD Professional Day.
Each teacher candidate signs a Field Experience contract for their classroom placement and is responsible for contacting their cooperating teacher immediately after Professional Day. Honorarium forms will be sent to cooperating teachers electronically by the Accreditation, Licensing and Field Experience Office. Return these forms via email to the ALFE Office.
Reflective practice is used to evaluate the teacher candidate's progress in the field experience. In addition to monitoring the candidate’s progress during the field experience, cooperating teachers verify the candidate's time log and provide a final evaluation of the candidate in Tk20.
UECH teacher candidates complete coursework related to their Block 2 courses in their placement. UECH faculty inform teacher candidates of these assignments.
Teacher candidates must successfully complete all Block 2 coursework and receive an acceptable field experience evaluation from their cooperating teacher to move on to Block 3.
UECH Block 3 Field Experience
In Block 3 of the UECH program, teacher candidates are in a K-3 general education classroom every Friday. Teacher candidates then have a four week full time field experience in one classroom. They begin their classroom placements after attending UMD Professional Day.
Each teacher candidate signs a Field Experience contract for their classroom placement and is responsible for contacting their cooperating teacher immediately after Professional Day. Honorarium forms will be sent to cooperating teachers electronically by the Accreditation, Licensing and Field Experience Office. Return these forms via email to the ALFE Office.
In addition to monitoring the candidate’s progress during the field experience, cooperating teachers verify the candidate's time log and provide a final evaluation of the candidate in Tk20.
UECH faculty will let teacher candidates know about the dates for the semester and visit the teacher candidate at their field experience.
UECH teacher candidates complete coursework related to their Block 3 courses while in the school classroom. UECH faculty inform them of these assignments.
Teacher candidates must successfully complete all Block 3 coursework and receive an acceptable field experience evaluation from their cooperating teacher to move on to student teaching.
UECH Field Experience Handbook