Clinical Experiences

Field Experiences and Student Teaching

In addition to your coursework at UMD, you will be placed in a variety of experiences to meet licensure requirements depending on your major. 

Student Teacher Candidates

• Each program has different student teaching requirements
• Student teachers in each program have different placement time frames
• All student teachers receive a UMD Student Teaching Handbook
• All student teachers are required to complete a midterm and a final evaluation
• Student teachers are required to complete tasks 1 and 3 of the edTPA during their student teaching experience. Detailed edTPA information is available in the Student Teaching Handbook. 

Student Teaching Applications

Log in to SLL

Students needing to complete their Student Teaching requirement(s) must submit an application in Student Learning and Licensure (SLL). Applications need to be completed the semester prior to student teaching. After completing the application, you will need to meet with your faculty advisor to review your Program Clearance Packet and your readiness for student teaching.

*Applications open the first day of the semester and are due at 4 p.m. on the 4th Friday.

Application Instructions

Application Components

• Current Resume: Your resume will be sent to your potential cooperating teachers to help them decide if you are a good fit with their courses. Make sure to update your resume to include any clinical experiences (field experiences and/or student teaching). NO SCREENSHOTS. Save as a PDF and label the file: [Last name], [First Name] resume (e.g. Johnson, Chris resume.pdf)
• Essay: Provide an essay that will be shared with your potential cooperating teachers to help them determine whether you are a good fit with their philosophies and values. Your essay should be an introduction of yourself as a teacher. The essay should identify and share your current understanding of what meaningful learning is for students in your content area, and explain how you would likely structure classroom opportunities and environments to contribute to meaningful learning for your students. Explain examples of topics and concepts in your subject area that inspire you. Tell what you have learned over the course of our programs about teaching and learning and about yourself as a future teacher. Make sure your essay contains no grammatical or spelling errors. Keep your descriptions positive. Max length: two pages, double spaced. Name in the upper right corner. Please note that this essay is an essential portion of the application, as you will be working very closely with your cooperating teacher for an extended period of time. NO SCREENSHOTS. Save as a PDF, and label the file: [Last name], [First Name] essay (e.g. Johnson, Chris essay.pdf)
• International Student Teaching Essay (if applicable): Provide an international student teaching essay in which you reflect on and incorporate responses to the following questions:
  • Why do you want to complete a portion of your student teaching internationally instead of solely in the United States?
  • How will this experience develop you as an educator?
  • How will you use this experience to improve your teaching and your students’ learning?
  • What personal and professional goals do you have for yourself that you hope to accomplish during this opportunity?
  • What experience(s) have you had traveling overseas?
  • What experience(s) have you had in learning from cultures other than your own?
  • How do you plan to represent your home institution and cultures in a positive way? 
    
    Save as a PDF, and label the file: [Last name], [First Name] ist-essay (e.g. Johnson, Chris ist-essay.pdf)

Notice for International Student Teaching Applicants

Participation in International Student Teaching is contingent on current health and safety developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic and/or other international situations. The International Student Teaching program will comply with local public health recommendations, as well as, the recommended standards of the University of Minnesota. The International Student Teaching Coordinator and Field Experience Officer will be in contact with applicants throughout the process. Decisions about whether programs will be run are made on a country-by-country basis. Applicants will be notified if their program is canceled.

Handbooks

• IESE Field Experience Handbook
• STEP Field Experience Handbook
• IESE and STEP Student Teaching Handbook

Required prior to Clinical Experiences

Students will not be placed in schools unless the following is completed.

1. Receipt from purchasing Education Minnesota Liability Insurance. Students can obtain the insurance with a credit card. Insurance is only good until August the year of purchase. If insurance is purchased Fall or Spring, students will need to purchase it again for the following Fall.
2. Completed Background Check.
3. Mantoux test results and confidentiality form if placement is in Superior, WI. Students will be contacted by Office of Field Experiences if this applicable.
4. Other district paperwork as needed.

Background Checks

Teacher candidates need to have a completed background check BEFORE they can be placed in schools. As of Fall 2020, UMD requires a background check with HireRight.  This verification is designed to meet State school district guidelines governing adults with responsibility for children. UMD students who are assigned to a field placement must have a background check completed and on file with the UMD Department of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity.

Note: Many schools have additional district background checks, confidentiality agreements, Mantoux test and/or drug test requirements. Some schools want a copy of your UMD background check which only you can provide. Teacher candidates need to complete any additional requirements BEFORE going into schools.