Student Teaching Early Childhood Practicum Guide

This comprehensive text covers up-to-date, helpful information and ‘how tos’ for early childhood education students enrolled in a student teaching practicum course. It clearly explains the student’s professional duties and responsibilities, and the mechanics of hands-on teaching with young children under the guidance of a cooperating teacher in a functioning classroom. It also clarifies the students’ interactions with their college course supervisor(s). Chapters are designed to encourage contemplative and reflective student teacher thought. Comprehension of the material strengthens the student’s display and development of teacher competencies and skills, and facilitates successful course completion. The text promotes the understanding of professionally accepted practice, ethics, classroom management, and individualized and group program planning and instruction. The communication skills that typify effective team teaching and reduce common classroom problems during student teaching are described and detailed. This approach is appropriate with the beginning educator’s need for ongoing professional commitment, and vocational growth. Case studies, examples, charts and visuals are presented throughout, and case scenarios apprise readers of real-life situations and children that other student teachers have encountered. Special- needs children and infant-toddler classroom placement particulars are addressed to alert students to current practices in those student teacher placements. Chapters dealing with parent and family interactions give considerable attention to the development of school-home partnerships that enhance children’s life long learning, and educational success.