Policies for teacher preparation

To implement the Elementary and Secondary program requirements, The Department of Teacher Education has adopted several policies, of which teacher candidates and interns should be aware.

How course and field instructors should handle discussion of activities in mentor teachers’ classrooms
Activities in mentor teachers' classrooms are staple material in teacher education courses. Necessarily, we work with teacher candidates and interns to describe, interpret, and assess what they observe, and thereby to construct their own practice. Mentor teachers, who are colleagues and partners in the program, provide the material for all these discussions; instructors owe them an account of how those discussions will be handled.

Professional Teaching Standards (revised 4/25/2006)
These standards apply to interns’ performances in the intern year, and so should guide much of the work in earlier stages in the program. There are eight groups of standards: practicing a liberal education, teaching subject matter, engaging and responding to students, organizing a class, using an equipped school room, joining a faculty and school, engaging parents and guardians, and growing professionally.  Each group has four to eight standards statements. 

Professional Conduct Policy
In addition to meeting academic and testing requirements, teacher candidates and interns also must meet standards for their professional conduct. This policy states the main expectations. Standard 4 of the Professional Teaching Standards for interns also addresses professional conduct.

Procedures for handling disputes between students and instructors
In case of a dispute between a student and instructor, you need to know that the TE Department has approved procedures for handling disputes. Two important parts: A few acts by teacher candidates or interns so serious that instructors should report them immediately to the Team Leader, TE Department Chair, and Associate Dean for Student affairs. In most cases, the first step of the procedure calls for the student and instructor to work it out between them in a collegial and timely way.  If an instructor cannot achieve that immediately, s/he should call in the team coordinator. We do not let trouble fester. Get the procedures at http://ed-web3.educ.msu.edu/te/teacherprep/HandleDispPol.htm.

Substitute Teaching by Interns
This policy regulates substitute teaching by interns, for their collaborating teachers. Field instructors will need to know the policy early in the fall semester. Consultation among intern, mentor, and field instructor is required before the intern begins to substitute teach, and forms must be completed to record the decision and to report the substitute teaching.