Office of Undergraduate Teacher Education and Accreditation

Guidelines for Student Teaching
A handbook for the student teaching triad:
student teacher, supervising teacher, and university supervisor

Sample of Student Teacher Evaluation Forms
THESE ARE FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY!

The Student Teaching Experience

Student teaching is recognized as the most influential component in teacher preparation and the capstone experience. A number of factors combine for this significant influence. One of the dominant contributors seems to be diligence. Carefully focused attention by each member of the student teaching triad - student teacher, clinical supervisor, and university supervisor - is most important.

Requirements for Admission to Student Teaching

Student Teaching is required in all teacher preparation programs at the undergraduate level. In order to participate in the student teaching program, a student must:

Meet all admission and retention requirements for the Teacher Education Program.
Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher on all college course work attempted.
Make application to Student Teaching no later than one semester prior to the academic year semester in which registration for the course occurs.
Meet admission requirements for Student Teaching no later than one semester prior to enrollment for the course.
Have met the College and departmental prerequisites for majoring in the field.
Have a disciplinary record clear of any actions which might be a detriment to successful performance in the classroom.
Possess mental, emotional, and physical health compatible with the expectations of the profession.
Participate in the orientation activities for Student Teaching.
Complete the professional education program and courses in the teaching field with a grade of "C" or better and a total institution GPA of 2.75 or better.
Take the GACE II teacher certification examination for the teaching field.
Complete a criminal background check (unless the applicant holds certification in Georgia or can provide documentation that verifies employment in a school system or other educational/community agency and that a criminal background check was conducted as part of that employement).

Regions/Counties for Student Teaching

GSU approximately 60-Mile Radius Area

Appling

Bryan

Bulloch

Burke

Candler

Chatham

Effingham

Emanuel

Evans

Jefferson

Jenkins

Liberty

Long

Montgomery

Screven

Tattnall

Toombs

Vidalia City

Wayne

Georgia Map placement areas in black 60 miles radius from Georgia Southern University and white areas are placement for Dublin Center.

Dublin Center Radius Area

Bleckley

Dublin City

Laurens

Pulaski

Toombs

Vidalia City

International Placement for Student Teaching

Securing an international student teaching placement as part of the International Study Opportunity requires timely action on the part of the prospective student teacher. The application is available in the Office of Undergraduate Teacher Education or online @ International Study Opportunity (ISO)and is due on the same date as your Student Teaching Application.

Factors Considered for Student Teaching Placements

Your student teaching placement is very important to you. It is also very important to Georgia Southern University. A number of factors are considered regarding each placement. Some of these considerations follow.

The Office of Undergraduate Teacher Education operates in concert with academic departments and education programs in determining student teacher placements.
Two or more student teachers will be placed in a school. An exception to this clustering policy could be rendered by a program or department. This exception would be a result of specialization required of the supervising teacher.
One geographical area will serve Georgia Southern's student teaching population. The primary areas is an approximate 60 mile radius of the Georgia Southern campus. In some rare instances, student teachers may be assigned to a location that is not within this area. That assignment occurs as a result of a specialization required of a supervising teacher. School sites and grades observed and taught in prior field experiences will be avoided so as to provide the student teacher with diverse field experiences, an accreditation requirement. Further, consideration may be given to extenuating circumstances expressed by students, along with load responsibility of supervising faculty.
One-way travel of 60 miles from Georgia Southern is to be expected.
Courtesy placement and supervision of a Georgia Southern student teacher may occur as a result of extreme, emergency related factors. The five year rate of occurrence for this option is less than one student per academic year. Procedures for courtesy placement are explained in a form dealing with that issue.
Student teachers are not placed in systems where relatives are employed.
Student teachers are not placed in schools in which they have been enrolled as students.
Student teachers are not placed in schools where relatives are enrolled as students.