Observation/Participation Experience (OPE) Fieldwork
Fieldwork experiences are integrated with nine courses in the undergraduate Teacher Education program. The Exceptional People course takes field trips to various educational sites in the area. Three other courses: Educational Psychology, Principles of Education, and Assessment for Inclusion, include fieldwork at specific sites. The remaining five courses: Developmental Reading II, Secondary English, Math, Science, and Social Studies Methods, Classroom Behavior Management, Middle School Theory and Practice, and Reading in the Content Area, include individual placements at schools in various districts. In addition, Art Methods and Materials, and Music Methods courses are required for those students majoring in art or music. Each of the above courses requires a specified number of OPE hours to be completed during the timeframe of that specific course. The purpose for this is to allow time for integrating and processing theory with actual practice.
The intent of the fieldwork experience is to provide opportunities for our students to experience classroom realities and a variety of teaching styles. By the time a student who is majoring in Adolescence and Middle Childhood Education, or Childhood and Special Education is ready to begin student teaching, he/she will have had a minimum of 150 hours of fieldwork placements in differing types of schools – urban, suburban, rural, and/or private. Art K-12 students will have had a minimum of 110 hours of fieldwork, and Music K-12 students will have had a minimum of 105 hours of fieldwork.
An expectation of the Teacher Education Division is that this fieldwork will also provide opportunities for our students to assist the classroom teachers by being actively involved with the classroom students, individually and in small groups. We would also hope that our students will use these opportunities to take the initiative to develop their relationships with the classroom teachers and school administrators at the fieldwork sites to explore and/or deepen their own passion for teaching.
Students need to be aware that they are responsible for arranging their own transportation to some of these fieldwork sites.
Student Teaching
An integral aspect of the Teacher Education program is the student teaching experience. During the first three years in the program, students will have a number of field experience opportunities to observe, participate, and actually teach lessons in local schools. With this prior experience and their academic courses, students will be prepared to accept the role of a professional teacher while student teaching.
Each senior in the program will, for an entire semester work in two area schools. The State Education Department requires that student teachers have experiences at two different levels, i.e., both primary (1st-3rd) and intermediate (4th-6th) for those in elementary education. For those in secondary education, placements need to be in both middle (7th-9th) and senior high (10th-12th) levels. Further requirements include placements in high needs, suburban, and rural areas, and in inclusive classrooms, depending on a student’s respective degree. To aid the student, he/she will be assigned a master teacher from the local school and also a college supervisor who will visit three times per assignment.
Roberts Wesleyan student teachers are welcomed at various area public schools, a few of which include the districts of Churchville Chili, Brighton, Rochester City School Schools, Pittsford, and Gates Chili, along with various private schools, a few of which include Harley Allendale Columbia, Bishop Kearney, and Charles Finney. Working closely with these private and public schools, the College is able to ensure our students the best possible professional preparation.
Student teachers should realize that due to the highly competitive nature of student teaching placements they may be traveling at a distance up to, but not limited to, an hour. Also, under no circumstances are students to find their own placements.
Each student will need to complete an application packet to student teach. Deadlines for student teaching placements are as follows and late applications will not be accepted:
December 15th for the following fall semester August 15th for the following spring semester
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