Field Placement

Students in the Elementary STEM program are placed at partner schools with a supervising practitioner for their practicum experience. MAT students complete a "pre-practicum" in the fall, spending 3-days per week in their school. They then complete a practicum in the spring, spending 5-days per week at their placement site. They meet regularly with the supervising practitioner, participate in school meetings and professional development, and assist the supervising practitioner in preparing the classroom for the school year. Elementary STEM students also complete a "take-over" week, where they plan, teach, and assess the entirety of the curriculum for a week’s time. Placements run from late August through the following May.

Supervision

Students are assigned a Program Supervisor who serves as a coach by observing teaching, debriefing observations, reviewing lesson plans and assessments, and supporting the MAT student's development as a practitioner. The supervisor will observe the student's teaching at least 4 times over the course of the year. The experience culminates with the Supervising Practitioner (the cooperating teacher), the Candidate (the MAT student), and the Program Supervisor completing the Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP), which is a required component of license endorsement.