Field Experiences

Tell me, I may hear. Show me, I may see. Involve me, I will learn!

Opportunities for teacher candidates to experience student-teacher interactions within the P-12 classroom form the bridge between theory and practice. Within the elementary education (K-6) program, a variety of field experiences are available and/or required. Each experience offers insights into the "real life" of the classroom and provides hands-on involvement through practical application of methods and materials presented within the program coursework. The chart below indicates how field experiences are organized throughout the program.

CURIN 261 Explorations in Education with field experience of 33 clock hours	OR	Introduction to Education (community college transfer) + comparable field experience of approximately 33 hours (Must be validated.)
CURIN 307 Clinical Experience with field experience of 33 clock hours	OR	Approved school site experience (e.g. Para-professional)
Note: All students in the elementary education major must complete at least one 33-hour field experience through PSU
CURIN 252 Children's Literature (with reading event at school sites by special arrangement) CURIN 362 Elementary School Science (with lesson presentation in field and/or science event at school sites by special arrangement) CURIN 366 Primary Reading/Language Arts with Practicum (with weekly supervised activities at a local elementary sites - primary grades)
Program participants, with departmental approval, will choose one of two options for completing their methods coursework: Option 1(with field experiences through internship) or Option 2 (with field experiences embedded within coursework). Note: Must be admitted to Teacher Education to enroll in the following coursework:
Option 1		Option 2
Methods Courses with internship: (Program participants must apply.)	OR	Methods courses with embedded field experiences:
Internship involves 15-20 hours in an elementary classroom under supervision of the on-site mentor teacher. The following methods courses are taken on campus, usually during two afternoon sessions: CURIN 361 Elementary School Mathematics CURIN 363 Elementary School Social Studies CURIN 367 Intermediate Reading/ Language Arts with Practicum CURIN 368 Classroom Management Participants have the opportunity to continue in the internship classroom for their student teaching experience.		CURIN 361 Elementary School Mathematics (lesson presentation and/or math event with area school) CURIN 363 Elementary School Social Studies (lesson presentation in area school) CURIN 367 Intermediate Reading/ Language Arts with Practicum (weekly supervised activities at a local elementary site - intermediate grades) CURIN 368 Classroom Management (with activities to "field test" within Reading Practicum setting)
ALL C & I Majors
Student Teaching Semester with on campus seminars (Full semester field experience in an elementary classroom)