Field Experiences
Professional field experiences are an integral component of the teacher education model at Juniata. All teacher candidates participate in multiple field experiences beginning in their first year. Field experiences are integrated in many of the Education courses, including one of the two Special Education courses required of all students seeking teacher certification.
Pre-Student Teaching
Teacher candidates are enrolled in a pre-student teaching, semester-long field experience just prior to student teaching. This experience is a structured and supportive transition to full-time student teaching. Teacher candidates make weekly visits to the classroom where they student teach, giving them multiple opportunities to familiarize themselves with their cooperating teacher, students and the school culture.
Student Teaching
The capstone experience in our teacher preparation program is student teaching.
- PreK-4th Grade, PreK-8th Grade Special Education, and Foreign Language Education students teach in the spring semester of the final year of their program.
- Secondary Education students teach in the fall of the final year of their program.
All student teachers are closely monitored throughout their experience and their supervisors observe and/or meet with them on a weekly basis to discuss their progress.