GYO Student-Teaching Timeline

Each student-teaching placement is unique. Northwest University seeks to balance candidate’s employment needs, the district’s personnel needs, and requirements of the GYO program. Consequently, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ student-teaching timeline. While some placements can be arranged with minimal negotiation, others require ongoing back and forth between all parties. 

What follows is a generic timeline. The specifics of your student-teacher’s timeline may differ. 

Summer: July – August

Student Courses: Foundations of Learning; Instructional Design

All Special-Education and/or ELL courses have been taken prior to this program

Student-Teaching 1: Late August – Mid October

 Student Courses: Data-Driven Instruction (Assessment); Classroom Management (for Elem. Ed. endorsements); Student-Teaching 1

Student-Teaching Responsibilities: Observe mentor-teacher. Connect coursework to observations. Learn classroom management protocols. Practice designing and using formative and summative  assessments.

Evaluations: InTASC criterion 1 and 2 to be completed by mentor teacher and university supervisor. The GYO Evaluation page gives more details.

Student-Teaching 2: Late October – Mid December

 Student Courses: Classroom Management (for secondary endorsements); Student-Teaching 2

Student-Teaching Responsibilities: Continue observing mentor-teacher. Connect coursework to observations. Learn classroom management protocols. Continue designing and using formative and summative assessments. Design and deliver brief instructional segments (e.g. leading anticipatory sets, manning a station, etc.).

Evaluations: InTASC criterion 3 and 4 to be completed by mentor teacher and university supervisor. The GYO Evaluation page gives more details.

Student-Teaching 3: Early January – Late February

 Student Courses: Methods Courses by Endorsement  (e.g. Elementary Literacy/Secondary   Math/Secondary Biology); edTPA Support Seminar; Student-Teaching 3

Student-Teaching Responsibilities: Gradually becoming more “hands-on.” Minimum of 10 hrs/week of student-teaching time. Add regular instructional responsibilities (e.g. take on math instruction for an elementary classroom).

Evaluations: Full InTASC evaluation to be completed by mentor teacher and university supervisor. The GYO Evaluation page gives more details.

Student-Teaching 4: Early March – Late April

 Student Courses: Elementary Math and Science Methods; Middle School Culture and Instruction;   Student-Teaching 4

Student-Teaching Responsibilities: Assume greater responsibility. Minimum of 20 hrs/week of student-teaching time. Take on planning, instruction, assessment, and communication for much of the classroom.

Evaluations: Full InTASC evaluation to be completed by mentor teacher and university supervisor. The GYO Evaluation page gives more details. 

Student-Teaching 5: Early May – End of K-12 School Year

 Student Courses: Elementary Social Studies, Movement, and Arts Methods; Secondary Literacy   Across the Curriculum (for Secondary Endorsements); Student-Teaching 5

Student-Teaching Responsibilities: Assume responsibility for all aspects of the classroom. Minimum of 40 hrs/week (or 1.0 FTE equivalent) of student-teaching time.

Evaluations: Full InTASC evaluation to be completed by mentor teacher and university supervisor. The GYO Evaluation page gives more details.