Download the student teaching application and complete all forms. Return the application and supporting documentation to Room 204 in Ball Hall by the 1st Tuesday in March for fall student teaching and 1st Tuesday in September for spring student teaching. All applications and information can be found on this webpage.

Student teachers should be prepared to begin fall student teaching anytime after August 1st, and spring student teaching anytime after January 1st. Student teachers will be notified of placements and beginning dates via email the semester prior to student teaching.

Requirements

• Have an overall GPA of 2.75 Undergraduates and 3.0 Graduates.
• Successfully complete all approved pre-student teaching clinical experiences in conjunction with class work.
• Must take and pass all required Praxis II exams prior to the student teaching semester.
• Must submit passing scores to the Office of Clinical Based Practice 30 days prior to the first day of student teaching.
• Must have positive evaluations from all clinical experiences.
• Be fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program one semester before student teaching.
• All course work required for initial licensure must be finished prior to the student teaching semester.

Schedule

Student teaching requires the commitment of one semester. The semester is divided into two placements. Student teachers must be present at their school for the full day and are required to participate in faculty meetings, PTO/PTA meetings, parent teacher conferences, etc.

Seminar

All students must take a professional seminar with student teaching. No other courses may be taken during student teaching.

Placement

University of Memphis Policy dictates that students are required to have diverse clinical experiences. All student teaching placements are made in accordance with this policy. Placements are generally made in Memphis City and Shelby, Tipton, DeSoto, Dyer, Fayette, and Jackson-Madison school districts. Placements in other counties will be considered upon request.

Graduate Candidates must have experience at different grade levels of their licensure program.

• Early Childhood Education majors must have PreK/Kindergarten experience and primary level experience.
• Elementary education majors must have an experience at the primary and upper-level grades.
• Middle Grades majors must have one lower middle grade experience and one upper middle grade experience.
• Secondary Education majors must have an experience at the high school level and middle school level.
• Physical Education, Dance, Music and Art majors must have both a middle/secondary and elementary placement.
• Special Education majors must have an experience in K-6 and one middle/secondary experience.
• Teaching All Learners (TAL) majors must have an experience in K-6 regular education classroom and one K-12 modified classroom.

The Cooperating Teacher

Cooperating teachers are selected according to criteria specified by the Tennessee Department of Education, which include:

• a regular Tennessee License for the teaching assignment,
• at least four years of teaching experience,
• and a history of positive evaluations from their principal or supervisor.

See The Student Teaching Handbook for details, roles, and responsibilities.

The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Supervisors

The university supervisor must hold a certification and/or experience in teaching along with a master's degree and assumes the responsibility for supervising the activities of the student teacher in the cooperating school. The supervisor works in conjunction with the clinical practice coordinators.

Professional Liability Insurance

Student teachers are required to obtain professional liability insurance which will cover them during the student teaching semester. This may be obtained through STEA, Christian Educator's Network or by a special rider added to a personal homeowner's policy. Proof of insurance must be presented prior to student teaching.