Field Experience
Field Experiences: BEFB Sequence
The BEFB Sequence of courses are taken after students have been admitted into the Bilingual Education Program, and they involve 110 clock hours of practicum and 45 family/community-based clock hours. This practicum is done in bilingual or dual language EC-6 education classrooms. Practicum activities include observation of instructional delivery, analyzing and reflecting on best practices, application of methods to teach content areas, development and delivery of lessons for English language learners.
Field Experience Courses (prior to Senior Methods):
EPFB 210: Family Involvement and Empowerment
BEFB 472: Bilingual/Dual Language Methodologies
BEFB 474: Biliteracy for Bilingual and Dual Language
BEFB 470: Bilingual Assessment and Monitoring
BEFB 476: Content Area Instruction in Bilingual Program
Field experiences for the BEFB courses are from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. twice per week (during the fall they are on Mondays and Wednesdays; during the spring they are on Tuesdays and Thursdays), and they start two weeks after Texas A&M classes begin. For EPFB 210, the field experiences take place in community settings: family related programs, camps, migrant meetings and parent support groups.
Professional Competencies:
At a beginning level, the student is able to:
- work collaboratively with school personnel
- follow rules established for school personnel
- take initiative in all classrooms in which you are placed
- establish and maintain positive rapport with students
- display professional behavior at all times
- apply bilingual pedagogy
- deliver instruction in English and Spanish
- engage students in higher order thinking activities
- formally and informally assess student knowledge and behavior
- demonstrate research based classroom management practices
- adhere to and effectively deliver all lesson plan components
Field Experiences: Senior Methods Sequence
During the Senior Methods semester, students will spend approximately 110 clock hours of practicum. Students will take courses that include instructional methods in teaching elementary, core subject areas: social studies, mathematics, science and reading/language arts. Practicum activities include observing and teaching in a bilingual or dual language classroom.
SMS Courses:
TEFB 410: Social Studies and the Humanities in the Elementary School
TEFB 412: Mathematics in the Elementary School
TEFB 413: Science in the Elementary School
RDNG 467: Reading and the Language Arts
Field experiences are two full school days per week.
Professional Competencies:
At an intermediate level, the student is able to:
- work collaboratively with school personnel
- follow rules established for school personnel
- take initiative in all classrooms in which you are placed
- establish and maintain positive rapport with students
- display professional behavior at all times
- apply bilingual pedagogy
- deliver instruction in English and Spanish
- engage students in higher order thinking activities
- formally and informally assess student knowledge and behavior
- demonstrate research based classroom management practices
- adhere to and effectively deliver all lesson plan components
Field Experiences: Student Teaching Sequence
The final semester consists of student teaching, which provides field experience in a bilingual education setting. It is designed to provide applied experiences in public schools that facilitate the development of acceptable and realistic perceptions of roles, responsibilities and relationships. The cooperating teacher becomes the vital force in articulating what is expected of a professional teacher and in interpreting the culture of the school and its attitudes, values and behaviors. During the application process and prior to making student placements, the students are asked about their grade level and setting preferences. Students are placed in classroom settings appropriate to their training program, with certified teachers who have a minimum of three years experience in that setting. During student teaching, students take BEFB 425 (Student Teaching) which consists of supervision and planned seminars to be conducted by the supervisor. Students also take an online course, BEFB 426 (Effective Instruction for Hispanic Studies).
Student Teaching Courses:
BEFB 425: Student Teaching
BEFB 426: Effective Instruction for Hispanic Students (online)
Professional Competencies:
At a more independent and proficient level, the student is able to:
- work collaboratively with school personnel
- follow rules established for school personnel
- take initiative in all classrooms in which you are placed
- establish and maintain positive rapport with students
- display professional behavior at all times
- apply bilingual pedagogy
- deliver instruction in English and Spanish
- engage students in higher order thinking activities
- formally and informally assess student knowledge and behavior
- demonstrate research based classroom management practices
- adhere to and effectively deliver all lesson plan components
Professional Liability Insurance
All students in field experiences and student teachers are required to have professional liability insurance. If you do not have professional liability insurance, you will need to get it before the start of the semester. There are several organizations that provide this insurance at little or no cost.
Liability insurance information for preservice teachers:
Texas Classroom Teachers Association
888.879.8282
School year - September 1 through August 31
Free (Associate - $70 if on a school payroll)
Can sign up for both senior methods semester and student teaching if not covered in one year.
Association of Texas Professional Educators
800.777.2873
School year - September 1 through August 31
Free (Associate - $70 if on a school payroll)
Can sign up for both senior methods semester and student teaching if not covered in one year.
Texas State Teachers Association
877.777.2873
School year - September 1 through August 31
$25 per year