Summer Spectacular: A Clinical Field Experience for Pre-service Teachers

Matt Boster

Viewed: 1789

Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Jun 24 2016 8:31 AM

Clinical field experiences typically occur in K-12 classrooms for pre-service education students who are taking professional studies and teaching field courses. Through this experience the classroom teacher is in control of the class and the pre-service teachers only teach isolated lessons, not getting a true fell for what teaching is really like.

Summer Spectacular, on the other hand, is a clinical lab experience designed to give education students a true teaching experience. The education have hands-on experience as they plan the unit of study, set up classrooms, prepare lesson plans, and teach the children. Classroom management is a huge part of this experience.

Summer Spectacular is project based interdisciplinary teaching. Children ranging in ages four to twelve are in multi-age groups. A theme is selected for the four week summer program with each classroom having a specific focus. The theme for this summer is “Cross Cultural Explorations” with the focus on the countries of Mexico, Germany, Egypt, and Japan.

Pre-service teachers begin by developing an interdisciplinary thematic unit. Each classroom will have from three to five pre-service teachers collaboratively planning and teaching. Guidance is provided by the instructors of the courses the students are enrolled in for the summer term. Research is the first step as the pre-service teachers become “experts” in their focus area. Brainstorming and the beginning of a web takes place early on to give some direction to the research. Along with researching the topic, ideas for projects, activities, and lessons are collected. Each group is encouraged to gather a minimum of 100 resources that both they and the students will utilize.

While researching the topic and gathering resources, the pre-service teachers begin planning for how their classroom will be set up. A local school provides a location for Summer Spectacular to take place. Education students go into their “classroom” and remove all furniture and desks. They also completely cover the walls, book cases, and other permanent fixtures in the room. From this “empty” room, the environment is created where students feel as if they are actually entering the culture of a country.

In addition to setting up their classroom, pre-service teachers must plan their daily schedule, prepare lesson plans, develop classroom management procedures, and prepare to teach. A unique aspect of this program is that children may “choose” to move from room to room as lessons are taught. Children begin in a homeroom each morning where they are told what projects and activities will be taking place in each classroom. Next, they are allowed to choose where they want to begin the day. One classroom management technique that has worked well is that each classroom has a set of colored clothespins outside their door. The child takes a clothespin and pins it on their name tag and go into the classroom. As long as there are clothespins outside the door, children are free to go in and participate. When a child decides to go to another room, they return their clothespin, move to another room where a clothespin is available, and join the learning that is taking place.

From nine o’clock till 12 o’clock the pre-service teachers are totally “in charge” of their classroom. Collaboratively lessons are planned and a schedule decided upon for the day. Children may be involved in whole group, small group, or individual projects and activities. In addition to planning their specific lessons, pre-service teachers must also plan for those students who come into the classroom.

The theme for 2016 Summer Spectacular is Transportation: Land, Air, Sea.

 

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