Overview for On-Campus Students

Field Placement information for students in the following programs:

Early Childhood (PreK-2), Elementary (1-6), Middle School (5-8), High School (8-12), Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8; 5-12), Severe Disabilities (all levels), Instructional Technology (all levels), Visual Art Education (PreK-8; 5-12)

Placements for the Early Field Experience and the practicum (see below) are made through the Field Placement Office. Students are placed in Massachusetts public schools, primarily in metropolitan Cambridge/Boston area communities. Student preferences for grade, classroom type, and location will be considered whenever possible. All placements must be in the appropriate role and grade level for the license that the student is seeking. Students are expected to have experiences in both urban and suburban settings. Presently, we have two Professional Development School partnerships in Cambridge, as well as paid year-long internship experiences in Cambridge, Newton and Boston. The clustering of students in these schools whenever possible creates opportunities for collegiality and support.

EARLY FIELD EXPERIENCE

Lesley requires all students to complete a 75-hour Early Field Experience in a classroom before doing a practicum (generally one day a week). Once students are accepted into their programs, they should contact the Field Placement Office to request an Early Field Experience handbook and a school placement application. If students have had significant classroom teaching experience, they may contact the Assistant Director of Field Placement Yvonne Zollman Mosca for information on documenting their Early Field Experience [PDF] to fulfill these requirements.

PRACTICUM

The practicum should be taken at the end of the program, after the majority of courses have been completed. Before beginning the practicum, students must complete the pre-practicum field-based assignments, the Early Field Experience, and the pre-practicum courses listed on the program of study. Students must also have passing grades in all of their courses, with a cumulative average of at least 3.0, and no outstanding incomplete grades. See the practicum prerequisites and MTEL requirements pages.

Procedures to Follow for Practicum Placement

1. Attend an informational meeting (held twice during the Fall semester for all students planning to do a practicum the following spring, and twice during the Spring semester for students planning to do a fall practicum). During this meeting, procedures for placement will be explained further.
2. Make an appointment with Jean Gumpert to discuss placement and obtain Permission to Register. If an appropriate match is available, a tentative placement will be made at this meeting. An application and appropriate paperwork must be filed before December 15 for a spring placement and by June 15 for a fall placement. All students must have Permission to Register from the Field Placement Office in order to register. The practicum and seminar is a six-credit course with an additional field experience fee of $395 and an insurance fee of $35 to be paid at the time of registration.
3. Visit the recommended classroom and interview the teacher to arrange an appropriate placement match. Students should bring a resume with them, to be given to the supervising practitioner.
4. After the school interview, students must contact the Field Placement Office to confirm the placement and discuss any issues related to the practicum.
5. When a placement is confirmed, students will make sure that the Practicum/Internship Agreement and Supervising Practitioner Forms and any other appropriate forms are signed at the site and returned immediately to the Field Placement Office.
6. School systems require a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) check before a student can teach in the system. Students are responsible for arranging the background check with the school system before their practicum begins.

The practicum is full-time for a full semester. For certain licenses, the time must be divided between two different placements. This will be explained at information meetings and in individual appointments.

During the practicum period, all student teachers attend a weekly seminar held from 4:00-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoons for special education and 4:00-6:30 p.m. on Thursday afternoons for all other education programs. (See course listings for the date of the first seminar). At the first seminar, students will be assigned their program supervisor and seminar group.

SUMMER COMPASS PRACTICUM OPTION

Summer Compass offers students the opportunity to do their practicum over the summer and fall. Please visit the Summer Compass page for details and eligibility requirements.

09/10