Students in Tennessee Tech’s literacy practicum have the chance to be mentored by a Putnam County elementary school teacher.
Tech Lecturer Lindsey Braisted said pre-service teachers have to complete a 60-hour field experience before beginning classroom service. Braisted said the program was born out of a desire to train effective early literacy teachers.
“[Students and mentors] work together through co-planning and co-teaching as our practicum students really just develop the work of a teacher and have an opportunity to practice that,” Braisted said. “And so, they work through a gradual release model until they ultimately have the opportunity to teach independently.
Braisted said pre-service teachers can immediately apply what they learn in their methods class. Braisted said students can also get a first hand look at how their mentors educate their classes.
Braisted said this program facilitates the connection between practice and coursework, which will help students grow more confident in their teaching. Braisted said practicum students can learn anything from best practices to classroom culture.
Braisted said the mentorship program is a great hands on experience for practicum students.
“Our students are teaching from day one,” Braisted said. “They’re interacting with students. Everything from learning their names to providing one on one support, to leading whole group and small group lessons, they’re getting it all.”
In addition to the experience in the classroom, Braisted said the program offers practicum students a great chance to network. Braisted said students presence inside a school building opens the opportunity to meet other teachers, principals, and administrators that would be hard to come by otherwise.
Braisted said the program would not be possible without the help of Putnam County Schools. Braisted said 30 administrators and teachers spent a morning with practicum students early in the semester.
“It represents a huge investment in our preservice teachers,” Braisted said. “It ensures an alignment between university coursework and classroom practice, and really just provides our students access to incredible mentor teachers who really make the experience meaningful.”
Braisted said the program was developed alongside Tech Elementary Education Professor Dr. Amber Spears for students within the literacy practicum. Braisted said the framework was designed to benefit both practicum students and mentor teachers.
