SEED4809 Internship News

Latest news as of November 21, 2008.

For Dr. Womack's interns, it has been a very successful semester. The observations are done and I do not anticipate any make-up visits on December 2, as had been previously indicated. I am very proud of the young professionals that I and Arkansas Tech are turning out into the profession. They will do well. Each will be a magnificent find for the school district that is fortunate enough to hire them.

This graphic and spreadsheet are illustrative of the progression in workload for a twelve-week, one-placement secondary experience. And this one illustrates a two-six-week, two-placement secondary experience.

Forms and paperwork

• The Reflection Form has been linked to this page and is at http://education.atu.edu/people/swomack/ATU_Intern_Weekly_Reflection_Report.htm
  
• The "weekly lesson plan" form where you designate when you would be observing, assisting, teaching, or visiting other classrooms is at http://education.atu.edu/people/swomack/lesson_plan_ATU.htm
• The "intern_information_sheet_ATU" is at http://education.atu.edu/people/swomack/intern_information_sheet_ATU.htm"

The official portfolio description is at http://education.atu.edu/people/swomack/EXIT_PORTFOLIO.htm

Supervisory visits. The decision of whether to announce visits or not to interns rests with the individual campus-based supervisor. There is no known literature to suggest that announced visits are more effective than un-announced visits or vice versa. For Sid Womack in Fall 2008, these are the dates for me and my interns in Russellville, Dardanelle, Scranton, and Alma:

• September 16--Hello visits to Russellville ( Sequoyah), Dardanelle High School, and Scranton Elementary. Plan to show me around the school, although I have been there before. Show me that you know where the library is, the nurse's office, counselor's office, faculty break room, and how to respond in the event of a fire drill or other evacuation event.
• September 18--Hello visits to Russellville (Oakland Heights) and Alma High School.
• September 30--Alma High School, Oakland Heights--First formal attempt to gather data about your teaching. Typically by now secondary interns would be in Level Three (full responsibility) for one or two classes and be assisting (Level Two) in others.
• October 2--observations at Sequoyah of Russellville, Dardanelle High School, Scranton Elementary
• October 14--Second observation date for Sequoyah, Dardanelle High School, and Scranton Elementary.
• October 16--Second observation date for Oakland Heights and Alma. Secondary interns would typically have full responsibility (Level Three) for 3-4 classes.
• October 20--Switch date if you have more than one assignment
• October 28--Third observation date for Alma and Oakland Heights. By this time we should be targeting those areas that no data have been collected on yet
• October 30--Third observation date for Scranton, Dardanelle, and Sequoyah.
• November 18--Fourth observation date for Dardanelle, Scranton, and Sequoyah.
• November 20--Fourth observation for Oakland Heights and Alma.
• December 1--Exit portfolio due to reviewers
• December 2-- Possible make-up observation date.
• December 2--Typical time for Level Four (observe and assist; return classes gradually to field-based supervisors; possible second environment) to begin.
• December 8--Feedback on portfolios from reviewers to authors
• December 9--last day of internship in the schools
• December 10-- All interns from the Russellville campus due back to Tech (watch email for time and place) for end-of-internship debriefings and paperwork; students are asked to pick up any non-online portfolio artifacts from faculty.
• December 12--Exit porftolio revisions (if requested by reviewer/evaluator) copmleted and submitted.
• December 20--graduation.
• February 26, 2009--Educators' Fair--W. O. Young Student Center Ballroom, ATU; all on-line and Russellville campus candidates are invited and expected to attend; 9: 00 AM to 12: 00 PM; you will have an opportunity to pick up applications and information about available positions from attending school districts.

Communications with Arkansas Tech University. Continue to check this page. It will usually get updated on Friday of each week. Don't hesitate to call or write or email if you have any question about anything.