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Student Teaching Policies and Procedures

Attendance

The student teacher is expected to exhibit professional behavior at all times regarding attendance and punctuality. The student teacher will be allowed two full-day absences from student teaching for professional reasons only, such as job interviews, professional auditions, or attendance at professional meetings. All other absences from student teaching, for any reason, must be made up at the end of the student teaching assignment. The cooperating teacher and university supervisor must be notified of any absence by the student teacher, preferably in advance. The student teacher should not leave school early for any reason without notifying the university supervisor. Any student teacher who chooses to participate in a Baylor ensemble during the student teaching semester must submit the contract which follows by the end of the first week of student teaching.

Student teachers are expected to determine from the cooperating teacher on the initial school visit what hours are appropriate for arrival in the morning and departure in the afternoon. Generally, student teachers are expected to follow the same school day hours as the cooperating teacher. Additionally, student teachers are expected to attend and participate in all activities of the cooperating teacher, including but not limited to faculty meetings, campus duty assignments, after-school/evening rehearsals and events, parent-teacher conferences (as appropriate), etc. The student teacher should adhere to the same allowances as the cooperating teacher regarding leaving the school campus at lunchtime.

Punctuality

Punctuality is extremely important to success as a student teacher. Being habitually late is not only unprofessional, but it also causes the student teacher to begin the day hurried and unprepared. Excessive tardiness may result in a lowered grade and will be reflected on the final evaluation.

Appearance – Dress Code

Appropriate appearance and dress for both men and women are very important. At the initial school visit, the student teacher should inquire about the dress code for the cooperating school and the school district and should comply at all times with the school/district dress code. Additionally, student teachers should remember that choice of colors, dress length, type of neckline, choice and amount of make-up, type of shirt, wearing a tie, hair style, and neatness are among the factors that are important in maintaining an appropriate appearance in the cooperating school. Good taste and considered choices in dress will provide the student teacher with an extra touch of maturity and should prove helpful in establishing the student teacher's role as a teacher.

Seminars – Contact with University Supervisor

Each student teacher is expected to assume responsibility for attendance at seminar meetings as determined by the university supervisor and for regular contact with the university supervisor. Meetings with the university supervisor are an integral part of the student teaching experience. Absences from these meetings may result in a lowered grade and will be reflected on the final student teacher evaluation.

Professional Behavior

Student teachers are expected at all times to exhibit the highest standard of behavior consistent with professional, ethical, and moral behavior of teachers; as well as to conduct themselves in accordance with the Christian principles set forth for all Baylor students. Personal misconduct of any kind will not be tolerated and will be cause for withdrawal from student teaching and delayed graduation.

Grading

Standard university grading (A-F) will be used for the student teaching course. Grades will be assigned by the university supervisor in conjunction with the cooperating teacher. If a student teacher is assigned to two different student teaching assignments, separate grades will be issued for each assignment and will be averaged together to reach the final grade for the course. Grades for MUS 4230, Induction to Music Teaching, are separate from grades for student teaching, and will be assigned by the instructors of the course.

Substitute Policy

Student teachers may not be considered as substitute teachers in the absence of a cooperating teacher. If the cooperating teacher is absent, the school must employ a substitute of record, even if the student teacher is responsible for instruction.