Student Teaching Handbook - Butler University

Program Description
Middle-Secondary
The Middle-Secondary Program at Butler University is committed to preparing teachers to work toward achieving our
college’s core values and shared vision for education. We believe all our programs must prepare our candidates for schools
as they should be, not simply perpetuating schools as they currently exist. The Middle-Secondary Program at Butler
University is a comprehensive teacher education program that combines in-depth preparation in the academic content
areas of English, Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Social Studies or Foreign Language (French, German,
Spanish) with the professional teacher education skills necessary for success in the classroom for undergraduates
seeking licensure in grades 5-12 in the areas: Students interested in the content areas of music, theatre, and physical
education may also pursue K-12 licensure. Specific curriculum requirements for each content area are available on line at
www.butler.edu/coe under Student Resources.
The Middle-Secondary program is grounded in a set of beliefs which serve as a compass to guide the work we do with
students within our program and are the principles that we hope will guide the work our candidates will do with their
future students. We believe in the:
Primacy of the learner: Core Value: Diversity and Similarity
• Meeting the needs of the learner through the development of caring relationships is the most important part of
our work.
• Student needs are social, cultural, linguistic, developmental, physical, emotional, and cognitive in nature.
• Meeting the foregoing needs provides safe opportunities for students to take risks that lead to individual
growth.
• Students come first.
Ethic of Care: Core Value: Integrity and Responsibility
• Our work with students, schools, teachers, the community, and each other will be grounded in an ethic of care,
compassion, honesty, respect and transparency.
• Developing caring relationships creates space for transformative experiences to happen.
Significance of Knowledge Base: Core Value: Collaboration of Theory and Practice
• Content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge are inextricably intertwined.
• Theory and practice are linked, but ever-changing. This means we must intentionally model life-long learning.
• Having a deep understanding of this knowledge base strengthens teachers’ ability to make informed curriculum
decisions in the classroom.
Integrated Inquiry Curriculum: Core Value: Collaboration of Theory and Practice
• Content areas are integrated through meaningful connections and shared assessments.
• Inquiry mindset is modeled by learning alongside our students and being open to living with uncertainty and
yet to be answered questions.
Site-based Collaborative Experiences: Core Value: Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring
• Placements are purposeful and community stakeholders are considered a part of the larger learning community.
• Relationships are nurtured with classroom teachers, university supervisors, and faculty
• Collaboration is seen as an intentional part of a teacher’s work.
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