PACE - LCSC Education Division - Lewis-Clark State College

“When Should the Intern Assume Responsibility in the Classroom?”These guidelines should provide adequate suggestions that remain flexible enough toaccommodate individual differences. The PACE Elementary Teacher Education Program isflexible and encourages diversity and adaptation relative to the unique experience and situationof each intern.Interns should start assuming some responsibilities as soon as possible. However, the internshould be given responsibilities only when his/her OSTE is convinced that the intern is ready.Giving an intern total responsibility when he or she lacks the skills necessary for success maylead to problems. Internship is meant to be a cooperative team effort; the “sink or swim” theorydoes not apply.The Importance of Lesson Plans and Learning ObjectivesExperienced teachers differ in the amount of formal planning and preparation they undertake.Some write daily lesson plans and many do not. Inexperienced teachers, the interns, need to planmore thoroughly. The OSTE can help the intern by reviewing weekly and daily lesson plansemphasizing learning objectives. If lesson plans are not available or do not include learningobjectives, then the intern can write the learning objectives for the lesson after observing theOSTE teach the lesson. Discussing the intern’s perception of the learning objectives later isextremely valuable. In the end, the intern must gain experience in deciding specifically what ismost important for a student to know and be able to do as a result of a lesson, and what activitiesare most appropriate for achieving these ends. Some interns have difficulty predicting how muchtime each activity will take and as a result, over plan or under plan for a lesson. Interns oftenconfuse activity descriptions with learning objectives. Whenever interns teach, no matter if it isonly a portion of a class or an entire class, they should have prepared a written lesson plan withobservable learning objectives.Some Generic Suggestions• While the intern is observing at the beginning of the internship, focus the observation: “ Iwant you to look for...” New interns may look without seeing. On different days, the OSTEcan emphasize different things interns should observe.• Have the intern work with individual students (help during lessons, one-to-one tutoring)and with small groups of learners (supervising project groups, small discussion groups,etc.).• It is suggested that the intern have several “one-shot” lesson experiences before beinggiven the responsibility for a class or subject. These could begin with the microteachinglessons that the intern is required to deliver during the first semester.• Prior to the intern teaching her/his own lesson:o The intern and OSTE should plan the lesson together.o The intern should be given help specifying the learning objectives, activities,and assessment.o The intern should prepare for the lesson securing necessary materials inadvance.28