PACE - LCSC Education Division - Lewis-Clark State College

• The OSTE should observe the intern teach the lesson.• The intern and OSTE should follow up with an evaluation conference even if brief.It is important not to make too many assumptions regarding the intern’s beginning knowledgeand skills. Some interns are ready and able to jump into full responsibility for a class the firstweek. Others simply need more warm-up time. OSTE’s will find themselves adjusting to thedifferent needs and abilities of their interns just as they do to the students in their classes. If,however, the intern is not taking hold as the OSTE think s/he should be, please let the collegesupervisor know. Weaknesses need to be discussed openly among the intern, OSTE, and PACEProgram Coordinator or College Supervisor so they can be identified, worked on, andimprovement demonstrated. If the internship is to be extended so that the intern can improve insome area or demonstrate certain knowledge, skills or dispositions, this should be determinedwell before the last week of internship and should come as no surprise to the intern.The PACE Coordinator is the third member of the team and is as supportive of the intern as isthe OSTE. S/he serves as facilitator and a second source of evaluation for the intern, so please donot hesitate to call the college supervisor between visits if necessary. College supervisors will dofrequent observations and conferences during the internship. However, it is the OSTE feedbackthat is going to be most important to the intern because the OSTE represents “the real world.”Interns need praise when they deserve it, just as they need clear discussion and suggestion inareas in which they need to improve.We believe that the longer an intern is able to operate as a full time member of the teaching team,the better. The overall goal of Lewis-Clark State College’s Internship Program is to provide achance for the intern to observe, practice, and finally to demonstrate the role of an effectiveclassroom teacher.Suggestions for an Elementary Teacher InternThe following are suggestions on how to involve the intern in the classroom. These are only suggestions.Each intern will differ in her/his confidence, abilities, and knowledge. You, the intern, and the collegementor will work together to provide an experience that will benefit the children in the classroom, assistyou, and support the development of the intern.Weeks 1 - 2Second Semester of InternshipThe intern with the help of the OSTE needs to become familiar with the school - its students, policies, andprocedures. The intern and on-site teacher educator(s) need to agree upon the schedule of classes to teach andpossible extracurricular activities. The intern will begin planning for their teaching units. They should assist theirOSTE(s) in grading and record keeping, small group work and discussions, and tutoring. This is also the time forinterns to observe some classes of other teachers in the school and to conference with administrators, librarians,counselors, and others.29