PBA and Fieldwork Guidelines – ESOL - FAST TRAIN Program

FAST TRAIN Programs4400 University Drive, MS 1E8, Fairfax, Virginia 22030Phone: 703-993-2794; Fax: 703-993-5771FAST TRAIN ESOL ProgramGuidelines for Performance Based AssessmentAnd Fieldwork ExperienceWhat is “field experience” in the ESOL program?Each course in the FAST TRAIN Program requires 20 hours of field experience. Field experienceactivities can take a variety of different forms ranging from interviewing teachers, collectinginstructional data, to working with individuals or small groups of students, or teaching a lessonor unit plan. The purpose of the field experience is to increase pedagogical skills through theactive involvement of the pre-service teacher in the classroom.During each field experience, students develop a Performance Based Assessment (PBA) thatresponds to the stated guidelines for each course. The PBA serve as a means for the studentsto synthesize theory and practice, promote reflection, and to document field experienceactivities. To meet requirements for State of Virginia teaching licensure, students mustcomplete and document field experience in each of the licensure courses, and post thePerformance Based Assessment (PBA) for each course into the electronic portfolio inTASKSTREAM (www.taskstream.com).The syllabus for each course designates the PBA and its due date. In brief, they are as follows:CourseEDCI 516EDCI 519EDCI 520EDUC 537EDCI 510EDRD 525EDRD 610Performance Based AssessmentPhilosophy of Teaching & Language Acquisition Case StudyUnit Lesson Plan & Teaching Evaluation FormClassroom Based AssessmentBridging the Divide & Equity Issue PaperLinguistic Text AnalysisWriting and Spelling AnalysisContent Literacy Project & Teaching Evaluation Form*Because ESOL students are working towards a K-12 teaching license, fieldwork hours shouldbe divided as evenly as possible for courses overall between primary (K-6) and secondary (7-12)grades to ensure students gain experience working both levels. It is the student’s responsibilityto ensure that fieldwork hours are divided between elementary and secondary levels whenmaking fieldwork requests and arrangements.1

Where can I complete my fieldwork?Fieldwork Placement and Site SelectionFAST TRAIN students must complete fieldwork assignment in an accredited school working witha supervisor or cooperating teacher who holds the credential they seek (i.e. a U.S. ESOLTeaching License and/or a Master’s degree in ESOL). Supervising teachers should also have atleast 3-5 years of experience teaching ESL. The fieldwork school should be overseas or in anotherwise international setting and accredited by an international curriculum agency (e.g. IBO)or U.S. accrediting agency (e.g. WASC, Middle States). Please see additional guidelines on page3. To confirm whether your fieldwork placement site (or cooperating teacher) will meet thesequalifications, please email the Field Coordinator, Jill Macioch, at gmacioch@gmu.edu withyour school’s (or teacher’s) information.What if I am currently employed in an accredited school?Depending on the fieldwork assignment, students who are currently employed in an accreditedschool may be able to complete fieldwork in their current classroom or with a supervisingteacher in their current school. Students should discuss their specific situation with the courseinstructor to ensure it will meet requirements of the course. Students who will be completingfieldwork in their own school must submit a “Fieldwork Placement Confirmation Form” (page6) signed by the Principal or Head of School acknowledging that they have permission toconduct fieldwork in the school. Submit this form to Jill Macioch, Field Coordinator, atgmacioch@gmu.edu no later than September 1 st for Summer/Fall courses or February 1 st forSpring courses.What if I am NOT currently employed in an accredited school?Local (Washington DC area) Students: The FAST TRAIN office will help place local candidates.Please complete the “Fieldwork Placement Request Form” (page 5) and submit to Jill Macioch,Field Coordinator, at gmacioch@gmu.edu by the due dates below. The Field Coordinator willcontact you as soon as possible about placement after the deadline. All students must submitplacement forms no later than September 1 st (Summer/Fall) or February 1 st (Spring) to ensure atimely placement.International & Other U.S.-based Students: You are responsible for finding your own placement.Please follow the “Site Selection Guidelines” (page 3) for selecting a fieldwork site. You shouldcontact Jill Macioch, Field Coordinator, at gmacioch@gmu.edu as soon as possible if you believeyou will need help securing a fieldwork location site.2

Site Selection GuidelinesInternational Field Experience Selection of Site/TeacherHow can I choose an appropriate international field experience site?While not all schools/teachers meet all criteria below for site selection, the more criteria met,the more likely your field experience will be worthwhile:The School• Must be accredited by an U.S. or international accrediting agencyThe Cooperating Teacher or Supervisor• Must hold the credential you seek, either a Master’s in ESOL Education or a U.S. teaching licensein English as a Second Language Education• Must allow you to work, under supervision, with small groups or individuals• Should be an experienced teacher with at least 3-5 years of classroom experience and/or schoolleadership• Should demonstrate excellence in teaching as noted by director, colleague, and parents• Should have experience mentoring university students or other faculty• Should be willing to discuss teaching, learning, and excellence in educationPLEASE NOTE: These selection guidelines may not be appropriate for year-long internships requiredfor state licensure. Students should contact fastrain@gmu.edu for additional information.What are some strategies to secure a fieldwork placement site overseas?1) Identify the correct person to make the request to, usually the Principal, and write a brief coverletter explaining your graduate program and how many hours you would like to volunteer in theschool.2) Be sure to explain the value you can bring to the classroom. What specific methods or resourceshave you learned from your graduate classes? What additional experience do you have withchildren? Mention the dispositions!3) Identify how your class assignment can add value or help a current teacher. Would they like tochange an assessment system? Is there a particular student who could use individual attention?Would they like someone to revise and revamp a unit plan? Are they interested in bringing IBprinciples into the classroom? What can you provide?4) Be willing to work within the school environment and adapt to their needs. Can you shift thefocus of your unit planner to accommodate the current curriculum?5) Set up time to talk with your cooperating teaching individually prior to starting classroomobservations. One-on-one time with the teacher will help you refine your fieldwork plan.6) Remain committed to the school and classroom. Although your assignment may only take 20hours of classroom time, think about whether you can volunteer longer.7) Take your professional relationship very seriously, once the placement is made always be ontime, be prepared and be professional. The perception you create as a student of FAST TRAINoften makes the difference in whether or not the school will accept a FT candidate in the future!3

Documentation GuidelinesHow can I document that I have completed field experience?All students participating in classroom based experiences are required to submit a FieldExperience Record (page 7) and an evaluation form for each licensure course. The evaluationform may either be a Teaching Evaluation Form found in your course syllabus (EDIC 519 andEDRD 610) or the fieldwork evaluation form (page 8). Forms are due no later than the last dateof the course (or by the relevant extended summer deadlines, see below).All fieldwork documentation must be signed by the cooperating teacher supervisor, scanned,and then uploaded into TASK STREAM by the student. One Field Experience Record isrequired for each course. All Field Experience Records must be signed by the supervisingteacher (or by the Principal/Head of School for students doing field experience in their ownclassroom). All of the dates and hours of field experience should be recorded as separateentries on the Field Experience Record. It is not acceptable to submit one entry for 20 hours.Additional fieldwork documentation may be required from your instructor; see syllabus forrelevant details.For courses taken during the full-time intensive summer program, fieldwork must be completedusing the due date timeline below.Field Experience Summer Course Due DatesSession I Session II Session IIICourses EDUC 511 EDUC 512 EDUC 513EDUC 516 EDUC 514 EDUC 520EDCI 516* EDCI 519* EDCI 520Field Experience Due Date November 15 January 15 March 15□ All summer session courses will result in a grade of “In Progress” (IP) with fieldwork dueaccording to the dates noted above.□ Final grades are issued for each course once the Field Experience Report is completedand submitted to TASKSTREAM for evaluation.□ *Students who plan to graduate in Summer, must complete field experience in earlyAugust to graduate on time. Ask you advisor for the exact date. Permission from yourinstructor is also required.□ Students who wish to student teach in the Spring, must make arrangements with theirinstructors from Summer Session II and Summer Session III courses to have all PBAs andfieldwork logs/evaluations submitted to TASKSTREAM in order to have their workevaluated and grades posted by the end of the fall semester prior.4

Fieldwork Placement Request FormSubmit form to gmacioch@gmu.edu NLT September 1 st for Fall or February 1 st for SpringSemesterHomeAddressStudent NameEmailPhone # Program Elem ESL IBTotal Hours requiredSchool RequestCourse NumberCourse NameInstructorDescribe nature of assignment (child study,classroom observation, sample lesson, etc.)Grade level / rangeSubjectHours requiredCourse NumberCourse NameInstructorDescribe nature of assignment (child study,classroom observation, sample lesson, etc.)Grade level / rangeSubjectHours requiredCourse NumberCourse NameInstructorFAST TRAIN Programs4400 University Drive, MS 1E8, Fairfax, Virginia 22030Phone: 703-993-2794; Fax: 703-993-5771Describe nature of assignment (child study,classroom observation, sample lesson, etc.)Grade level / rangeSubjectHours requiredCourse 1Course 2Course 35

FAST TRAIN ProgramsFieldwork Placement ConfirmationIf you are currently employed or have a field site arranged please send the followinginformation via email to the Field Coordinator, Jill Macioch, at gmacioch@gmu.eduNLT September 1 st for Summer/Fall and February 1 st for Spring courses.School Name:Address:Accrediting Agency:Principal or Head of School:Site Supervisor or Cooperation Teacher:Credential Supervisor/Teacher Holds:4400 University Drive, MS 1E8, Fairfax, Virginia 22030Phone: 703-993-2794; Fax: 703-993-5771In addition, for those who are completing field experience during employment (for exampleteaching assistant), attach a signed letter from your principal or supervisor that indicates theirunderstanding of the field experience requirements and their willingness to let you completethe field experience portion of your coursework while employed. Sample letter is below.****************************************************************Permission to complete field experience assignmentsI understand and am willing to comply with the field experience assignments as required byGeorge Mason University. I am willing to allow______________________________________(name of student/teacher) to complete a total of _________ hours of field experience in myschool.Name:School:Supervising Teacher:Contact information:Phone:_______________________E-mail: __________________________________________________________________Signature of Responsible School Personnel_____________________________Date6

Mason Student:_______________________________G number:Course:______________________________________________________________Field Experience RecordCooperating Teacher:______________________________Title:Years of Experience:__________________________________________________________Semester: _______________________________To the Cooperating Teacher:Degree/License: ______________________________Please sign signature column to indicate that the student completed field experience in your classroom. Please make any additional comments onthe back of this sheet. Thank you for your time, effort and support in this endeavor.Date Grade Subject or Action SchoolHoursObservedTeacher SignatureStudent's Signature:4/24/2014Date:7

Field Experience Evaluation Form(for courses that do not require a teaching evaluation form)Mason Student:________________________________________G number: ________________________________________PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONALQUALITIESExcellentAboveAverageAverageBelowAverageCourse:________________________________________Communication SkillsSemester:_________________________________________DependableCooperating Teacher:___________________________________Title: ________________________________________Years of Experience: ____________________________________Degree/License: ______________________________________PunctualProfessional QualitiesDemonstrates knowledge of childdevelopmentCooperating Teacher’s Signature:_________________________Demonstrates knowledge of contentnecessary for successful teachingComments:Understands how students differ in theirapproaches to learningCan create learning experiences thatmake subject matter meaningfulUses a variety of instructional orassessment strategiesUnderstands individual/group motivationto create a positive learning environmentUses effective verbal and non-verbalcommunication strategiesPlans activities using knowledge of subjectmatter, students, community andcurriculum goalsEngages in critical reflection to improvefieldwork experienceFosters positive relationships withcolleagues, students, and families8