Chicago Semester

Student Teaching

Students majoring in Elementary, K-12, Secondary, or Special Education may fulfill their student teaching requirements through the Chicago Semester program. Prospective teachers are placed in Chicago classrooms to work cooperatively with qualified, experienced teachers. While in the schools, the student teachers are responsible for planning lessons, teaching students, and collaborating with school staff, faculty, administration and parents. Student teachers learn about the characteristics of their school and its neighborhood in order to better understand the unique attributes, assets, and challenges of urban life.

Syllabus - Spring 2012

Placement

Student teaching in Chicago provides an opportunity to study and serve the many cultures in a large city. Students are placed in Chicago Public Schools that meet their home college’s accreditation requirements and offer an urban teaching experience that can only be found in a city like Chicago. Students are placed in one classroom for 14 weeks unless licensure requirements mandate more than one placement. Student teachers work five days a week and attend a weekly professional seminar.

Please Note– Once you have been admitted to the Chicago Semester Student Teaching Program, you will also need to apply to student teach in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS).  CPS requires that you be tested for TB and be fingerprinted.  The cost for fingerprinting for an FBI background check is approximately $50.  Be aware that even minor offenses will likely disqualify you from student teaching in CPS.  More information about the CPS application process will be further explained after your acceptance into the Chicago Semester Student Teaching Program.

Professional Seminar

Supplementing the teaching internship is a weekly professional seminar, which gives students the opportunity to share experiences and discuss various urban issues. The unique attributes, assets, and challenges of a specific Chicago neighborhood are also investigated. Weekly journals enable students to apply the action-reflection model to their student teaching experience. Students will explore a range of educational issues and prepare themselves for entering the job market as a first-year teacher.

Seminar topics

• Neighborhood Research
• Teaching in a Diverse Society
• A Class Divided/Blue Eyes Brown Eyes
• Do You Speak American?/Language & Culture
• White Privilege & Social Justice
• Love and Logic in the Classroom
• Classroom Management
• Parents as Partners
• Resume Writing
• Mock Interviews
• Teaching in Chicago

Visit Day

Each semester, student teachers who have been accepted into the Chicago Semester Student Teaching Program are invited to travel to Chicago and visit schools where CS student teachers are working. Students will have an opportunity to talk with current student teachers and to meet their supervisors. After this visit, prospective students will have a better understanding of the wide range of school settings available in Chicago.

Staff  

Lisa K. Hensey, Ph.D.
Student Teaching Program Coordinator
lisah@chicagosemester.org

Carole E. Kolconay, C.A.S.
Student Teaching Placement Coordinator
carolek@chicagosemester.org

Student Perspective

To learn more about what student teaching in Chicago through Chicago Semester is like, take a look at our new student teaching blog. It will help you understand the ups and downs of student teaching, what activities and experiences students are able to be involved in as they get to know the city, and whether student teaching in Chicago is right for you!