Responsibilities of the Intern (Internship III)
The clinical experience is a decisive point in the interns’ preparations to become professional educators. It is a time when theory and practice meet and when candidates discover where their passions lie, in or out of the classroom. The SFSC model of support for intern consists of coaching and mentoring. Interns are developing teachers. They have received high quality training in research-based pedagogy. Positive coaching and mentoring experiences allow interns to develop their skills. Host teachers and the BSEE program coordinator coach and mentor interns throughout the process. They regularly observe the intern and collaborate on midpoint and final evaluations.
Coaching and mentoring are essential elements in the model of clinical experiences in the SFSC BSEE program. The internship team works together to coach the intern. However, the host teacher is the primary mentor in the process of developing the intern. The intern’s professional learning and growth can only occur with consistent coaching and communication, including inquiry and feedback about effective teaching practices.
The most important and influential measure of an intern’s development is the written and oral constructive feedback received from the host teacher and/or the program coordinator. Immediate feedback from the host teacher and/or program coordinator tends to have greater meaning to the intern so he or she can accurately reflect on the events being evaluated. Host teachers are encouraged to take written notes and use them for coaching the intern. Upon completion of the internship, host teachers recommend a grade to the program coordinator, and SFSC faculty determine the final grade.
Interns should use the following as a guide throughout the term:
- Understand that daily attendance and punctuality is mandatory at the assigned school, as well as attendance at seminars pre-scheduled by the program coordinator.
- Consistently demonstrate professional conduct in actions and attire.
- Adhere to school policies and procedures.
- Work the school duty schedule of the host teacher.
- Show an interest and initiative in assuming the increasing responsibilities of
- Demonstrate effective classroom management
- Immediately notify the host teach and college coordinator of absences
- Maintain confidentiality of information received about students or school personnel.
- Be fair, impartial, and consistent in working with children.
- Be aware of and meet all deadlines for assignments that are required.
It is the intern’s responsibility to review the program syllabi and to communicate requirements to host teachers.
- Prepare lesson plans, including Florida Standards, for every lesson that will be taught during the internship experience and submit for review to the host teacher (Internship II and III).
- Submit daily lesson plans to the host teacher for feedback and suggestions during the minimum of six weeks of full-time teaching (Internship II and III).
- Include modifications and adaptations that provide for individual differences among the children.
- Accept feedback provided by host teachers and program coordinators.
- Demonstrate proficiency in all Florida Educator Accomplished Practices, Reading Endorsement Competencies (Comp. 5 in Internship III) and ESOL Standards.
