Field Experiences

Field Experiences

Student teaching with Laura AnthonyThe Elementary Inclusive Program offers one of the nation’s most clinically rich teacher education experiences. Our fieldwork sequence spans four of the five semesters and is designed to prepare students through a combination of practicum and student teaching placements, ensuring a smooth and confident transition into a full-time teaching career. Students gain experience working with learners with and without disabilities in a variety of settings including mainstream general education and collaboratively taught classrooms.

In practicum experiences, students gain initial, hands-on exposure to classroom dynamics by working directly with individual students and small groups. These experiences taken at the beginning and end of your program of study emphasize foundational skills in classroom observation, instructional support, and targeted teaching activities, all under the guidance of a mentor teacher.

In student teaching placements, students take on a more comprehensive role in the classroom. Working alongside a full-time New York City teacher, student teachers engage in lesson planning, lead whole-class learning experiences, analyze and act upon assessment data, and become integral members of the school community.

By the end of your fieldwork experience, you will have taught across all subject areas, received ongoing mentorship from both your mentor teacher and a TC-based field coach, and led instruction independently for an entire week. This comprehensive experience builds the confidence, skills, and knowledge essential for a successful teaching career.

Student Teaching Website

We place students in a diverse array of New York City public schools, many of which are long-standing partners of our program. Nearly every classroom we work with includes students with diagnosed disabilities, providing our graduate students with valuable experience in inclusive settings. We are also committed to ensuring that our students gain experience working with children from a wide range of racial, ethnic, linguistic, socio-economic, religious, national, and family backgrounds.
Additionally, we prioritize giving our students two distinct student teaching placements during their time with us. This approach allows student teachers to gain a breadth of experience and develop insights into their own preferences and strengths before beginning their teaching careers.
In addition to mentorship from their school-based mentor teacher, each student teacher is assigned a Teachers College field coach each semester. All coaches are experienced former classroom teachers and teacher educators who support student teachers with lesson planning, provide feedback on instruction, and guide them in navigating the diverse challenges that arise throughout the student teaching year.
The coaching team meets regularly throughout the semester to discuss student teacher expectations, review each student teacher’s progress, and address any emerging issues. This collaborative model fosters rich dialogue among students, coaches, faculty, and cooperating schools, creating a meaningful and cohesive educational experience.

Prior to your student teaching year, you are required to take Social Studies for Justice and Inclusion: Elementary and Middle Grades (C&T 4143) and Disability, Exclusion, and Schooling (C&T 4000).

Contact Us

Program Director: Srikala Naraian

Box: 31

Teachers College, Columbia University
308C Zankel Building

Contact Person: Claudia Atkinson, Program Manager

Phone: (212) 678-3695 Fax: (212) 678-3237

Email: preservice@tc.edu

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