DATE: October 3, 2000
SUBJECT: ELED 320 Field Experience
TO: Cooperating Teachers
FROM: Pam Petty, Instructor
Western Kentucky University
Special Instructional Programs, Division of Literacy
TPH 120
Bowling Green, KY
270-745-2922
________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for agreeing to accept a WKU student for the ten (10) hours of field experience required for ELED 320 – Teaching Reading in the Elementary School. Students must make a minimum of seven (7) visits to your school to fulfill this10 hour field experience. Below are a list of the requirements for this experience.
In order to fulfill the 10 hour field based experience requirements for ELED 320, students must do the following activities:
1. Administer an Interest Inventory to a class of students.
2. Use the Interest Inventory to determine what types of literature and topics that
might most interest these particular students.
3. Develop a bibliography of 10 quality children’s literature books based on
results of the Interest Inventory.
4. Select at least one book from the bibliography and do an interactive teacher
read-aloud. Students will write a one-page reflective paper on this experience
and turn in to the university professor the Interest Inventory tally-sheet, the
bibliography, and the reflective paper. The two required "teacher" forms
should be turned in at the same time (daily sign-in, final report).
Other activities during the 10 hour field experience are based on teacher needs and requests. Those might include:
- other read alouds to students
- having elementary students read to college students
- assisting students in completing language arts related projects or assignments
- assisting teacher with directed classroom activities
- assisting students with writing activities
During the field experience for ELED 320, WKU students should not be asked to:
- operate equipment
- teach the entire class
- supervise students alone (neither in classroom or recess, etc.)
- make materials
- do bulletin boards
- housekeeping chores
There are two forms that must be filled out by the cooperating teacher. WKU students will supply you with those forms. One is a daily sheet that should be signed by the teacher on each visit and the other is a final report that provides feedback to the university professor.
Thank you again for your time and generosity in welcoming this WKU student into your classroom. If I can be of assistance in any way, please contact me as listed on page one of this memo. My wish is for this to be a very positive experience for all involved.
_____________________________________________________________________________
NOTES to WKU Students:
1. Report to the principal’s office on the initial visit. Follow school "check-in" rules as they
apply for all other visits.
2. Dress in an appropriate manner consistent with the other professionals in the school.
3. Chewing gum is prohibited in all of the elementary schools.
4. Punctuality is IMPORTANT and will be EXPECTED.
5. An absence from field experience is just like a class absence. You must call the school if you
are unable to come on a scheduled day. The university professor should be contacted by the
WKU student by email providing notification of ANY absence.
6. The faculty and the school principal have been very kind in extending this courtesy, and they
look forward to the positive contribution that you can provide.