School and Society

• Students will be able to explain and give examples of how changes in our country’s political economy and ideology have impacted public schools.
• Each student will begin to build his/her personal educational philosophy, based on information from Aristotle to contemporary influences.
• Students will be able to explain and give examples of instructional techniques effective with all learners.
• Each student will be able to explain and give examples from the Texas Beginning Educator Support System (TxBESS).
• Students will be able to explain and give examples from the Texas Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Professional Educators.

• This course is designed to prepare students for all Texas certification areas. Therefore, during this course you will spend at least two hours in an EC-6 classroom, at least two hours in a 7-8 classroom (junior high preferred), and at least two hours in a 9-12 classroom.
• Individual schools may have different lengths to their class periods. In most schools a class period is about 50 minutes. Be sure to find out the length of a class period in each of the schools you are assigned for field experience.
• You must hand in three MSU Teacher Education Field Experience Validation Forms, one for each level of observations (EC-6, 4-8, and 9-12). The teachers you observed must sign validation forms.  Without all 3 forms turned in, you will receive an incomplete (I) for the course.
• You will also have three written reports describing your observations. You will submit these in a word document attachment in class by the due dates. Follow the grading rubric for field experience reports. Two excellent reports (A quality) will result in the last written report not being required.
• Your field experience report should contain positive examples of what you observed in the class. If you did not see anything positive, go back on other days and repeat the observation until you see positive examples.
• Part of your field experience will have to be done on your own time. We are allowed to excuse university classes to help compensate for part of the time necessary for your field experiences. See the calendar for the specific classes being used for the compensatory adjustments.
• We generally schedule most field experiences in Wichita Falls schools. If you would like to schedule yourself in a school outside of Wichita Falls, please inform Dr. Nagel.
• We are most grateful to the teachers who allow us into their classrooms. When leaving the classroom you observed, be sure to thank the teacher.

At least 35 clock hours of documented field experience are required before anyone is allowed to begin student teaching. The documentation is achieved by using the goldenrod half-sheet named Field Experience Validation Form. Professors often distribute them in class prior to your field experience.  Additional forms can always be obtained in the Dean’s office. You should have the sheet signed at the time you do your field experience; this helps you avoid making another trip back to the school just for the paperwork. 

Many of your education courses will also have a course requirement for field experience. One hour of classroom observation can count as an hour of field experience for your course and also count as an hour of field experience for the state requirement (if you use the validation form).

Field experience that satisfies the state regulation must be with a Texas certified teacher. Be especially mindful of this provision if you do any field experience in a private school or a charter school, because the state law does not require them to use Texas certified teachers. 

Our Midwestern State University Certification Officer, Dr. Darter, will be glad to answer any questions regarding certification requirements. You may also check the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website: http://www.tea.state.tx.us.

Why I want to be a Teacher

During this semester you will be required to write a Why I want to be a Teacher.  By writing this paper you will briefly explore your thoughts and ideas concerning why you want to become a teacher.

Resume

All junior and senior students are required to submit a resume to the Career Management Center during School and Society. Ms. Ashley McCulloch will present information on how to effectively develop your professional resume.

Class Participation

You will have many opportunities to participate in class. One way will be the requirement that each student is responsible for 4 current event article regarding education. Class participation is a very important part of this class and will be counted as 15% of your final grade.

In accordance with the law, MSU provides students with documented disabilities academic accommodations.  If you are a student with a disability, please contact me.

Students with disability must be registered with Disability Support Services (Clark Student Center, Room 168) before classroom accommodations can be provided

Specifically for this class grades will be counted as follows:

            3 observation papers @ 10% each = 30%

            4 Current Event Articles @ 5% each = 20%

            Final exam = 25%

            Why I want to be a Teacher @ 10%  

Resume (junior and senior) @ 5%

Classroom participation grade @ 15% (freshman and sophomore)

Classroom participation grade @ 10% (junior and senior)

All assignments must be attempted to be eligible to receive an A or B.  All field experience hours must be documented to be eligible to take the final examination and receive a passing grade in this course. Five points per day late will be deducted on all assignments. Assignments will not be accepted after three days past the due date unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Attendance Policy

Consistent class participation is essential. Attendance will be taken at the start of every class. Upon three absences (for any reason) a student may be dropped from the course (see the Dean’s Student Alert form) or at the very least will have a grade reduction. The point reduction in grade is as follows: 1 absence – 5 point reduction from final grade; 2 absences – 10 point reduction from final grade; 3 absences – 15 point reduction from final grade. Being repeatedly late for class will also result in a grade reduction regardless of other marks. Any student who misses class (for any reason) remains responsible for contacting other students to obtain class notes, handouts, assignments, etc.  Perfect attendance will earn an additional 10 points to the final exam.

If a student is absent (for any reason) on a date when a paper is due to be handed in, the student remains responsible to make arrangements to submit the paper on time.

Writing Proficiency Requirement

To graduate from MSU all students must pass the Writing Proficiency Examination. Check with the English Department (College of Liberal Arts Hall) for the date of the next test. You are strongly encouraged to meet this requirement as soon as possible.

Attitude toward our classrooms

• When you become a teacher you will take pride in your classroom and expect your students to similarly want to learn in an environment that is clean and neat.

• Here at MSU we will practice professional attitudes toward our classrooms. Examples are:
  • No food or beverages in Ferguson Hall classrooms.
  • Make sure the floor looks good; pick up the classroom towards the end of class before you leave the room.
  • Some of our instructional activities will require us to temporarily rearrange the furniture. Make sure the furniture is returned to a neat order toward the end of class before you leave the room.
  • Some of our instructional activities may involve temporarily taping things to the walls. Make sure the walls are clean before you leave the class.

Career management

MSU students are fortunate to have a very efficient Career Management Center here on campus. It is located in the Clark Student Center, Room 108.  Ms. Ashley McCulloch will join us in class to describe the services of the Career Management Center and distribute materials.

Cell phones

Cell phones can seriously interrupt instruction. They should not be in the classroom at all. I consider it especially rude to leave them turned on while in class. If you must store one in your backpack or purse, be sure it is completely turned off. If you have a special problem that requires you to use a cell phone, ask me for special permission, which will be only for that particular day.  If you have time to text message during class I can only assume you know everything you need to know and that you want to teach the class.

Confidentiality

In our teacher preparation courses we all learn from open discussion about school issues, problems, and possible solutions. As we talk in class about school incidents it is vitally important to avoid identifying specific people or schools. Even if an event happened to you, describe it as, “I heard this occurred in a school somewhere near here…” In written reports, too, do not include the real names of schools or school people; create fictitious names. If you are in a class and think you may know which school someone might be referring to, keep your guess to yourself. It is very unethical for you to reveal information from a class discussion. Everyone at MSU has worked hard for years to nurture good relationships with our local schools. Do your part to maintain them.