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FACULTY OF
Education

Associate Teachers and Schools

an Associate Teacher and a Faculty Liaison

Over 1500 teachers at approximately 300 Associate Schools are essential to the successful education of our teacher candidates. Associate teachers play a crucial role in helping shape teacher candidates' professional attitudes and instructional approaches. They are exemplary role models and they set standards of excellence for teacher candidates by demonstrating the care and competency that contribute to a productive learning environment for students.

Teacher candidates are assigned to Associate Schools as a part of a professional learning community. Each Associate School designates a School Liaison and is assigned a Faculty Liaison. Responsibility for teaching assignments within each Associate School rests with the School Liaison or Principal. The Faculty Liaison teaches a professional learning course that begins in September and continues throughout the Bachelor of/Diploma in Education Program. During the practicum, teacher candidates are expected to meet weekly in their Associate Schools and to report their discussions to their Faculty Liaison. The program fosters learning from experience as a basis for professional learning.

As a general rule, teachers should have a minimum of two years of service before becoming an Associate Teacher. To become an Associate School, Principals should contact the liaison at their District School Board to indicate their interest in working with the Faculty of Education. Principals can also indicate their interest to the Practicum Office.

Information for Associate Teachers & Schools

Thank you very much for your willingness to serve as an associate teacher. We depend very much on you to provide our teacher candidates with suitable types of experience as they prepare to enter the profession. We ask that you provide your teacher candidate with an appropriate balance of guidance in establishing their roots and freedom to test their wings.

Associated with the practicum is the course PROF 190/191 Theory and Professional Practice. Please assist your teacher candidate in arranging a teaching schedule that permits her or him to meet during school hours each week of the three Queen's practicum components for at least 3 hours, with other candidates in your school. Each week, the candidates will be engaging in mandatory discussions and collaborative information gathering related to these courses. You will find the questions candidates use each week on our website: please feel comfortable sharing ideas with the candidate in your classroom.

Candidates should be encouraged to participate in a variety of professional activities beyond their classroom teaching. For release to attend workshops or conferences, we ask you and the school liaison to follow the same practice as for the permanent teaching staff.

The continued development of our program depends on the good will and professional support of many people. We welcome suggestions for improvement in the design of the program, in the ways in which we work together, and in this resource.

Please feel free to call on your Faculty Liaison to support your work.

Sincerely,

Ellie Deir, PROF 190 Coordinator
Dr. Tom Russell, PROF 191 Coordinator
Dr. Peter Chin, Practicum Coordinator

Practicum Handbook & Info

Guidelines & Policies

Teacher candidates study groups

Three hours per week of teacher candidate group time is not structured as additional planning time for candidates. The candidates must learn how to balance planning, teaching, and non-school commitments much like experienced teachers. However, candidates also have responsibilities for academic inquiry and reflection. The three hour/per week time allows teacher candidates an opportunity to work together on the assignments for the two field-based courses. Research shows that learning is enhanced when teacher candidates have opportunities to discuss their teaching with people at a similar career stage. The meeting time is also invaluable for discussions with the Faculty Liaison.

Teaching subjects over the two practicum blocks

If a school can only accommodate one of the teaching subjects (secondary) or a primary and junior experience (elementary) for a teacher candidate over the two practicum blocks, the teacher candidate will still have an opportunity to pick up the experience in the second subject or division during the second practicum (February/March). Meanwhile the candidate benefits from an extended placement in one subject or division.

*Outdoor and Experiential Education (OEE) candidates must get experience in both teaching subjects or divisions in the fall term as they will not be returning to their Associate School for the second practicum.

Focus courses

Focus courses (FOCI) are courses that allow teacher candidates an opportunity to begin building an area of expertise. They are intended to be practice-oriented and 'hands-on'. A few examples are: School Leadership, Teaching At-Risk Adolescents and Young Adults, Teaching Exceptional Children, and Outdoor and Experiential Education. The Alternative Practicum relates to the candidates FOCI course.

Extra-curricular Activities

Teacher candidates are encouraged to make a reasonable contribution to extra-curricular activities. They may also co-direct or co-coach with an Associate Teacher, but should not have sole responsibility for a team or activity. The co-directing or co-coaching arrangement is especially important in cases where the on-campus instructional periods may coincide with playoffs or other culminating activities.

PROF 190/191 Course Info

PROF 190 (PJ)

PROF 191 (IS)

Faculty Liaisons

This list will be updated by September, 2013.

Final Year Concurrent & Consecutive Education Assessments

Assessments for Final Year Concurrent Education and Consecutive Education teacher candidates are different than the Progress Reports for Concurrent Education students (Years 1, 2, and 3). Please be sure you are completing the appropriate assessment.

Teacher Candidates and Associate Teachers should approach the assessment based on reasonable expectations for a Teacher Candidate at this particular point in her/his BEd year. Teacher Candidates working primarily at the "Marginal" level are not currently meeting the required expectations for professional practice required by Queen's University.

The Faculty Liaison will contact the Associate Teacher or Teacher Candidate if the Interim Report indicates "There are Concerns". This may or may not result in the completion of a Practicum Review form.

If a Practicum Review form is completed, the Teacher Candidate normally has 5 school days (excluding PA days) in which to demonstrate achievement of the recommendations for improvement. The date for achieving the recommendations can extend into a subsequent practicum block or session if there are not 5 school days left in the practicum block in which the Practicum Review is initiated.

Candidates who do not fulfill the recommendations for improvement by the date by which the recommendations must be implemented, will receive a fail for the practicum component for which the Practicum Review form was initiated.

Teacher Candidates keep the original copy of all assessments and reports. All summative assessments must be signed by the Associate Teacher and Teacher Candidate. The Teacher Candidate will submit a copy of all Summative Assessments to the Practicum Office. A copy of all summative assessments must be submitted to the Faculty Liaison.

Alternative Practicum Assessment

Honoraria & Incentives

Honoraria Requests for the BEd program are completed on-line and School Liaisons are mailed the four-digit code to access the form. The site opens at the beginning of March and closes at the end of March (due to fiscal year deadlines, we have to requisition all honoraria by the end of March).

Honoraria is not paid for the Alternative Practicum because, although it is mandatory, it is not a formal practicum. This practicum is a programmatic requirement, not a Ministry requirement.

On-line Honoraria Request form

Honoraria are not paid for the Alternative Practicum because, although it is mandatory, it is not a formal practicum. This practicum is a programmatic requirement, not a Ministry requirement.

Associate Teacher Rebates on AQ/ABQ Courses

The Faculty is offering $100 off the tuition fee for an on-site or on-line AQ or ABQ course to Queen's Associate Teachers. To be eligible, you must have supervised a Queen’s teacher candidate during the current academic year, or have coordinated the associate teacher program in your school.

Resources for Associate Teachers & Schools

Access to Faculty & University Facilities

All associate teachers can request an Associate Teacher card, which gives them access to:

Ontario College of Teachers & Federation Links

Associate Teacher & Associate School Awards

Associate Teacher Awards are given annually to up to five associate teachers for outstanding contributions to the Faculty of Education and its teacher candidates. The awards recognize Associate Teachers whose programs and mentoring are exemplary, and whose commitment has resulted in excellent practicum placements for our candidates. Nominations may be made by principals, teacher candidates, the Practicum Office, associate teachers and faculty members.

Associate School Awards for Support of Teacher Candidates are given annually to one elementary and one secondary school participating in the Bachelor of/Diploma in Education Program. Obviously, the associate teachers who work directly with our teacher candidates are critical to the process, but so is the leadership of the principal, the friendliness and service provided by the support staff and all of the encouragement and assistance by the teachers who are not acting as associates. Nominations may be made by teacher candidates, the Practicum Office, and faculty liaisons.

Nominations

The deadline for nominations for 2013-14 is February 28, 2014.

To nominate an Associate Teacher or School, send a nomination letter (or email) outlining the qualities and attributes you feel demonstrate the type of mentoring, and/or environment conducive to learning, nurturing, community, and well-being. Letters should be sent to the Practicum Office or emailed to Nadine.Thompson@queensu.ca.

The selection of recipients will be made by a committee that represents Associate Teachers, Teacher Candidates, the Practicum Office and Faculty.

See Previous Associate Teacher of the Year Award Winners and Previous Associate School of the Year Award Winners.