CO-CURRICULAR AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND WORK GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT TEACHERS

Student teaching is an important aspect of teacher preparation. It is a time for applying theory, and developing abilities. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate one’s potential as an effective educator. For these and other reasons, it is mandatory that individuals who are student teaching focus their energies on this experience.

Because each of us has multiple responsibilities and obligations, and because student teaching involves the expectations of students in the classroom, cooperating teachers, university faculty, and the student teacher, these responsibilities must be balanced. The following guidelines are intended to help all participants make appropriate decisions in each situation.

1. The choice of participating in co-curricular, extracurricular or work experiences while student teaching is up to the individual student teacher. The teacher education faculty reminds every student teacher that their primary concern should be with work in student teaching. Activities beyond student teaching cannot be used as an excuse for poor performance during student teaching.
   
   
2. Student teachers who intend to participate in co-curricular, extracurricular or work experiences during student teaching must inform the discipline faculty of their intent to participate in these activities when requesting a student teaching placement. To help assure that expectations are clear, the cooperating teacher(s) will be notified of the student teacher’s intent to participate in activities beyond student teaching.
   
   Consideration will be given to placing students near where their work or extracurricular activities are scheduled. There is no guarantee that a nearby placement will be available, appropriate, or arranged. There are many factors involved in placement decisions and co-curricular, extracurricular or work experiences will be considered as one, though not necessarily the primary factor.
   
   
3. If any activity requires that a student teacher be released during school hours while student teaching, the judgment of the cooperating teacher will take priority. The cooperating teacher and university supervisor must be informed well in advance of any request to miss school (preferably prior to school opening in the spring and again at least one week prior to the date of the expected absence). The student teacher remains responsible for all obligations associated with student teaching. Students may be required to make up absences. Absences during the weeks of full-time teaching are strongly discouraged.
   
   
4. It is understood that directors of extracurricular or co-curricular activities and employers will be flexible in their requirements of individuals during the time they are student teaching. This may mean altered schedules, missing performances and activities, and partial attendance at scheduled meetings or practices.