Clinical Experiences
North Park’s education programs get you into real classrooms early in your own learning process and ease your transition from observer to student teacher. Here’s the progression:
- Targeted observations as part of the methods courses
- Teacher Aiding: observe and assist teacher/students (2 semesters of 35 hours)
- Mini-Teaching: prepare and teach one lesson per day (7 weeks)
- Student Teaching: full-time teaching (12 weeks)
You’ll work with your School of Education advisor and instructors to choose different schools for each of these experiences (public, private, suburban, and urban schools).
Jump to Cooperating Teacher Information
Teacher Aiding
The first of three clinical experiences, teacher aiding is an important entry into the profession and classroom. You’ll spend 70 hours (over two semesters) in a school, observing classes, tutoring students, and working with a cooperating teacher as you see first-hand how a classroom works. You may also have the option to deliver a lesson or two. To see the full spectrum of school life, you’ll spend over 10 hours in a diverse learning environment.
Mini-Teaching
Mini-teaching is unique to North Park’s School of Education, allowing you to evolve from teacher aiding to student teaching. You’ll first spend seven weeks teaching one lesson a day in a single subject to a class in one of our 125 partner schools. You will concentrate on planning and teaching quality lessons with a cooperating teacher and preparing for the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA).
Student Teaching
Your clinical experience culminates in student teaching. For 10 to 16 weeks (depending on your desired certification), you’ll assume full responsibility for a classroom: teaching a full load, attending meetings, taking attendance, keeping records, grading, and meeting with parents. You’ll work with a cooperating teacher in your subject area who is passionate about helping you succeed, and you’ll also be observed and supervised throughout the experience by North Park University faculty who will offer helpful feedback and constructive advice.
Capstone Course
Each education program concludes with a capstone course where graduating students can share case studies from their clinical experiences and explore the many things that influence teaching. Discussions might cover pedagogy and content knowledge, communication styles, or body language and attitudes. In this course, you’ll also develop your own philosophy of teaching and assemble your professional portfolio and prepare for teacher licensure. Through all of these experiences, your advisor and professors will walk alongside you as you prepare for a career as an educator.
Cooperating Teacher Information
Thank you for supporting our future educators. By participating in a clinical experience you will earn up to 30 continuing professional development units (CPDU) and a tuition voucher. Tuition vouchers can be used for any course at North Park (up to 4 credit hours). Please note that it may also be transferred to a peer at your school/district, and all vouchers expire two years from the date of issue.
The final step in your clinical experience is to complete an evaluation of the student-teacher. Upon completion, the CPDU certificate and tuition voucher will be sent to you via email. Please allow 5–10 business days for processing. If you have any trouble using the forms, or if you do not receive your voucher within a reasonable timeframe, please contact studentplacements@achador.net
Teacher Aiding Evaluation Form
Student Teaching Evaluation Form
