EDUC425

State-mandated clinical practice is required of all pre-service teacher
candidates. The Clinical Practice Capstone course accompanies the student teaching semester
experience. Student teaching occurs for the second of two semesters in an elementary school,
middle school, junior high school, or senior high school. Students will be placed (in the same CP1
school/district) in the certification area related to their liberal arts major. All students must remain
the entire length of the teaching day for that particular school.

The Clinical Practice Capstone course is comprised of both in-person (on campus meetings) and
online learning experiences. The on-campus meetings occur approximately seven (7) times
during the semester and are structured to provide support as well as analysis of questions,
issues, and problems encountered during the student teaching experience. The course is
designed to support the clinical experience by providing participants the important opportunity to
individually and collectively examine questions, issues, and challenges regarding the student
teaching experience; the current realities of the US public education system; and research-based
best pedagogical practices. As such, students will participate in interactive discussions and
hands-on, practical learning activities that are specifically aligned to the following topics:
● classroom management skills;
● the cooperating teacher and RCNJ student teacher supervisor;
● Federal and State mandates;
● lesson planning/design
● RTI, IEPs and the special needs learner;
● HIB and related school law;
● professionalism and ethics
● communication and interpersonal skills;
● program/professional portfolios and the reflective practitioner; and
● preparing for employment.