Undergraduate Fieldwork/Student Observation Requirements
Undergraduate Program in Adolescence Education
All education students in the undergraduate adolescence program must complete a minimum of 100 hours of observation. This is a New York State requirement. These hours must be completed before student teaching. The State requires that the student be exposed to a variety of school settings while observing. Your observations will include the following: a minimum of 50 hours in a diverse, high-need school (Title 1), a minimum of 15 hours with students with disabilities (in a special education setting), and observation of English Language Learners (ELL).
Adolescence students must do 50 hours at the intermediate level (7 & 8) and 50 hours at the high school level (grades 9-12).
All courses in the undergraduate adolescence program have observation hours attached to them. Please be aware of this requirement when you register, as you need to consider this as part of your workload for the courses. Paraprofessionals may observe in their own classes, as long as they are at the appropriate developmental levels.
The courses that include fieldwork/observation for candidates are:
EDS 201 - 15 hours
EDS 202 - 15 hours
EDS 315-319 – 35 hours (All curriculum courses)
EDS 301-305 – 35 hours (All pedagogy courses)
At the beginning of each semester a letter of introduction along with a time sheet will be given to each student. This letter is to be taken to the school when you observe and the time sheet is to be signed by the classroom teacher you are observing. Your class will be assigned a partner school host site for fieldwork. These are schools with which we have strong relationships. You will be expected to attend that school. Any exceptions must be discussed in advance with the Director of Fieldwork. Once assigned, it is your responsibility (unless your professor made other arrangements) to email the contact person and arrange a schedule – usually after the first two weeks of the semester.
Completed timesheets should be turned in to the purple box under the mailboxes in 3S-208.
IMPORTANT: You are guests in the schools and first impressions are critical. You MUST dress appropriately, meaning “business casual”. Shorts and tank tops are NOT acceptable. Even if other teachers in the school are under-dressed, you must adhere to professional standards. In addition, cell phone use is strictly prohibited during observation for any purpose, including texting. If you have an emergency, you must step out of the classroom. Failure to observe these guidelines will threaten future fieldwork, including student teaching.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Deirdre Armitage, Director of Fieldwork (718) 982-3741 or e-mail deirdre.armitage@csi.cuny.edu