Program Policies

ATTENDANCE

Block B has two components: Courses and Field Experience days. You are required to be present at your district placement two days/week for 100% of each school day. Keep the same daily schedule as the cooperating teacher. Report to school on time and remain until the end of the designated day.

 

ABSENCES

Documentation from a medical professional is required for all health-related absences of 2 or more consecutive field days. Health-related absences are not considered excused absences. All absences must be made up before the end of the semester. Excessive absences may result in having to repeat Block B before being allowed to continue to begin Block C (clinical teaching).

 

If you will be absent:

Contact your cooperating teacher, UNT cadre coordinator, and the school office as soon as you know you will be absent, no later than the beginning of the school day which will be missed. 

 

In emergency cases, the rule of prudent judgment should apply in terms of when you inform others of your absence, including emergencies that may occur during the school day.

 

TIME RECORD LOG

A daily time record must be maintained by the student using Dynamic Forms. The form will be submitted by the student at the end of the semester for a digital signature from the cooperating Teacher. Without a completed and verified Time Record Log, candidates cannot advance to Block C the following semester.

 

COURSE-BASED ASSIGNMENTS

Methods course instructors will ask students to submit work which is based on observation and interactions with students on field days. Specific assignments will be discussed in your classes. A GPA of 2.75 and no grade lower than “C” are required to proceed to Block C.

 

DRESS

Wear appropriate professional attire in compliance with school policy dress code.

 

TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM YOUR FIELD PLACEMENT SITE

UNT is unable to provide transportation for students. It is the responsibility of the student to secure transportation to and from their clinical practice site for both Block B and Block C.

 

CONDUCT REGARDING SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WITH STUDENTS

Teacher Candidates must recognize their position as a responsible adult and role model for all students. Clinical Teachers are held to the same legal and Texas Education Agency standards regarding social interactions as a certified teacher. 

• It is not appropriate to be present in non-school related contexts with students. 
• It is not appropriate to be present in school-related, non-classroom or school-based activities (field trips, etc.)  without the presence of the cooperating teacher or other appropriate certified personnel.  

 

Read the following excerpt from the Texas Administrative Code provides for further guidance. The Texas Education Agency has established legal criteria for appropriate educator-student relationships which include, but are not limited to the use of social media and electronic communications: 

• The educator shall maintain appropriate professional educator-student relationships and boundaries based on a reasonably prudent educator standard. [(H) Standard 3.8] 
• The educator shall refrain from inappropriate communication with a student or minor, including, but not limited to, electronic communication such as cell phone, text messaging, email, instant messaging, blogging, or other social network communication. Factors that may be considered in assessing whether the communication is inappropriate include, but are not limited to: 

       (i) the nature, purpose, timing, and amount of the communication; 

       (ii) the subject matter of the communication; 

       (iii) whether the communication was made openly or the educator attempted to conceal the  communication; 

       (iv) whether the communication could be reasonably interpreted as soliciting sexual contact or a  romantic relationship;  

       (v) whether the communication was sexually explicit; and 

       (vi) whether the communication involved discussion(s) of the physical or sexual  attractiveness or the sexual history,   activities, preferences, or fantasies of either the educator or the student. [(I) Standard  3.9.] 

 

CERTIFICATION EXAM REQUIREMENTS

TExES Practice Exams.

• EC-6 candidates must have completed practice exams for the Core Subjects EC-6 exam as well as the exam for their supplemental area (ESL Supplemental, Bilingual Supplemental, or Special Education EC-12) to be eligible to begin Block B. Bilingual EC-6 candidates must have also completed the BTLPT practice exam. During Block B, EC-6 students will complete the Science of Teaching Reading practice exam, available in the TExES Section Canvas course.
• 4-8 candidates must have completed a practice exam for their 4-8 content area (ELAR or Social Studies) as well as the ESL Supplemental practice exam to be eligible to begin Block B During Block C 1, ELAR 4-8 candidates will complete the Science of Teaching Reading practice exam.

Actual TExES Exams.

EC-6 and 4-8 candidates must take their actual content and supplemental TExES exams by the end of Block B to be eligible to begin Clinical Teaching. The charts below identify your TExES certification exams that are required for certification. Exams noted with an asterisk (*) are the exams you must take to start Clinical Teaching. If you do not pass the exams, you will work with the TExES Success Office to complete remediation so that you will be able to retake the exam, but you will not be prevented from moving on to Clinical Teaching if you do not pass your exams.

TExES Exam Requirements – Grades EC-6

TExES Exam Requirements – Grades 4-8

 

TExES TESTING SUPPORT: TExES Success Office

All information pertaining to certification exams (i.e., study resources, testing policies, and registration guides) is available in Matthews Hall 119 or on the TExES Success website at https://coe.unt.edu/texes/.

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