e c re t

To p S
i d e to
Gu c h i n g
n t T e a
Stu d e c c e s s
e n t S u
Pla ce m
t o g e t started.
ait
I can’t w explaining the
Key: Must do’s Thanks
for
ding.
color co
Research
Networking
 Your mission, should you decide to accept it,
START is a proactive search for a strong student teaching
placement that includes:
Creating a compelling student teaching
application with three parts: resume,
two narrative responses, and a
application mini-transcript.

Researching and selecting three

placement choices (six for music).
What type of school do you want?
research What type of teacher do you want?

April 13, 2010 Networking to make strong

Attend connections for potential placements.
Jump Start Your network includes those around you,
Meeting. and personnel in local schools and
networking districts.
Find out about
what to do to
get ready for Visiting schools to find out if a school or
the placement
process.
teacher is right for you. Teach a
mini-lesson and meet with the
visit schools school community.

A proactive search may lead to quicker placements,

and a strong network to assist you in your job search.
April Wow, the CDE
has lots of info
Review about schools.
Handouts
from
Jump Start April April
Meeting. Review Visit Colorado Department
Learn how to
School District Websites of Education Website to
start your research, Who’s hiring? review school/district reports.
plan visits, and What district do you like?
start networking. http://tiny.cc/studentteach http://www.cde.state.co.us

page 2
 April/May
April/May
Curtis ES
H. Myers
Apple ES
L. Smith
Start visiting schools.
Grade 3 Grade 2 Create a plan Create a calling card.
CT 20+ Years 8 years for school site Teach a lesson.
Experience ESL Elem Ed
visits. Study school website/newsletters.
Science
Use a matrix with Prepare questions.
disciplined
CT teaching
creative
organized
high energy categories, such as Send thank you letters.
style
technology resourceful CT experience,
School
very CT style,
limited diverse class
Diversity school demographics,
school climate Casey Smith
fun energetic
School high energy parent help etc. Secondary Mathematics
Climate collaborate high tech Highly Qualified in Science
casey.smith@colorado.edu
(303)555-5555

April/May My Network
Start
networking Family/Friends/Peers
with those College Advisors
around you. CU Instructors
Director of Field Experience
Advisors, instructors,
family, friends, peers, Teachers
and the Director of Principals
Field Experiences School Connections
District Connections

Let’s see...
www.tiny.cc/studentteach April I want a teacher who inspires, is
compassionate, fun, culturally responsive,
Explore what organized, creative, confident,
type of knowledgeable, and experienced.
cooperating
teacher
April
you want and
Explore what type
School of Education website. of school.
View links above to explore
info about placement process.

page 3
 April April May to August
Register and take
Begin to create Earn money
PLACE exam,
resume, narratives, over summer.
www.place.nesinc.com,
and mini-transcript.
or PRAXIS exam, Get more
www.ets.com (select PRAXIS). teaching experience.

Resume Narratives

Get started with Get started with

worksheets in appendix. worksheets in appendix.

Mini- transcript
Course Date Grade Credit
Number Course Title Completed Earned Hours
ENGL 1500 Masterpieces-Brit Lit May-98 A 3
ENGL 3116
ENGL 3377
Amer Nature Writing
Native American Writers
Dec-99
Dec-99
A-
A-
3
3
These worksheets will
ENGL 2010 Intro to Literary Theory Dec-00 A- 3 really help me formulate my ideas.
ENGL 4038 Psychological Fiction Dec-00 A 3
UWRP 3020 New York Times Topics Dec-01 A 3
ENGL 1191 Intro Creative Writing May-01 A 3
ENGL 2000 Literary Analysis May-01 A 3
ENGL 3312 Bible as Literature May-01 B 3
ENGL 4665 Amer Lit: Mark Twain May-01 A 3
ENGL 3226 Folklore 1 Dec-01 A 3
ENGL 3237 Prison Writing & Literacy Dec-01 A 4
ENGL 3246 Studies in Science Fiction Dec-01 A- 3
ENGL 3553 Chaucer: Canterbury Tales Dec-01 B- 3

Overall Cumlative GPA 3.344

Content GPA 3.335 Get started with
page 4 worksheets in appendix.
 There are lots of choices for student
June to August Where do I want to student teach? teaching. I wonder who’s hiring and
Review resume where I want to work.
with
Career Services.

Have people
in your network
review resume.

June to September
Start to
formulate
where you
want to
student teach.
Teachers must hold
a professional license
in your content area with
+3 years experience.

Ten Tips for Successful Networking

1. Be genuine and authentic to build trust.
August 2. Determine your networking goals.
to December 3. Network with many groups.
Continue to 4. Volunteer in your network groups.
visit schools 5. Learn to ask open ended questions.
until you have 6. Become a resource for others.
a confirmed 7. Have a clear understanding of your expertise.
placement or 8. Know what you want from your network.
contract. 9. Follow through quickly on referals from network.
10. Meet with people that gain benefit from you or vice versa.
(source Stephanie Speisman, 10 Tips for Successful Business Networking, http://www.businessknowhow.com/tips/networking.htm)

September 2, 2010 September 13, 2010 September 3-13, 2010

Attend Schedule
Attend MANDATORY
Career Services student teacher
student teacher
Resume Workshop. check-out appointment
application meeting.
Fine tune resume at (303)492-6555.
Fill out data form.
and get another viewpoint. Appointments are 15 minutes.

page 5
September to December September to December October 25, 2010
Continue to visit Sign student teaching Attend
school sites and contract and contact Educator’s Panel.
network with cooperating teacher. How to Get a Job with
principals and teachers. HR Managers/Principals
The educator’s panel
is a great place to get your questions
answered by district HR managers
Visiting Schools Sites and school principals.
September 27 Setting up and attending information visits with schools:
Celebrate First, call a building administrator and introduce yourself and explain why
application you’d like to visit. You may be referred to a department member or the
completion administrator may make arrangements for you. Determine a good time to meet.
with peers.
If you are interested in observing a classroom, please arrange this with the
building administrator prior to your visit.

Create a list of questions before you arrive at the school. Some of these questions
may come from reviewing the school or district website.

On the day of your appointment, dress appropriately, be on time, and check in

with the main office.
September 27
Submit Please do not ask teachers you visit with if they would serve as your cooperating
student teacher teacher. This puts teachers on the spot before they get a chance to review your
application paperwork and interview you.
by 5 p.m. After the school visit, you should follow up with a hand-written thank you
Send email with
note sent by USPS mail.
school choices to
Jill.Perry@colorado.edu Sample email to set up school visit
www.tiny.cc/studentteach
Dear Mr/Ms. XX,

I am currently enrolled in CU-Boulder’s teacher licensure program. I am seeking

licensure in Secondary Spanish, and plan to student teach in spring 2011. I am in
September the process of visiting schools so I may select a school site that will be a good fit
13-27 for my student teaching semester.

Attend My application is due on September 27, and I would like to take a tour of your
school and observe a Spanish class before I submit my application. I am available
student teacher
on Monday or Wednesday after 1 p.m. next week. Would either of these days work
checkout. for you?
Be on time. Sincerely,
Casey Smith
Casey.Smith@colorado.edu
(303)555-5555 page 6
November 9, 2010
Attend
Burning Questions
for Spring 2011,
9-10 am or 3-4 pm.
Burning Questions
Take advantage of the
Burning Questions
session with
Kanesha Baynard
and Travis Anderson.
Come to ask questions
about your student
teaching semester.
- What do I need to do
to prepare for semester?
- Who supervises?
- What is the semester
like?
- Do I start teaching right
away?
- How much vacation
do I get?
- Do I have to go to the
kick-off meeting?
- When will I get my
license?
December 22, 2010 January 4, 2011
Submit any remaining Attend
requirements to Student Teacher
Travis.Anderson@colorado.edu. Kick-Off Meeting.
Starts 8 am in KOEBEL 102.
Submit Requirements Student Teacher
to Travis Anderson. Kick-Off Agenda
- Test scores for PLACE - Keys to a successful
or PRAXIS exams. student teacher
semester.
- Transcripts for completed
coursework at other - Getting your resume
institutions or ready for your job
independent studies. search.
- Legal responsibilities
during student
teaching.
Network at Kick-off
Meeting. - AmeriCorps funding
Find out where your peers for student teaching.
are student teaching and
exchange contact - Licensing
information. responsibilities at
end of semester.
Dress professionally.
Introduce yourself to - First seminar meeting
district presenters. with your university
supervisor.
I am looking forward
to my student teacher placement
and meeting my university
supervisor.
page 7
 Make the Most of your Student Teaching Semester
January 5, 2011
(or later) Attend job fairs. There are lots of Be innovative and
opportunities to
Have your principal help with my job search. share your expertise.
Student observe you teaching. Network within
teacher
Prepare your licensure the school.
placement
paperwork.
begins. Be available and
Attend faculty meetings.
Follow your volunteer at your school.
contract dates.
Be part of the Get to know everyone on
School Improvement Team. the staff - all levels and
Reflect weekly on your functions.
teaching experience. Talk to parents
January to May and students.
Continue to Ask for feedback.
network within Attend training Find a mentor within
school and within school. your school.
district. Observe other Have fun and get
Networking is fun. I have teachers in your building. involved.
lots to share.
Collect resources and Attend school and
ideas for future use. district events.
Find out about Communicate with
first year teacher programs. your mentor.
Get online and explore Find out who will give you
January to May schools and districts. recommendations for
Share your your job search.
expertise at Key: Must do’s Research Networking
school site by
getting Good luck with your job search!
involved.
Have principal Continue to network through job search
observe you.
and use connections made during
student teaching to get interviews.
Teaching Job

January to May 2011 May 2011 May to September 2011

Seek recommendations Complete student Put your job search
for upcoming job search. teaching semester and in high gear and
apply for licensure. use networking to
make connections.

page 8