Student-Teaching Handbook

WLTE Student Teacher Responsibilities and Expected Behavior while Student Teaching
As a Student Teacher, you will be regarded as having essentially the same status and similar responsibilities as your Cooperating Teacher. You will be expected to dress and conduct yourself as a professional and according to the context in which you are assigned as a Student Teacher. You are expected to follow professional standards and ethics and conduct yourself accordingly. You should become familiar with and follow both building and classroom rules.

You will follow your CT’s daily work schedule, including start/end times, attendance at professional meetings, and all non-instructional duties, such as lunchroom supervision, study hall, or bus duty. You are required to be at your placement school for the full professional day, including regular class days, parent-teacher conference days, and institute days. You are also required to attend professional meetings designed for new teachers if your building or district requires its Student Teachers to participate in these professional development activities.

Working with your CT, you will follow the take-over schedule established by the WLTE program. The Student Teacher assumes gradual responsibility for the Cooperating Teacher’s full class load, starting one class at a time. A gradual transition into full takeover, will allow you to assume your Cooperating Teacher’s full teaching schedule by the sixth week of Student Teaching. You are also tasked with participation in an extra-curricular activity of your choice. The activity or club does not have to pertain to World Language, so think about your interests and skills to find any activity you will enjoy. Some past popular extra-curricular activities have included Spanish club, sports teams, Student Council, cheerleading, track, soccer, gardening club, and working with the prom committee. Embrace this requirement as this type of experience is particularly attractive to employers!

You must demonstrate thorough knowledge of your content area and pedagogy in planning and implementing lessons. Make sure to develop your lesson plans and instructional activities fully in order to ensure that students achieve the desired learning outcomes.

You must demonstrate appropriate assessment and evaluation methods of your students’ achievement and display the ability to incorporate this information into future lesson plans. This is important for teaching effectiveness and will serve you when you are employed in a future teaching position.

You must implement the feedback and suggestions from your Cooperating Teacher and your University Supervisor to modify and improve your teaching. Ongoing feedback will be provided by your Cooperating Teacher through daily mentoring, regularly scheduled teaching observations, and post-observations conferences throughout Student Teaching, and via written documentation of your performance. 

However, as a novice practitioner, feel free to take the initiative to request additional conferences with your Cooperating Teacher and/or your University Supervisor in order to gain advice on how to address particular teaching issues or to discuss other aspects of assuming a teacher’s professional responsibilities.

In cases of illness or emergency, you MUST NOTIFY YOUR COOPERATING TEACHER BEFORE THE START OF THE SCHOOL DAY. Next, notify your University Supervisor of your impending absence, especially if it is a day of planned observation. You must make sure that all lesson plans and materials are at the school for the Cooperating Teacher to use by the start of the school day.

Also, if a supervisory visit has been scheduled for that day, you will need to notify the Supervisor of your absence and make arrangements for rescheduling. Excused absences must be made up! There are three days after the end of Student Teaching that have been set aside as make-up days.

Over the course of your Student Teaching, your Supervisor will visit your school a minimum of five times to observe and discuss your teaching performance. Your Supervisor will also schedule Midterm and Final conferences with you and your Cooperating Teacher. You must notify your Cooperating Teacher prior to each 15 of the University Supervisor’s scheduled visits. You must provide an advance copy of the lesson plan and instructional materials, including assessments, to the University Supervisor to use during the planned observation. Note: Supervisors or others from the WLTE program may also make unannounced visits at any time during your Student Teaching, so you should always have your lesson plans at hand. After each scheduled observation visit, Student Teachers will also need time to meet with their Supervisor for a post-observation conference. It is the responsibility of the Student Teacher to coordinate conferencing times and locations for post-observation conferences. Note to Cooperating Personnel: Supervisors may also wish to meet with the CT upon concluding the post-observation conference with the Student Teacher.

You may serve as substitute teacher if your Cooperating Teacher is absent, provided that you possess a Substitute Teacher license from the Illinois State Board of Education and you are being recognized by the school district as an employee for that class period. Please inform your University Supervisor and the Director of WLTE of the specific dates and times that you serve as a Substitute Teacher employee of the school district where you are placed.

Do not transport students in your personal vehicle! Become familiar with and follow all district policies regarding student transportation.

Avoid administering medications of any sort to students. Refer to school policy for how to assist students who require medicine. Be sure to follow correct procedures in dealing with emergencies, especially those involving direct contact with blood or other body fluids. Refer to your Blood Borne Pathogens training.

You are required to keep an accurate record of the time you spend in teaching and other professional activities during Student Teaching. Because the time report is an official requirement for licensure, it is imperative that you establish a daily timekeeping routine and then submit your time online each week at the “Student Portal” on the CoTE website: http://www.cote.illinois.edu/
 

Substitute Teaching:

UIUC Student Teachers may serve as substitute teachers and receive compensation from the school district. However, the following limitations apply:

1. Student Teachers may only serve as substitute teachers in place of their Cooperating Teacher and in their placement classroom. They cannot serve as substitute teacher for any other school staff.
2. If a Student Teacher covers any class period as a substitute teacher, the Student Teacher is no longer an agent of the University of Illinois and is acting as an agent of the School District. The Student Teacher must report to the WLTE director the dates and exact times that they served as a substitute teacher and not as an agent of the University.
3. Student Teachers must follow School District limits on the number of hours that Student Teachers can serve as substitute teachers.

Part I:  CoTE Expectations for all UIUC Pre-service Teacher Candidates during Student Teaching

Professional Conduct and Respect

UIUC Student Teachers must adhere to the following rules, regulations, and guidelines:

• Treat all students with respect.
• Treat Cooperating Teachers and all other school personnel with respect.
• Treat all Professional Education Preparation and WLTE program personnel with respect.

Confidentiality

UIUC Student Teachers must maintain the confidentiality of school-related experiences pertaining to school personnel, fellow Candidates, classroom students, records, charts, and cumulative folder data in both oral and written communications.

Professional Dress

UIUC Student Teachers must follow the dress code, whether written or unwritten, of the school. Dress with taste and appropriateness, which means avoiding apparel such as tank tops, low cut blouses or tops that expose cleavage, low riding slacks/pants, and jeans with holes. Appropriate dress also includes covering tattoos as well as removing studs from the tongue, cheek, or nose.

Substance Abuse

UIUC Student Teachers have the same responsibility as contracted personnel to follow, abide by, and enforce rules against possession and consumption of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and chemical substances.

Sexual Harassment

UIUC pre-service teacher Candidates must adhere to each of the following:

• Refrain from any type of romantic or sexual relationship or inappropriate behavior with students and/or other school personnel.
• Have the same responsibility as contracted personnel to follow, abide by, and enforce policies governing any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, reference to gender or sexual orientation or other physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature.
• Strictly follow the school district’s anti-harassment policy.

Child Abuse

UIUC teacher Candidates must:

• Know the signs and roles of educators in recognizing and reporting cases of child harassment/abuse which includes physical, emotional, sexual, and/or neglect.
• Follow the school district’s policies for reporting concerns and observations regarding abuse.

Corporal Punishment

UIUC teacher Candidates must NOT administer corporal punishment nor serve as a witness to such.  According to the 2002 Illinois School Code, Section ILCS 5/24-24, teachers may not engage in slapping, paddling or prolonged maintenance of students in physically painful positions, and/or in intentional infliction of bodily harm. 

Internet Safety and Photographic Images 

UIUC teacher Candidates must follow and enforce the school district’s policies for Internet Safety and analog or digital photographs/visual images of students.  These images will not be used in commercial products or sold to the public. 

Appropriate Internet Behavior (personal)

Be aware of your online presence (Facebook, X, Reddit, and other social media sites).  Review and remove inappropriate photos and text as needed.  Aside from appearing unprofessional, inappropriate postings could jeopardize future job prospects.  Remember that your passwords are your personal property; school administrators and/or employers cannot compel you to provide access to them as a condition of your placement or (future) employment. 

Additional Information

Transporting Students

UIUC Student Teachers MUST NOT:

• Transport students in private vehicles.
• Transport students to and from school-sanctioned activities in school vehicles.

Part II: Teacher Candidate Common Requirements during Student Teaching

The following are CoTE common requirements for UIUC teacher Candidates during their Student Teaching experience.  Candidates must comply with all other program-defined responsibilities in addition to these listed below. Student Teaching courses are graded S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory).

UIUC teacher Candidates must:

• comply with all of the expectations of the Council on Teacher Education (CoTE) during Student Teaching.
• satisfactorily meet expectations of the CoTE Common Student Teaching Evaluation form. http://www.cote.illinois.edu.
• be familiar with the Illinois Professional Educator Standards (IPES), Illinois Professional Teaching Standards (IPTS), Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) Standards, the ACTFL World Readiness Standards for Learning Languages, and the Danielson Framework for Teaching.

Teacher Candidates must also meet all requirements of their programs to earn a satisfactory grade in Student Teaching. The satisfactory completion of Student Teaching is one of the CoTE requirements for recommendation for licensure. Occasionally, teacher Candidates do not fulfill course requirements and should receive a grade of “U.”  Typical reasons for such a grade are the result of the Candidate

• failing to do what is required throughout the Student Teaching experience
• repeatedly exercising poor personal and professional judgment leading to diminished effectiveness
• demonstrating poor instructional performance throughout the clinical experience
• remaining unable or unwilling to meet the time demands of Student Teaching, including recommendations of the Supervisor

Remediation of a Candidate’s weaknesses must be attempted as soon as the areas of weakness can be identified.  Options for the Candidate, such as extra time or an additional experience, are discussed on a case-by-case basis. 

Student Teaching courses are graded S/U  (satisfactory/unsatisfactory), and satisfactory completion  of Student Teaching  is one  of the  CoTE requirements  for  recommendation  for licensure. According to CoTE, students must meet the following requirements to earn a Satisfactory grade:

• Receive no scores of "Needs Improvement" on the Danielson Evaluations submitted by the University Supervisor.
• Complete all record keeping responsibilities, such as but not limited to submitting time reports for approval by cooperating teachers and supervisors.

Occasionally,  teacher  candidates  do  not  fulfill requirements  and receive a grade of "U."  Typical  reasons for such a grade are  the   result of  the  Candidate: a)  failing  to  do what  is required  throughout  the  Student Teaching experience, 2) repeatedly exercising poor personal and professional judgment leading to diminished effectiveness, 3) demonstrating poor instructional performance throughout the  clinical  experience, and/or 4) remaining unable or unwilling to meet the time demands of Student Teaching, including recommendations of  the Supervisor.

Remediation  of a  Candidate's  weaknesses  must  be attempted as soon as the areas of weakness  can  be identified.  Options for the  Candidate, such as extra  time or an  additional  experience,  are  discussed  on a case-by-case basis.

Removal from Student Teaching
Removal from Student Teaching can occur by request of the Cooperating Teacher, the University Supervisor, school district officials, including the building Principal, District Superintendent, Curriculum Coordinator, or the Director of Human Resources. Student Teachers should share classroom concerns/problems with their University Supervisor as the first line of communication. If a satisfactory resolution is not reached, the issue
will be referred to the WLTE Program Director. Removal can also occur due to, but not limited to, excessive absences, inappropriate behavior or insubordination, and/or failure to meet course/program requirements.

Candidates who are removed from Student Teaching (EDPR 442) will not be placed at another school site. As a result, they will be unable to complete the BAT/WLTE licensure program. Candidates who do not complete the program WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR A TEACHING LICENSE.

Work Stoppages in the District of the Field Site: 

UIUC Student Teachers are to assume the role of neutral persons and to maintain an uninvolved status with respect to a work stoppage.   

UIUC Student Teachers:

• Shall not be required to cross picket lines or supervise classes when such action would constitute a breaking of the work stoppage.
• May, at their discretion, attend teachers’ association meetings, faculty meetings, school board meetings, and other gatherings concerning the work stoppage only in the role of an interested observer.
• Who chose to participate on either side of the work stoppage shall do so as individuals and not as Student Teachers or any pre-service Candidates from UIUC.  The UIUC disclaims any liability or responsibility for any action or the consequences of any action taken by such individuals and their participation.

WLTE Absence Policy  

Each Student Teacher has been allotted three personal days to be used for personal illness/family emergency*, professional development or professional conferences, job interviews, or attendance at job fairs. 

Mandatory WLTE workshops do not count as absences.

For absences due to illness or injury, documentation from a medical office, such as McKinley Student Health Center, is REQUIRED to be submitted to the Cooperating Teacher and University Supervisor upon return to the school site.  Acceptable documentation will be written on the medical office’s letterhead stationery.

Any absences beyond the three (3) personal days must be made up in order to complete Student Teaching and be eligible for licensure.

Any Student Teacher who misses more than six (6) days of Student Teaching will be:

a) unable to remain in their placement

b) unable to complete the program during Spring Semester 2026

c) ineligible for licensure until Student Teaching is successfully completed

Further Absence and Attendance Information

UIUC Teacher Candidates must:

• be on time every day to school every day for the full term of the Student Teaching course.
• inform the Cooperating Teacher when the University Supervisor and/or other professionals are scheduled to make a classroom visit.
• follow the school’s calendar regarding holidays, in-service/professional development programs and activities, parent-teacher conferences, and daily start/end times. The school district calendar takes precedence over the UIUC calendar.
• notify their current Cooperating Teacher and the University Supervisor in case of illness or emergency. Make sure to report the absence to your University Supervisor on the same day as your absence!
• provide instructional materials and lesson plans that will be needed to teach that day’s lessons.
• make up missed Student Teaching days. If absences exceed six (i.e., three personal days plus three additional absences), the Teacher Candidate will be removed from their placement and clinical experience will end.

Removal from Student Teaching
Removal from Student Teaching can occur by request of the Cooperating Teacher, the University Supervisor, school district officials, including the building Principal, District Superintendent, Curriculum Coordinator, or the Director of Human Resources. Student Teachers should share classroom concerns/problems with their University Supervisor as the first line of communication. If a satisfactory resolution is not reached, the issue
will be referred to the WLTE Program Director. Removal can also occur due to, but not limited to, excessive absences, inappropriate behavior or insubordination, and/or failure to meet course/program requirements.

Candidates who are removed from Student Teaching (EDPR 442) will not be placed at another school site. As a result, they will be unable to complete the BAT/WLTE licensure program. Candidates who do not complete the program WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR A TEACHING LICENSE.

Working with your Cooperating Teacher, you will agree on a take-over schedule. You will assume gradual responsibility for the Cooperating Teacher's full class load, starting one level at a time and continuing until you take over their full load. Full takeover should happen no later than the sixth week of Student Teaching. In most cases, it happens during the first 3-4 weeks.

You should develop your lesson plans and instructional activities fully in order to ensure that students achieve the desired learning outcomes. Your lesson planning and delivery should reflect thorough knowledge of your content area and pedagogy.

Be sure to maintain open communication with your Cooperating Teacher. Inform them ahead of time when your Supervisor and/or other professionals are scheduled to make a classroom visit.

Removal from Student Teaching

Removal from Student Teaching can occur by request of the Cooperating Teacher, the University Supervisor, school district officials, including the building Principal, District Superintendent, Curriculum Coordinator, or the Director of Human Resources. Student Teachers should share classroom concerns/problems with their University Supervisor as the first line of communication. If a satisfactory resolution is not reached, the issue will be referred to the WLTE Program Director. Removal can also occur due to, but not limited to, excessive absences, inappropriate behavior or insubordination, and/or failure to meet course/program requirements.

Candidates who are removed from Student Teaching (EDPR 442) will not be placed at another school site. As a result, they will be unable to complete the BAT/WLTE licensure program. Candidates who do not complete the program WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR A TEACHING LICENSE.

Over the course of your Student Teaching, a University Supervisor will visit the class a minimum of five times to observe and discuss the Student-Teacher's performance. The Supervisor will also schedule midterm and final conferences with the Student-Teacher and the Cooperating Teacher.

The Student-Teacher must...

• ...notify the Cooperating Teacher prior to each of the University Supervisor's scheduled visits.
• ...provide an advance copy of the lesson plan and instructional materials, including assessments, to the University Supervisor to use during the planned observation.

Note: other WLTE program personnel may also make unannounced visits at any time during your Student Teaching, so you should always have your lesson plans at hand.

After each scheduled observation visit, Student-Teachers will also need time to meet with their Supervisor for a post-observation conference.  It is the  responsibility of the Student Teacher  to coordinate conferencing  times and locations for post-observation conferences.