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The field experiences within the ¾Å¾ÅÊÓƵ Teacher Education Program are purposeful, unique, and provide teaching candidates multiple opportunities to build their teaching skills and confidence in teaching. Both the undergraduate-level and graduate-level teacher education programs offered at ¾Å¾ÅÊÓƵ involve a semester-long culminating internship where teaching candidates are placed with a seasoned teacher in classroom.

To prepare our teaching candidates for their culminating internship, we offer a diverse set of practical field experiences early and often throughout their course coursework. ¾Å¾ÅÊÓƵ teaching candidates average over 400 hours of authentic teaching experience before completing the program. 

Tidewater Collegiate Academy: This on-campus lab school provides early access to authentic teaching experiences for ¾Å¾ÅÊÓƵ teaching candidates. In the picture below, elementary teaching candidates develop and implement hands-on learning experiences for TCA lower school students.

Downstream Collaborative Project: Each spring semester, over 100 fourth graders from Virginia Beach City Public Schools travel to campus for an interdisciplinary experience with an environmental theme. ¾Å¾ÅÊÓƵ candidates lead several of the hands-on learning stations with state-of-the-art technology.

Virginia Wesleyan Environmental Institute: Summer Scholars: This on-campus environmental science program provides 20 high-achieving, rising 9th grade females an immersive science experience. Summer programs like this allow for paid internships for select ¾Å¾ÅÊÓƵ teaching candidates. Past ¾Å¾ÅÊÓƵ interns have led innovative instruction during this camp and taken part in researching the impacts of innovative curriculum.

Course specific experiences: Faculty have developed strong partnerships with several schools in the area in order to develop meaningful teaching and learning experiences for both ¾Å¾ÅÊÓƵ teaching candidates and K-12 students.

Practicum Experiences: Traditional teacher education programs leave field placement to chance. ¾Å¾ÅÊÓƵ faculty and select schools work together to place each teaching candidate purposefully with a high-quality cooperating teacher.

Camp Red Feather: ¾Å¾ÅÊÓƵ teaching candidates cultivate an effective behavior management plan while developing a positive learning atmosphere on campus for participants of Camp Red Feather.