Newberry College

The Newberry College Teacher Education Community provides each candidate the opportunity to become a highly qualified teacher who is a caring, reflective, life-long learner with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to instruct future generations of students.

Conceptual Framework Guiding Principles

Best Practice

The teacher candidate applies appropriate current research and various methodologies to teaching accurate and comprehensive content in the field of specialization.

Collaboration

The teacher candidate works with all stake holders to provide a safe, nurturing, and positive learning environment for every student.

Diversity

The teacher candidate recognizes the differences among individuals and cultures and adapts broad-based content and instructional techniques that provide for the needs of all learners.

Ethics

The teacher candidate accepts responsibility for choices and actions, respects the worth of each individual, and follows professional standards of behavior in interactions with all stakeholders.

Content

The teacher candidate demonstrates mastery of knowledge in the specific subject areas.

Knowledge, skills, and dispositions that form the foundation for the Teacher Education Program are derived from the Conceptual Framework, state, and professional standards. The Newberry College Conceptual Framework is multi-dimensional and contains outcomes that

• Represent the evolution of the teacher candidate at four stages of progress:
  • Emerging
  • Developing
  • Practicing and
  • Becoming a Professional
• Across five guiding themes:
  • Content
  • Diversity
  • Collaboration
  • Ethics
  • Best Practice
• And within four learning domains:
  • Planning
  • Instruction
  • Classroom Environment
  • Professionalism

In order to accomplish this mission, the unit has set up 4 transition points (called Stages of Progress) to allow for appropriate and multiple assessment of candidates throughout the program.

Stages of Progress

First stage - Emerging as a Teacher

Candidates explore the teaching profession by completing the first 3 education classes,EDU224,EDU230, and EDU232, enrolling in core classes and exploring introductory classes in their respective majors. Every candidate in this stage spends a minimum of 36 hours in clinical experiences. At the end of the Emerging Stage, the student applies for admission to the teacher education program.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program is required before a candidate can enroll in 300 and 400 level teacher education classes. To apply for admission, the Admission Essay Writing Prompt and Rubric  must be submitted and you have completed 45 credit hours, passed PRAXIS I or Exempt, have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above and have completed EDU224, EDU230, and EDU 232.  

Second stage -The Developing Stage

Candidates who have been admitted to the Teacher Education Program enroll in methods classes and clinical field experiences designed to prepare them for actual classroom teaching. During this phase, the candidates experience a minimum of 72 hours in the field prior to entering the next stage.

Third stage -The Practicing Stage - Internship

Candidates are placed in two different placements for 7 weeks each. Secondary candidates remain in one placement. Exiting this stage involves successful completion of the internship. To complete the internship semester, the candidate must have received passing scores on the Internship Final Evaluation, the Unit Work Sample, and the Culminating Portfolio.

To learn more about Internships, download the Internship Handbook.

Are you an education professional hosting an intern in your classroom?  Read our tips for helping to assimilate your intern into the classroom.

Fourth stage - Exiting the Program-Professional Teacher

Completion of all courses and degree requirements, passing the internship semester, passing required PRAXIS II exams for the major, maintaining positive dispositions and having a minimum 2.5 GPA.

View the Conceptual Framework Booklet

For more information about the Teacher Education Community, stop by the McClurg Center for Learning, room 212, or call 1-800-845-4955 ext. 5201.