Pre-service teachers often express a strong desire for more practical experience in teacher education, which requires teacher educators to consider new, meaningful opportunities for field experiences. This paper aims to bridge the gap between two 'practice worlds' - university teacher education and school practice - based on the example of the…

The effectiveness of teacher-preparation programs to produce high-quality teachers has been an issue of concern for a long time. Teachers play a significant role in shaping students' academic achievement and social-emotional growth. Therefore, it is critical to focus on how teacher education programs, especially the field placement component,…

A goal of university undergraduate early childhood teacher preparation programs is to create meaningful experiences that allow teacher candidates to learn theory and evidence-based best practices they will carry into their classrooms as professional educators. They should have direct interactions with young learners to apply coursework to the real…

This qualitative research study was on a community project between a Southwestern public Teacher Education program and a local public-school district. The theoretical frame consisted of teacher reflective practices. Participants were 19 preservice teaches in their last semester before student-teaching. Data collection spanned the fall 2019 (13…

Concerns about the lack of connection between university-based teacher education courses and clinical experiences have long been shared. Practice-based teacher education has been offered as one way to connect these two aspects of teacher education closer together. However, descriptions about how to implement practice-based teacher education in…

This case examines the complex partnership between the university teacher education program and the host school district. Many factors contribute to the expectations and requirements of both institutions, which can at times, conflict in fundamental ways. The theoretical and research-based methods of early childhood coursework are often different…

Past research has growingly shown importance of teacher candidates' ability to connect theory and practice for applying what they have acquired in coursework into practice. This study examined 23 mathematics teacher candidates' (TCs) ability to link coursework and online mathematics teaching field experiences in a mathematics teacher education…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, issues regarding social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect were at amplified levels. Pacific Oaks College (PO) endeavored to keep its promise and maintain its mission and core values by connecting Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (Paris, 2012) with Engaged Pedagogy (Florence, 1998) to leverage critical…

Prior to the fall semester of 2017, the elementary preservice teachers who were enrolled in a science methods course engaged in a variety of field experiences across different settings, mostly informal. Beginning in the fall semester of 2017, students enrolled in this science methods course completed their field experience in formalized classroom…

In the fall of 2012, 11% (n=157) of clinical practice (i.e. student teaching) candidates at a metropolitan university were in jeopardy of not passing clinical practice. Public schools in the area began to voice their concerns, and placements of candidates became a challenge. As a result, the university re-envisioned the program, utilizing third…

An essential component of teacher preparation is clinical practice that allows teacher candidates (TCs) to observe, reflect upon, test their ideas, and adjust and improve their methods in classrooms. Weaknesses in the structure and organization between coursework and clinical practice in teacher preparation programs often present barriers from…

In this article, the authors reflect on Myrna's Children's Village, their university laboratory school located in southern New Mexico in the USA. The Village serves children from the age of six weeks to five years through an array of early childhood programs. This diversity provides a unique context, while also posing issues and concerns, such as…

In the United States during March and April of 2020, more than 50 million K-12 students were impacted by school closures with many forced to engage in online teaching for continuity in their 2019-2020 school year. This disruption to K-12 public and private schools reverberated in programs of teacher education around the country. As…

This research examined teacher candidate perceptions of a field experience that provided authentic opportunities for the candidates to bridge the theory and content from the methods classroom to their work with 6th grade students in an English language arts classroom. Candidates' perception of their growth and the experience was overwhelmingly…

A strategy for addressing persistent teacher shortages is to increase the number of viable teacher candidates enrolling in quality preparation programs from which candidates graduate ready for the classroom on day one. This research report, utilizing data collected through a review of the relevant literature and interviews with a convenience…