An underlying philosophy of the TNT program is that with extensive, individualized, and on-going coaching, the pre-service teacher's skills will improve at an accelerated rate. Our Apprentice Teaching Program illustrates this belief. Apprentice Teachers not only benefit from the mentorship of their assigned classroom teachers--they also receive extensive feedback from trained observers with vast teaching experience a minimum of 10 times during the semester. All observations of the Apprentice Teacher throughout the semester focus on parts of a larger cohesive document called the Teacher Development Rubric (TDR), which is aligned with the state standards. Because Apprentice Teachers have experience teaching at various levels in previous TNT courses, they assume teaching responsibilities quickly in their final teaching semester and maintain their role as teacher for the equivalent of two six-week grading periods. Furthermore, students attend a weekly seminar on campus which focuses on two state standards (per week) for new teachers. Apprentice Teachers then demonstrate competency in meeting highlighted state standards through their performance in the classroom each week.

The purpose of Apprentice Teaching is to offer TNT students a culminating experience that provides them with the tools needed for their first teaching jobs. In Apprentice Teaching, students are immersed in the expectations, processes, and rewards of teaching. When making placements, we consider each TNT Apprentice Teacher's characteristics and abilities as well as the Cooperating Teacher's teaching and mentoring styles. Our hope is that the complementary strengths of the TNT Apprentice Teacher and Cooperating Teacher will generate a synergism that benefits both people professionally.
TNT reinforces and augments teaching strategies that students have developed throughout their coursework and field experiences. The program also attempts to fill any gaps in students' professional development. In particular, TNT focuses on:

• Classroom management and time management strategies

• Parent-teacher communication strategies

• School culture and school dynamics that make up an effective middle school and high school system

• Legal and logistical issues in teaching

• Final portfolio

• State certification examinations

Because TNT students engage in numerous field experiences prior to the apprentice teaching, TNT Student Teachers assume a teaching role very early in the semester. They also explore professional development opportunities beyond the classroom, including attending conferences, subscribing to education journals, joining professional organizations, and conducting presentations in educational settings. Our goal is to provide the experiences, information, and coaching that will enable them to be successful teachers as well as leaders in their schools and communities.

Prerequisite(s):

Concurrent enrollment in EDSE 4608, 4618, 4628, completion of all degree requirements, and current gpa of 2.5 or greater.