About the Internship
You are required to complete a student teaching internship in order to be recommended for state licensure. You must complete your internship in a classroom that corresponds with your primary program of study. If you elect to complete an optional add-on license, you will engage in additional fieldwork experiences related to your add-on content area (ESL or Special Education).
You will be placed in a local school and paired with a mentor teacher in your specialty area for a total of 16 weeks (14 weeks during the semester of your internship, plus an additional 2 weeks of practicum experience). All placements are made collaboratively with district partners, guided (though not guaranteed) by your preference. Generally students are interning within 40 miles of Chapel Hill and are expected to arrange their own transportation.
During your internship, you will be expected to teach your own lessons, aid and observe your mentor teacher in their lessons, and participate in lesson planning, grading, and all other aspects of teaching and classroom management. Your mentor teacher will in turn provide feedback and encouragement based on their observations of your teaching skills. In addition, you will work with a University Supervisor (UNC faculty) who will also conduct teaching observations and who will act as an advisor and resource to you as you develop your teaching practice.
Internship Regulations
The University and the School of Education have established certain regulations that will help interns work more effectively with mentor teachers. Regulations require interns to adhere to the following:
- Observe the same hours required for teachers while on assignment in schools.
- Follow the local school calendar during the semester in place of the university’s calendar.
- Become a member of the faculty throughout the student teaching internship. Participate in official school functions such as faculty meetings, in-service training programs, teacher workdays, parent meetings, etc.
Note: Interns may NOT sub for a licensed teacher without another licensed employee in the room. They may do the actual teaching, but cannot be paid if the University is in session.