Field Experience Ladder

    This Field Experience Ladder outlines the activities appropriate for students enrolled in the courses listed below.

    St. Olaf Course and Hours Required

    Types of Activities Appropriate for Student Enrolled in This Course

    ED 389: Student Teaching
    14 weeks

    Teach, Co-Teach

    ED 3xx: Teaching of Content Area (Juniors/Seniors)
    Approximately 10-20 hours

    Assist, Tutor, Teach a Lesson

    Level 3 January Terms (Juniors/Seniors)

    • ED 378 (Hawaii)
    • ED 379 (Twin Cities)

    3-4 weeks

    Assist, Tutor, Co-teach a Lesson
    (If placement is in student’s content area)

    Reading (Juniors/Seniors)

    • ED 374: Reading in the Content Area
    • ED 321: Teaching of Reading 5-12 (Placement in a reading classroom)

    10 hours

    Observe, Assist, Tutor

    ED 340: Differentiating Instruction (Juniors/Seniors)

    (Placement in SPED classroom)

    10 hours

    Observe, Assist, Tutor

    ED 330: Planning, Instruction & Assessment (Sophomores)
    20 hours

    Assist, Tutor, Co-teach a Lesson

    ED 295: Foundations of Education (Sophomores)
    20 hours

    Observe, Assist, Tutor

    Level 1/2 January Terms:
    ED 170 (Minneapolis) 
    2 weeks

    ED 270 (Faribault) 
    4 weeks

    Observe, Assist, Tutor

    Observe: The student should observe the teacher’s methods and techniques, student behavior and interactions, and the learning environment in the classroom and school.

    Assist: The student should assist the teacher with instructional (e.g. distributing materials, grading papers) and non-instructional activities (e.g. taking attendance, making progress charts.)

    Tutor: The student should work with individuals and/or small groups.

    Co-teach: Under supervision, the student should teach a teacher-planned lesson to the entire class.

    Teach: Under supervision, the student should teach a student-planned lesson to the entire class.