Placements

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Resources

• Practicum Handbook

• Active Observation Log Book

List of School Boards

1. Primary-Junior: Candidates will be assigned at least one placement in JK-grade 3 (Primary), and one in grades 4-6 (Junior).
2. Junior-Intermediate: Candidates will be assigned at least one placement in grades 4-6 (Junior), and one in grades 7-8 (Intermediate) in the teachable area if possible. Placements in grades 9 and 10 (Intermediate) may be made if Associate Teachers are available.
3. Intermediate-Senior: Candidates will be assigned at least one placement in grades 7-10 (Intermediate) and one in grades 11-12 (Senior), with one in each of the teachable areas if possible. Although it is not required that you get a placement to teach in each of your teachable areas, we do our best to find you placements in both your teachable subjects.

All school boards require candidates to have a Police Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening for all practicum placements. You are required to obtain the PRC/VSS from your local police jurisdiction – based on your Home/Permanent address. OPP and Toronto Police Services require a specific form from the Faculty of Education. If you require such a form to obtain the PRC, please email wbernier@uwo.ca to request the form.

The PRC/VSS should indicate Western University as the requesting agency, and the purpose of the PRC/VSS is Student Practicum or Student Placement.

Please note: We cannot accept police checks obtained from THIRD PARTIES. They must be obtained directly from your local police services department.

The PRC/VSS must be valid for 6 months, that INCLUDES the last day of the placement. For example, a placement block that ends Dec. 20 must be dated June 20 or later, so that it remains valid until the end of the placement period.

Once candidates receive their PRC/VSS they must upload it to InPlace for verification. Failure to submit your police check within two weeks of the start of placement, may result in your practicum placement being delayed.

Candidates are required to keep the original VSS/PRC and have it available with them during Practicum. In some situations, you will be asked to provide a copy to the Board.

• This program has high expectations for the candidates.  Teaching is a profession characterized by the educational expertise and knowledge you will develop in the program; the ethical standards that guide the profession; a focus on service orientation and teachers’ abilities to prioritize the well-being and learning of all students; the professional development that you will continuously be expected to participate in; and public trust and accountability that you will be entrusted with, holding you accountable for actions and decisions.
• Candidates are expected to uphold the standards and regulations outlined in The Education Act of the Province of Ontario, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and Western University and the Faculty of Education policies and codes of conduct. Teacher candidates must demonstrate high levels of academic and professional integrity.
• Teacher candidates are associate members of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) and must be aware of their responsibilities listed in the Teaching Profession Act.
• Essential Skills and Abilities Requirement: Teacher Candidates must be able to demonstrate responsibility for the physical safety, psychological health, and educational well-being of students in schools. They must possess the cognitive, communicative, sensory/motor, emotional/social/interactional abilities necessary for these complex activities.  
• Faculty of Education Attendance & Course Work Requirement: The Initial Teacher Education Program has a MANDATORY ATTENDANCE POLICY. Unexcused absences, non-participation in classes, and incomplete or unsatisfactory assignments or other course requirements, or instances of professional unsuitability, are grounds for denying a practicum placement. This includes attendance in the Transition to the Profession (T2P) series and MTM sessions.
• Time Commitment: The Initial Teacher Education program requires a full-time commitment. When you are on Practicum, you will be onsite for the full school day as per their hours. When you are on Campus, the schedule is more demanding than an undergraduate program. Please note: We have a Mandatory Attendance Policy (included in this handbook).
• Stay Informed: It is important that you understand and develop the professional responsibility of staying informed. You are responsible for reading and being aware of all Faculty of Education policies and expectations. Read all syllabi, bulletins, emails, newsletters, etc. The Teacher Education Office shares updates and information in a variety of ways – email, newsletters, announcements InPlace.
• Plan: This is a professional program and as such, requires candidates to be committed to managing multiple demands of school, placement, and family. Travel needs, day care, and work commitments must be carefully managed by candidates to be successful in the program and on placement. The program requires a full-time commitment to classes and practicum.
• Use of Social Media: The Ontario College of Teachers has an advisory Maintaining Professionalism: Use of
  Electronic Communication and Social Media. This is intended to help teachers at all levels/stages to understand their professional boundaries and responsibilities in the appropriate use of electronic communications and social media. It is your responsibility to know the information provided by the OCT in this advisory.