The State of Wisconsin mandates satisfactory performance in a minimum of 100 hours of field experience activities before students can be approved to student teach. These experiences must be “developmental in scope and sequence and occur in a variety of school settings” (PI 34.15). Field experiences are designed to provide students with opportunities to work with pupils from diverse ethnic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds in Milwaukee area schools.

Students must meet Marquette’s requirements, which are higher than the state's, and specific hours are assigned to different courses.

There are four formal and separate field experiences in the College of Education teacher preparation program.

Field Experience I

Both elementary and secondary majors (20 hours): Taken with EDUC 2227

In this first field experience, students will participate in activities that focus on the following:

  • Exposure to urban environment
  • Interviews with teachers and administrators
  • Tutoring and working with individual and small groups of students
  • Structured observations to identify and understand:
    • Classroom management
    • Creating a learning climate
    • Lesson planning
    • Instructional methods
    • Meeting the needs of diverse students
    • Assessing student learning

Field Experience II

Elementary majors (20 hours): Taken with EDUC 4217, EDUC 4347, 4317 or 4337, MATH 2031/EDUC 1964

Secondary majors (40 hours): Taken with EDUC 4217 and EDUC 4037

In this field experience, students will participate in activities that focus on the following:

  • Identifying literacy and language needs of a specific group of learners -
  • Planning and implementing literacy-focused lessons across content areas -
  • Planning for differentiated instruction -
  • Use of students’ prior academic learning and personal/cultural/community assets in planning and instruction -
  • Planning assessments to monitor and support student learning.

Field Experience III

Elementary Majors (40 hours): Taken with EDUC 4297, EDUC 4357, 4317or 4337, MATH 2032, EDUC 2964

Secondary Majors (40 hours): Taken with EDUC 4297

During this field experience, students will participate in activities that focus on the following:

  • Creating a positive learning environment that supports students’ engagement in learning
  • Planning and implementing lessons and content area units of instruction using a variety of teaching methods,
  • Including direct instruction, inquiry, and cooperative learning
    Integrating technology across the curriculum
  • Differentiation of instruction
  • Engaging students in critical thinking
  • Using assessment evidence to evaluate and change teaching practice

Field Experience IV

Elementary Majors (30 hours): Taken with EDUC 4964 (in the Hartman Literacy Center after-school program)

Secondary Majors (40 hours): Taken with Advanced Methods

During this field experience and student teaching, students will participate in activities that focus on the following:

  • Creating a positive learning environment that supports students’ engagement in learning
  • Assessing students in classroom activities
  • Using assessment data to plan and implement lessons and content area units of instruction
  • Providing effective feedback to students
  • Integrating technology across the curriculum
  • Participating in parent-teacher conferences
  • Collaborating with school faculty
  • Identifying areas for growth and professional development

Student Teaching

All Marquette University Student Teachers:

  • Have passed all required content area tests (Praxis II and/ or Foundations of Reading test) prior to student teaching
  • Have undergone background checks through Marquette University and MPS prior to student teaching
  • Have completed 100+ hours of field work in schools prior to student teaching
  • Must complete a full semester of student teaching, with 7-9 weeks of independent teaching under the supervision of his/ her cooperating teacher(s)
  • Are supervised and evaluated by university supervisors with extensive public school experience, dedicated to teacher mentoring
  • Have a TB screening test completed prior to student teaching