As teacher candidates navigate their way through a TBR university teacher education program that includes a clinical residency, it is of paramount importance that we provide them the professional support they need to ensure that they will be effective teachers from the first day they enter the classroom as professional educators. The Ready2Teach program will provide such support through guidance by experts who play vital roles in the preparation of teacher candidates.
These experts function in three categories: university faculty, master clinicians, and mentor teachers.
- University faculty and supervisors, as highly qualified instructors in a teacher education program, will model best professional practices. Such practices include differentiated instruction, problem-based learning strategies, and frequent use of formative assessment. They also collaborate with their colleagues in the academic disciplines, as well as those in school settings.
- Master Clinicians are expert teachers who have had a variety of teaching experiences in P-12 schools as well as higher education. They serve as liaisons to promote positive relationships between local school systems and universities. Master clinicians share their expertise by teaching field-based courses, working with teacher mentors, conducting workshops and seminars, facilitating performance assessments, and providing leadership for teacher candidates during their year of residency. By demonstrating research-based practices and helping to improve student outcomes, master clinicians prepare and equip future teachers to have a positive impact on student performance from the first time they enter the classroom.
- Mentor teachers, previously referred to as “cooperating teachers,” provide direct support and guidance to teacher candidates within the classroom during their school-based clinical residency. Mentor teachers must themselves be effective practitioners and exhibitors of the skills of clinical educators.
