Practicum pairs: an alternative for first field experience in early childhood teacher education

Peer Mentoring: A Way Forward for Supporting Preservice Efl Teachers Psychosocially During the Practicum

“…In pre-service teacher education in general, and EFL teacher education in particular, the school-based practicum experience has been identified as one of the most critical components for preparing future teachers (Cruickshank & Westbrook, 2013;Dang, 2013;Farrell, 2001;Walsh & Elmslie, 2005). However, a growing body of research has indicated a number of problems preservice teachers face during their practicum.…”

Teaching Partners: Enhancing the Practicum Experience

“…This process, as Walsh and Wilkins [6] reported, can provide student teachers with ample opportunities to learn (before their first practicum) about how to facilitate a paired partnership and ways to cooperate as they learn and teach together. They will also learn skills suitable for them to use when they work together on paired or group tasks during academic classes.…”

“…This was a recommendation in several studies [2] [3] [4] [6], and it proved to be helpful as all participants reported that they were treated as a pair by their associates and the children. At the same time, student teachers also received feedback from their associate about individual lessons.…”

“…Unlike other studies [6] [7] [8] [11], participants were not partnered using specific criteria such as academic ability, gender, interests or study address location, or asked to select their own teaching partner. Fortunately, there were no areas for concern within the four partnerships in terms of difficulties sustaining a professional relationship.…”

“…Walsh and Elmslie [6] identified practical features and organizational principles to drive the implementation of practicum pairs as an alternative approach for student teachers' first practicum in Australian early childhood centers. Their project included thorough briefings and preparation for the classroom teacher and the students.…”