Office of Field Experiences
Clinical Teaching Information
Clinical teaching is an integral part of our teacher education program; it is a major requirement for initial teaching certification in Texas. The clinical teaching assignment is the final demonstration by students of their ability to perform successfully as beginning teachers. It is the time teacher candidates apply what they have learned in their teacher preparation courses to actual classrooms.
During the academic year 2021-2022, Lyford CISD, in collaboration with members of the UTRGV teacher preparation program, piloted a co-created Yearlong Clinical Teaching Residency. As a result of this pilot, UTRGV will begin to offer Fall 2022 two paths for completing clinical teaching: the Traditional Clinical Teaching semester and the Yearlong Clinical Teaching Residency.
The Traditional Clinical Teaching semester is a full-time commitment. It is 15 weeks, full-day, full-time, approved school-based assignment. Admission to the Traditional Clinical Teaching pathway must be requested by formal application during the semester before the teacher candidate plans to teach.
The Yearlong Clinical Teaching Residency is a two semesters program in which residents co-teach alongside a master teacher in a P-6 classroom while completing teaching methods courses. Under the mentorship of master teachers and university faculty, teacher residents engage in-deep clinical training which allows for multiple guided opportunities to practice their teaching skills while receiving financial compensation, in most cases. Teacher residents must be admitted into the clinical teaching residency pathway. During the first semester of the residency, teacher candidates/residents will be required to attend their assigned placement 3 full days a week and 2 days will be designated to complete UTRGV course requirements. Initial requirements for the second semester of the clinical teaching residency pathway will entail having candidates complete 4 full days a week at the assigned placement and 1 day a week completing UTRGV coursework. Candidates will then be transitioned during the semester to complete 3 weeks of five full days at their assigned placement. Teacher candidate/residents will be expected to follow the school district’s academic calendar.
Applications to the Yearlong Clinical Teaching Residency pathway must be completed during the second semester admitted into the teacher education program.
Clinical teachers and cooperating teachers are responsible for reviewing information contained in the Clinical Teaching Program Handbook.
