Center for Professional Practice

INFORMATION FOR INTERNS

Expectations for Interns

BASIC PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR

                 In the PDS setting, interns will be treated professionally and they are expected to display professional behavior at all times. It is vital that you display professional conduct crucial at ALL TIMES. The following rules for professional conduct and behavior should be adhered to at all times while you are present in the school.

1. Dress appropriately at all times. On your first day at the school, over dress. Then, look at what the teachers are wearing and dress appropriately. You should wear comfortable clothes but blue jeans, tank tops, low cut blouses, etc are unacceptable. If you have questions, ask.
   
   
2. Arrive at school early enough to prepare for the day but no later than the scheduled arrival time for teachers. Leave school when you have prepared for your next visit but no earlier than the scheduled dismissal time for teachers. On your field experience days, you have one objective, to fulfill all responsibilities to your classroom. This objective takes precedence over all other activities or commitments. Permission to leave early or arrive late must be approved in advance by the supervising teacher. If you must be late, then it is your responsibility to call the school and inform them of your anticipated arrival time. Failure to do so is a serious breach of professional conduct. Absences from field experience days should not occur. Expect that you are extremely ill and unable to perform in order to miss one day.
   
   
3. Develop a cooperative spirit with your supervising teacher. The supervising teacher is a wealth of experience, information and insight. Since you have much to learn, use the school based personnel in a manner that will make your experience productive and successful. Ask questions when you do not understand. Remember that it is better to sound a little silly with an early question, than it is to look foolish and very dumb in front of the children when you are teaching. In addition, the supervising teacher can be an excellent source for a recommendation when you are applying for a teaching position. Always treat them with respect.
   
   
4. Establish good interpersonal relationships with all school personnel. Learn the names of the secretaries and other school personnel. Become a team member and learn how the school works as a community. Attend PTA meetings, faculty meetings or staff development sessions if they are scheduled on your field day or if they are convenient on other days. Nothing impresses a teacher or principal more than to see a student volunteer their own time for special events, to go beyond the expected or the ordinary.
   
   
5. Respond to constructive criticism in a positive manner. As an educator, you will spend a lifetime giving constructive criticism to your students and receiving it from your peers and supervisors. Learning to deal with constructive criticism now will help you to use it in a positive manner.
   
   
6. Be prepared to work hard and complete all assignments on time. Remember that the children will not forgive you if you come to class unprepared.
   
   
7. Make sure that the supervising teacher approves all lesson plans, in advance. The supervising teacher should initial each lesson plan before you put it in your portfolio.