Block Admittance

In order to go into student teaching, all Elementary and Secondary education students are required to first go through a series of courses (Block) that both prepares you for the classroom and gives you practical experience in a classroom setting.

Elementary "Block" consists of five courses taken simultaneously in the semester before student teaching. Students are not allowed to take any other courses in conjunction with these five courses due to the time commitments required. Alongside the five courses, students will also be spending time in three different practicum settings.

Secondary "Block" consists of two courses taken together, usually in the semester before student teaching. Alongside the two courses, students will be required to participate in various practicum settings.

Please be aware that SUU does not provide out-of-state placements for Block.

To be admitted to "Block"

First things first: Elementary students will need to be admitted to the College of Education before you can be admitted to Block. 

Block Application

  • Application
  • Current 3.0 GPA is Required
  • All paperwork completed before being registered for "Block"
  • All Admitted Program coursework completed
  • No out of state or out of country applications will be accepted at this time.

For Elementary Education Students:

All SUU Elementary Education students desiring to be recommended for licensure must take the Utah Foundations for Reading assessment. Information about the test can be found at https://www.ut.nesinc.com/ . Please take the Utah Foundations for Reading Assessment after you have taken EDRG 3010. This course will provide you with the content to do well on the required assessment. The EDRG 2520 and 3010 Texts are other good prep for the assessment.

A passing score of 234 on the literacy assessment is required before you can be enrolled in the elementary block.

During the 2022-23 school year, the test is free for students with a voucher. To receive a voucher fill out this google form . Your information will be submitted to the state. Stacy Hurst will check the form weekly. You will then receive an email with the voucher and with information about registration for the test. The test is 4 hours in length and can be taken at multiple locations (including online). 

When you have completed the assessment, please forward the email that you receive from “Utah Foundations of Reading” with your test score to Shirley Wilson at wilson@suu.edu

 

Additional Resources

While more information will be given when the semester starts, here is some basic information about the elementary block.

The elementary block consists of five courses taken all at the same time to prepare you for student teaching. Tentatively, classes will be held from 9:00am – 11:00am on Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 1:00pm – 3:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (see chart below). Attendance is required to pass the elementary block courses.

  • ELED 3460, Methods of Language Arts
  • ELED 3470, Methods of Mathematics
  • ELED 3480, Methods of Science
  • ELED 3490, Methods of Social Studies
  • ELED 3570, Methods of Classroom Management

*Wednesdays from 11:00am - 1:00pm will be reserved for block meetings, group work, debriefing, etc.

Tentative Weekly Course/Practicum Schedule:

Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
9:00am-11:00am Practicum Practicum Methods Courses Methods Courses Practicum
11:00am-1:00pm Group Work
1:00pm-3:00pm Methods Courses Methods Courses Methods Courses Practicum from *1:00pm-3:30pm

Besides the five elementary methods courses, you will be spending time in three different practicum settings throughout the semester to give you diverse teaching experiences. These practicum experiences are required to pass the elementary block courses. Practicum is a service-learning experience, so practicum students cannot be paid for time spent in the schools. You will plan and teach lessons, supervise children, and learn from your mentor teachers in different practicum settings.

  1. Iron County School District
    1. Spend 2-2.5 hours per day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays (approximately 90 hours during the semester)
  2. Charter School in Washington County (St. George Area)
    1. Spend one full week, Monday - Friday (approximately 35 hours)
    2. This date is not set until the school year starts
    3. Carpool with peers is encouraged
  3. Canyons School District
    1. Spend one full week, Monday - Friday (approximately 35 hours)
    2. This date is not set until the school year starts
    3. Carpool with peers is encouraged

*There will be one overnight retreat at the SUU cabin to learn more about integrating lesson plans. The date will be announced at the beginning of the semester.

*Course assignments, lesson planning, content knowledge, a positive disposition, effective teaching, group work, and reflection are required in the block.

While more information will be given when the semester starts, here is some basic information about the online elementary block.

The elementary block consists of five courses taken all at the same time to prepare elementary education majors for student teaching.

  • ELED 3460, Methods of Language Arts
  • ELED 3470, Methods of Mathematics
  • ELED 3480, Methods of Science
  • ELED 3490, Methods of Social Studies
  • ELED 3570, Methods of Classroom Management

Besides the five elementary methods courses, elementary block students will be spending time in a practicum setting (in a regular education K-6 grade classroom). After applying for Block, approval from the district, principal and mentor teacher will need to be given by filling out our form and then submitted to Caitlin Carter caitlincarter1@suu.edu, 435-865-8320. Once this step has been completed, you can be admitted to the online elementary block by Shirley Wilson, wilson@suu.edu, 435-586-7802 Please talk to your online academic advisor, Seth Aiono at sethaiono@suu.edu, 435-865-8103. A face-to-face practicum experience is required to pass the elementary block courses. Some things to know about this face-to-face practicum:

  1. The practicum must be face-to-face in your local, accredited elementary school.
  2. The practicum placement must be in one regular education, K-6 grade classroom for all your required hours.
  3. The practicum needs to be arranged by the Caitlin Carter before you will be registered for the online block courses by Shirley (see above). Students should NOT arrange their own practicums.
  4. The practicum student will spend two hours per day (10 hours per week) in the practicum classroom for the full semester (this time will count for all 5 elementary block courses). This is a requirement; a student cannot do half of their weekly hours in one day and the other half another day. The 10 hours must be spread out throughout the week.
    1. The 2-hour block of practicum time each day will be scheduled by the practicum student and mentor teacher
    2. Planning and teaching lessons
    3. Supervising children
    4. Learning from the mentor teacher (you will have the same mentor teacher all semester)
  5. Practicum is a service-learning experience, so SUU practicum students cannot be paid for time spent in the schools for practicum hours.
  6. Practicum students will complete two separate, week-long experiences in their practicum classroom
    1. The first week-long practicum experience will take place near the beginning of the semester
      1. The experience will include observing, helping, and getting to know the students, procedures, schedule, etc. of the classroom while spending full teacher contract days/hours at the school during that week.
    2. The second week-long practicum experience will take place near the end of the semester
    1. The experience will include taking over the classroom and solo-teaching; including planning, implementing lessons, managing the classroom, and taking over any extra duties (bus, recess, lunch, etc.) while spending full teacher contract days/hours at the school during that week.
    2. The practicum students will be required to film themselves teaching a lesson during this week.

*Course assignments, lesson planning, teaching, discussion posts, reflections, etc. are required in the online block. There will be due dates, but when students complete the assignments is up to the student's discretion.

*The online elementary education block and the face-to-face elementary education blocks are completely separate.

Are the online block classes only offered in the fall?

Online Block is offered Fall and Spring each year. It must be taken immediately before your student teaching.


Am I responsible for finding my own practicum setting?

No, please reach out to Caitlin Carter (caitlincarter1@suu.edu) for practicum placements. All contact with districts must go through Caitlin. You will fill out our Practicum Placement Form and will email it to Caitlin; she will then contact your chosen district to secure your placement. You cannot begin your practicum hours until she has given you approval that your practicum has been received.


What are the expectations from your program in regards to Two weeks of Block experiences in schools with a high number of diverse learners?

In “online block” you will still do two different week-long practicum experiences like the face-to-face block, but unlike the face-to-face block, you are not to travel to accomplish them. Please do both of these week-long practicum experiences in the same classroom you are doing all of your other hours in.


What are the steps I need to take to find a classroom(s) in which to do the practicum?

  1. Fill out the Practicum Placement Form.
  2. Email it to Caitlin Carter (caitlincarter1@suu.edu).
  3. Wait for a reply from Caitlin that your placement has been approved before beginning your practicum hours.