The Pekin PDS is a partnership between the Pekin Public School District 108 and Illinois State University.  This partnership provides interns a year-long student teaching placement that focuses on collaborative instructional strategies, a great wealth of technology based learning environments, and professional development.  This internship is divided into four phases.

 

Phase I:

• This phase is about seven weeks long.
• Intern will work with small groups of students, individual students to assist the classroom teacher.
• The intern will observe the techniques and strategies being used by the classroom teacher.
• In addition, the intern will be taking the required methods courses two days a week.

 

Phase II:

• The intern is placed in a new grade level
• Intern will continue with methods instruction.
• The intern must observe the variety of specialist in the building.
• During this phase, the intern will experience a middle school setting.

 

Phase III & IV:

• The intern will return to the Phase I classroom to begin student teaching.
• The in-depth student teaching continues for 16 weeks.
• Intern will prepare for job fairs, job searches and interviews.
• The intern will produce a quality professional portfolio.

 

The Benefits:

• Comprehensive year-long internship
• Total immersion in the school culture
• Intensive and extensive clinical experience
• Opportunities for practice, reflection and collegiality
• On-site methods course work
• Linkage between course content and teaching practice
• Involvement in school-community relationships
• Cohort experience
• Recognition by prospective employers
• Promotion of best practices
• Quality mentor-intern team
• Preparation for the "real" teaching world

 Personal Impact:

• Gained confidence in abilities
• Attended building meetings (Plan Do Study Act Committee, district grade level, staff, etc.)
• Participated in parent-teacher conferences
• Experienced two different grade levels (K and 4th)
• Experienced different building cultures
• Built relationship with staff and students
• Created and implemented standards-based lesson plans
• Reflective evaluation and feedback
• Grew as an educator