The Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education) is an intensive one-year programme designed for those who already hold a bachelors degree and want to embark on a fulfilling career as an early childhood teacher.

There is two practicum courses  (EDPRAC 613/614) compromising of three placements across a range of ECE contexts and classes designed to support students’ learning on practicum.

EDPRAC 613/614

Uses an evidence-based approach to support students to develop the professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions required for effective teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand, while examining what it means to demonstrate commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Builds professional relationships and enact practices that sustain culturally responsive, ethical, learner-focused relationships with diverse ākonga, colleagues, and whanau in complex environments.

Dear EDPRAC 614 Associate Teacher for Graduate Diploma ECE student teacher/s, 

Once you have received an email from our Practicum office with the name of the student/s you will be mentoring during this practicum you can expect to hear from the student teacher/s (no later than a week before practicum starts). Students are expected to phone you to introduce themselves and arrange a suitable time to come for a visit to the centre to meet you, the children and teachers before they begin practicum.  Students are reminded to bring their profile page with them to this first visit – so this can be displayed in the centre in preparation for the student starting practicum, the student will also bring with them the Student Teacher/Associate Teacher Contract – to discuss with you prior to starting practicum. Students will also show you their ID for your records.

Please find in the documentation section the practicum handbook. Your student is now responsible for providing you a copy of the assessment report, which they will load onto their Google Doc folder for you to complete nearing the end of the practicum.

Further support information is detailed below

HOURS OF ATTENDANCE 

Student teachers are required to attend the centre for 7.5 hours a day, (five days a week) eg, 8- 3.30pm –  this includes 1.5hours of non-contact time each day. Non-contact time is for breaks and time for the student teacher to work on practicum documentation. N/C time working on practicum documentation/reading etc is required to be undertaken in the centre.  Please use the student teacher/AT contract to discuss and confirm the hours of attendance found in the documentation section- your student will bring you a hard copy of this to be completed.

WEEKLY MEETINGS/FEEDBACK

Part of your role as Associate Teacher involves giving weekly feedback to your student both verbally and in a written form. Please provide written feedback on your students progress directly into their Google Doc folder.  Please schedule time to meet with the student each week.

PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISOR VISITS AND TRIADIC ASSESSMENT 

You can expect to hear from the students Professional Supervisor early on in the practicum. They will speak with the student via zoom (and yourself if possible) or phone in the first week to hear how they are settling in, answer questions and ensure the student is set up and ready for the placement. In 613b and 614 the Professional Supervisor will visit at the end of the practicum to observe the student, read the documentation and then facilitate the triadic assessment discussion. Please note 613a does not have an in-centre visit.

PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENTATION & REFLECTIONS

Students are required to write reflections and present professional documentation over the course of the practicum (and make links/relate these to the learning outcomes). Reflections are to be shared with you (and the students Professional Supervisor) and feedback should be given. Students are expected to show how they have considered/used the feedback to inform and develop practice.

Professional Documentation may take the shape of many forms depending on the practicum. Pre-practicum documentation will share this with you, as well as your student.

Key Teaching Tasks (KTTs):

Students will be completing and sharing their progress on the KTTs at the end of practicum with yourself and their Professional Supervisor. Please find the task within the documentation folder.

If you would like to discuss the practicum procedures, learning outcomes/requirements or have any concerns about this practicum placement then please don’t hesitate to contact me: k.jaquiery@auckland.ac.nz.

Many thanks for your support of our students!

Kiri Jaquiery