Welcome to L.C.C.C. Teacher Education: Fall 2012

Importance of Orientation You are beginning your journey in a career as an educator, there are many things you will learn here at L.C.C.C. and your four year school. In order to make your transition as smooth as possible, we would like to share information with you that will make your journey a smooth one.

Who’s Who? Melanie Wursta, Professor, Teacher Education Laura Segatti, Professor, Teacher Education Joseph Davis, Assistant Professor, Teacher Education Judy Brown- Dupaul, Project SETSAIL Kristine Shaffer, Administrative Assistant Suzanne Mulhern, Project REACH

Course Sequence It’s important to take your courses in the proper sequence, since some courses have “ prerequisites”, meaning you must take certain courses prior to being allowed to take others. This will help you stay on track towards a timely graduation. For accurate course sequence information go to: link to “Academics”…. “School of Education”….link to your degree program, you’ll see your course sequence!

Professional Expectations As a member of The Teacher Education Program, Lehigh Carbon Community College, we expect you to conduct yourself in a professional manner. When representing the college during observations and site visits, we expect professional grooming. When involved in an observation or site visit, please call school or center in advance to confirm you visit. When attending school or center, follow all professional procedures for staff. All information you observe and documentation is to be held confidential, for professional use only. As a potential educator, please use caution when posting information on social networking web sites.

Professional Clearances As a professional educator, there are several clearances and documents that you will need as you progress through your training. These are required for all professional educators by The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Education. We strongly recommend that you begin to gather these documents now. Go to the Pennsylvania Department of Education web site: pde.state.pa.edu, go to the link, “Certification” …. “Clearances” and the file for Act 34, Act 114 and Act 151. You will need these for employment in education in Pennsylvania. Health Clearance: you will need verification from a Medical Doctor that you have a health clearance to work in schools. Place these documents in your e-portfolio.

Field Experience If you intend to go on to a four year college, there is a requirement that you document your field experience, we have a form for that, so, be sure to fill it out with the signature of the teacher or director of facility. Scan this and place in your e-portfolio. There are also courses titled “Field Experience” these courses will help you document your time in a classroom. Depending on which four year college you select, your field experience hours may vary, make sure you know how many hours they require.

Lab requirements

Lab Requirements Labs require lots of love Labs require lots of walks Labs require lots of chewy toys

Lab Requirements-For Real! In our ECE courses, there are Lab Requirements 30 hours per designated course To be completed over 15 weeks Weekly assignments connected to your course Program Manual will explain more

Service Learning We learn much outside the classroom! Service learning is all those activities that you volunteer for outside the classroom, both here at L.C.C.C. and you community. Employers and four year colleges expect you to be involved in Service Learning. Document any community involvement on our form ( available in your Teacher Education Manual, the lab on Schnecksville Campus, education office at Carbon Campus). Scan and enter in your e-portfolio!

Spring Break 2010 Day of Service: Allentown Salvation Army

Examples of Service Learning Various L.C.C.C. sponsored activities On-campus activities Scouting activities Church group activities Volunteering with youth groups Special Olympics Miracle League Charity fund raisers Volunteering for LCCC/Parkland Program

Transfer Options The Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania offer a wealth of high quality teacher education programs, with all the programs, choosing the school to transfer to may be difficult. We highly recommend that you make your transfer choice by the end of your first semester, this way you can maximize your credits, since four year colleges have different course requirements.

PAPA Requirements If you intend to transfer to a four year college, you are required to take the PAPA Test and forward the scores to your selected college. We recommend that you take the PAPA after your 45 th credit ( end of your third semester). Dates for PAPA Test will be posted in Education Lab and Carbon education office Information on PAPA test can be found at: Enter your PAPA score in your e-portfolio

Mentor Meeting: Learning beyond the classroom!

Portfolio Development As a future professional educator, it is important to maintain a professional portfolio Your portfolio will be a professional document that will open doors to employment and serve as a vital link in your transfer to a four year school. Your portfolio will contain work samples, professional credentials, clearances, documentation of community involvement and references. More information on portfolio development are in your Teacher Education Manuals

Setting up an E-Portfolio The advantage of an e-portfolio is that is can easy take it with you as you move on to a job or a four year college. It will be an on-going, work in progress, as you travel through L.C.C.C. and other programs, you will be adding material. To set up an e-portfolio, go to open an account using your L.C.C.C. account. Go to “teacher tools”…”My e-portfolio”…. Down load your credentials/work samples there. Create a “my website” (upload from your “e- portfolio”) this becomes your e-portfolio. It’s that easy! When an employer or college needs your e-portfolio, just give them you web address from pdesas.org Your Professors will help establish your e-portfolio.

A Quick Tour of The Fowler Center Student Lounge

Performing Arts Classroom

Outdoor Education Classroom

Make Sure You…… Turn off your cell phone in class! Please don’t even think about texting! Check your LCCC profile and make sure you have the correct major (this really helps if you want to graduate!) Use your LCCC account, check daily during the school year, weekly over breaks.

WHEW! That was a lot! Hopefully, this helps you adjust to college, feel free to ask any of our staff for help or support. We want to see you become a success! FYI! Make sure you use your LCCC account when communicating with professors, it makes life much easier. Also, check your LCCC daily, this way you will be up to date on what’s transpiring with your classes.

Manuals Each major (ECE/ ECI, Education/Special Education,Paraprofessional) has a Program Manual. You can purchase your manual in the LCCC bookstore. It will contain information and forms that you will need as you progress through your degree program.