1. Recent Graduate Interviews: Preliminary Feedback on Teacher Preparation Programs What’s Works/Best Practices Hayley M Cavino, Evaluation Coordinator Office of Professional Research & Development: Syracuse University

2. Purposeful Placements “You don’t know anything until you get to the classroom” Time spent in the classroom. Earlier the better (sophomore year). Variety of placements/settings: rural, urban, suburban. Hands-on experiences. Also in different types of classrooms: self- contained, special education & inclusion placements.

3. Reflection “Implementing strategies with students and having to reflect and write about it.” “Reflection is such a huge part of teaching. As educators we should be lifelong learners”. Videotaping and analyzing your practice. Fostering an openness to change/growth.

4. Mentoring “Opportunities to observe experienced teachers being mindful of their body language, what they say, their actions – and understand how this impacts the dynamic of the classroom”. Being matched with a good host teacher who can model instructional techniques, teach how to interact with students. Ideally a master teacher. Fostering teacher/mentor relationships.

5. Opportunities to Practice Mock child study team meetings. Implementation focused coursework. Writing & Implementing IEPs. Functional Behavior Assessments. Using curricula.

6. Research & Assessment “Assignments that made me research strategies.” Learning research and data collection strategies. Assessment courses and administration of assessments.

7. Collaboration & Partnering with Adults Developing strategies for effective partnering with other teachers in the building. Co-teaching placements. How to work with a TA and paraprofessionals, who are often more experienced in classrooms. How to collaborate.

8. Reading & Literacy How to teach reading. Reading and literacy coursework.

9. Diverse & Rigorous Coursework Inclusive models. Diverse curricula (including curricula that are actually being used). Coursework on serving lower functioning learners, particular disabilities. Classroom Management. Teaching ethnically and racially diverse population.

10. Alignment & Cohesion Different levels of rigor and grading at different colleges. Theoretical & pedagogical. In programming between courses, departments, and colleges.