About Professional Program Teaching Practicums (Orillia)

What is a Teaching Practicum?

As part of your Two-Year Bachelor of Education degree (BEd) Professional Program, you must complete a student teaching practicum, which spans a minimum of 105 days, spread over four teaching blocks. This experience places you in a school or other learning environment so you will have the opportunity to teach students and learn from certified teachers who have a minimum of two years' teaching experience. Your teaching practicum is an opportunity for you to apply your knowledge and teaching skills in the classroom, as well as acquire teaching techniques and professional attitudes from experienced teaching mentors.

To receive your BEd and become a member of the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT), you must complete your practicum successfully; this requires that you to meet all of your practicum’s requirements and fulfill all of your conditions as a teacher candidate in a responsible and professional manner. Both Lakehead University and the OCT require you to complete this part of your degree to become a certified teacher.

Before you register for your practicum, please ensure that you understand how it works, its requirements, and your role as a teacher candidate. See the Resources for your Teaching Practicum page for the Practicum Guide, which includes a complete overview of your practicum.

What will I be doing during my Teaching Practicum?

Each practicum is a unique experience that will give you the chance to observe successful teaching as well as prepare and deliver lessons. Over the course of your practicum, you will gradually gain more teaching responsibility; you will transition from observational learning and some teaching to independently planning lessons and teaching.

During your practicum, you will complete some of the following tasks:

  • Become familiar with the school’s professional atmosphere and administrative process
  • Manage the classroom to ensure student safety and effective learning   
  • Collaborate with your associate teacher to understand the needs of learners better
  • Develop lesson plans that meet Ontario curriculum requirements
  • Deliver lessons in a competent, professional, and responsible way
  • Keep a record of your lessons and teaching so you can submit them to your associate teacher as well as reflect on your own experience

Note: To be successful during your practicum, you must demonstrate professionalism, independence, and competence, as explained on the Role as a Teacher Candidate page.

Where can I complete my Teaching Practicum?

Year One

In year one of your program you will be able to complete your placements with any partnership board.

Year Two

In year two of your program, you will be able to complete your placements with any partnership board. Eligible teacher candidates can also apply to complete an an Alternative Teaching Placement or an International Teaching Placement (final placement only). If you are on a practicum review, you must complete your final placements with a local board (i.e. Simcoe Country District School Board or the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board).

Securing a Placement Spot

We will do our best to secure a placement for all teacher candidates, but we cannot guarantee placements for students, in particular those with a criminal charge or conviction. Also, our partnering boards have ultimate authority over your placement eligibility.

To ensure the integrity of the field evaluation process, we arrange all placements. Under no circumstances should you attempt to arrange your own placement. Candidates who interfere or who have individuals interfere in the placement procurement process on their behalf are subject to sanctions under the Student Code of Conduct.

When is my Teaching Practicum?

See the Resources for your Teaching Practicum page for the Practicum Guide, which includes a schedule with dates for the Year 1 and Year 2 practicum blocks.

How do I pass my Teaching Practicum?

Your faculty advisor will determine if your practicum is successful based on written reports from associate teachers, reflections, lesson plans, and other applicable documents such as classroom observation reports.

There are three possible grades that you can achieve after you complete a placement; these grades include:

  • Pass (P) – You, the teacher candidate, will receive a Pass for EDUC 4398 and EDUC 4498 and, upon graduation, we will recommend you to the OCT for certification
  • Incomplete (INC) – You, the teacher candidate, have not yet displayed the level of competence, independence, and/or professionalism in teaching required for a Pass in ECUC 4398 and EDUC 4498. In such cases, you will be placed on review

Or

  • You are unable to complete a placement and have provided appropriate, official medical documentation or a letter documenting extenuating circumstances (e.g. compassionate grounds) to the Professional Experiences Office
  • Fail (F) –  You, the teacher candidate, have not exhibited the competence, independence, and/or professionalism in teaching that is necessary to receive credit for EDUC 4398 or EDUC 4498 and will not be recommended to OCT for teacher certification

Note: Two compromised placements means that you will be removed from the program.

For more information, see the page about Additional, Deferred, or Failed Placements.