Professional Practice and Seminar (EY) (EDUC90399)

The professional practice and seminar program provides an integrated focus for all subjects across the semester and addresses teacher candidates’ developing understandings of professional knowledge, professional practice and professional engagement in early years classrooms. The school placement focuses on teacher candidates’ demonstrated capacity to teach independently, addressing all curriculum domains and the learning needs of individual students. This subject uses theoretical driven and empirically informed tools (eg. CLASS, 3A) to build a range of effective teaching and learning strategies. Teacher candidates are mentored by experienced teachers in collaboration with Clinical Specialists who are engaged in the on-campus teaching program.

The professional practice seminars support teacher candidates’ ongoing learning about how theory informs practice. The seminars provide opportunities to examine theoretical frameworks and associated practical tasks assigned during the placement that assist candidates to identify and address the learning needs of students in early years classrooms. Seminars include class presentations, analysis of assessment tasks and in-depth reflection on theory and practice for teaching in the early years classroom. Teacher Candidates will provide evidence of their development as an interventionist classroom practitioner during the Clinical Praxis Examination.