Professionalism

Undergraduate Practicum Students

Fall 2015

Areas of Focus
Time Management
Appearance
Understanding Your
Expectations
Behavior

Role

Time Management: Late Policy

Students

are expected to be in the class and

ready to begin when the class bell rings. You
will lose 5 points for each tardy/occurrence of
leaving early.
For every three tardies/occurrences of leaving
early (unexcused) you must make up 6 hours by
the end of the semester AND will lose a half a
letter grade.
Failure to notify the team of a sick day by 7am
will result in a 20 point deduction from your
grade.

Time Management: Absence Policy

If for any reason you suspect you might be late to
your shift, need to leave early, or cannot make it at
all, you need to email:
1. The classroom teacher, Alesia Walsh (
walsha@comstockps.org),
2. The graduate instructor you work with,
3. The site supervisor
.Please

contact all three individuals as soon as

possible.
.Any unexcused absence will result in a loss of a
half of a letter grade and the missed hours must be
made up.

Time Management: Make Up Policy

Any and all hours missed, must be made up by the
end of the semester. The only exceptions being if
Comstock Public Schools do not have students, or
WMU does not have school.

Time Management
In the classroom:
Please do not stand around.
Ask a graduate supervisor or

classroom teacher if
you need something to do. They will be more than
willing to give you something, or point you in the
direction of someone who needs help.

Appearance
NEMS is a professional site, therefore you are
expected to adhere to the dress code.
Your clothes should look appropriate for the
students and any related professionals including
teachers, school administration, etc.
You will not only be representing yourself, but
WMU as well.

Appearance
Be aware that what you may consider
appropriate may be inappropriate from their
perspectives.
Examples of acceptable attire:
clean pants (not jeans), khakis,
casual dresses and skirts (fingertip length),
nice blouse or plain top,
any flat shoes, tennis shoes, and sandals (with

backs).

Appearance
Examples of unacceptable attire:
any

dirty, torn, patched, or stained clothing, cutoffs,

beach wear, hats/caps,
low-cut shirts, bare-midriff shirts,
stretch pants or leggings,
short skirts or shorts,
anything with writing on it, and clothing worn
inside out or backwards.

Do not wear any clothes that do not cover your

underwear or private parts of your body. (Low-rise
pants may be inappropriate if someone can see
your underwear when you bend over.

Understanding Your Role

When mentoring/tutoring especially, contact with
a student outside of the school environment is
strictly prohibited.
Never give out your phone number, address,
email, or social networking accounts to students.
Likewise, never contact a student outside of
school.
This

includes calling, texting, emailing,

communicating via social media, or visiting a
student at their home.

Understanding Your Role

As a mentor or tutor, you must be ensure the safety
of students as well as that of your own. In order to
ensure the safety of students and yourself, refrain
from touching students unless it is a high five or
handshake.
Never give a student a ride home. Students, in
particular, have to sign permission slips to be
transported by anyone other than a parent or
guardian. This practice guarantees no wrong doing
on either part.

Expectations
All practicum students are subject to the rules
and regulations of NEMS.
Implement all curricula/material as instructed
Teaching

the students in your own way is NOT

professional.
We are providing instructions and feedback to
practicum students based on the research results
and years of experience in teaching students using
the principles of behavior.
If you have disagreements in the way that we
conduct training, please talk to a graduate
supervisor. We are open to your suggestions.

Expectations
Language
Remember

you are working at a public school, use

school-appropriate language.
Using swearwords, making negative comments,
talking about parties or who youre dating are NOT
appropriate.

Accepting feedback is a large part of

professionalism at NEMS
We

ask that you are respectful in both receiving

feedback as well as addressing any issues that may
arise.
We want this to be a positive and enriching
experience for everyone involved.

Expectations
You are expected to act in the best interest of the
individuals you are serving.
For

example, as a mentor or tutor, your only

concerns should be the students academic success
and safety.
If you suspect that something is going on outside of
school, please tell a graduate supervisor or act as a
mandated reporter.

Expectations
Seek to understand students personal and
cultural background.
You will be mentoring or tutoring students and
working with people in the community who may
have different religions, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds than yourself.
Try to be respectful of them.

Expectations
Please do not share personal information with
students.
Be

careful about talking about your personal life,

religious beliefs or political opinions. Such
information can influence or offend students.
As a tutor or mentor, for example, it is suggested
that you keep to neutral subjects (school, sports,
music, etc.) that relate to education.
Examples: telling students what it is like taking
college courses, or talking about extra curricular
activities like volleyball practice, or play
rehearsals.

Expectations/Behavior
Always be kind and respectful to other practicum
students, graduate supervisors, teachers, and
other school administrators.
Tell a graduate supervisor if a student is acting
out or being disrespectful.
Do not feel that you need to discipline
individuals or manage a program or classroom.

Behavior
Try to be open to sudden changes.
The way things are scheduled and the

way they

turn out are often different.

Keep a positive and enthusiastic mind set if this
happens.

The next few slides are

very important, please pay
attention!!

Behavior: Social Media and Email

Privacy and free speech rights permit you to
maintain and submit information on the Internet,
including posting on Facebook and similar
websites.
However, you must consider how the information
you post may be interpreted and used by
colleagues, parents, administrators and, above all,
students.
When you decide to post personal and private
information on the web, you run the risk that the
information will be used publicly and its use may
not be to your benefit.

Behavior: Social Media and Email

Please consider:
Administrators,

parents, and mentors browse

postings on sites like Facebook, forming first
impressions and judging the moral character of
individuals who work with their children.
You cannot control how others judge you, fairly or
unfairly, but you can control the information from
which others make judgments.
Students look to their teacher to model appropriate
behaviors and choices.
Students may not be able to distinguish between
adult choices and appropriate behaviors for children.

Behavior: Social Media and Email

Professional Guidelines:
Do not share your username or personal web
addresses with students.
If you do have personal pages, like Facebook,
arrange for them to be accessible only to friends.
If a student contacts you on a personal site or
email, let their teacher know.
Make sure your voice mail messages are
appropriate.
Students should not be your friends on
Facebook or similar sites.

Behavior
Please remember that the work that we do is
confidential.
Posting about students, teachers, administrators,
etc. is strictly prohibited!

Final Words
We would like for everyone to have an enriching
and positive experience for the next 2 semesters!
We look forward to working with you all!

Thank You!
Questions?
Comments?
Concerns?
Feel free to contact me at:
Gaige.J.Johnson@wmich.edu