Elementary Field Experience Information

ECE 350 is designed to help students move beyond learning about elementary education and begin learning within an elementary classroom.

Students have opportunities to observe how teachers organize learning environments, build relationships with children, facilitate instruction, support children's development and learning, respond to individual differences, and manage the many responsibilities of an elementary classroom.

The field experience also provides students with an opportunity to explore their own interests and professional goals related to working with children in elementary school settings.

EGUSD Elementary School Placement

Most ECE 350 students complete their field experience in a participating classroom within the Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD).

ECE faculty coordinate with participating elementary school teachers to identify appropriate classroom placements. Students are matched with classrooms based on factors such as placement availability, student schedules, and the availability of participating teachers.

Students should not independently arrange an elementary school placement unless instructed to do so by the ECE 350 instructor.

Placement Availability

Students may be asked to provide information about their availability and placement preferences. However, specific schools, teachers, classrooms, or grade levels cannot be guaranteed.

Students are encouraged to provide as much scheduling flexibility as possible during the placement process.

ECE 350 is an active field experience, not simply an observation course.

The specific activities students participate in will vary depending on the classroom, grade level, participating teacher, and course assignments. Students may have opportunities to:

• Observe children, teachers, classroom routines, and learning environments.
• Participate appropriately in classroom activities.
• Interact with individual children and small groups.
• Observe instructional strategies.
• Observe classroom management and guidance practices.
• Examine how teachers support children with different strengths, interests, experiences, and learning needs.
• Connect child development and educational theory to classroom practice.
• Learn about the organization and responsibilities of elementary teachers.
• Reflect on observations and classroom experiences through course assignments and discussions.
• Develop professional communication and workplace practices.

The participating elementary teacher remains responsible for the children and classroom. ECE 350 students participate as college students completing a supervised field experience, not as independently responsible classroom teachers.

Before enrolling in ECE 350, students should consider whether they can:

• Commit to completing 54 total field experience hours.
• Maintain a consistent schedule of approximately three hours per week.
• Be available during regular elementary school hours.
• Travel to an assigned local elementary school.
• Complete required fingerprinting and background clearance.
• Complete all EGUSD volunteer requirements promptly.
• Wait for official clearance before beginning field experience hours.
• Participate professionally in an elementary classroom throughout the semester.
• Communicate consistently with the participating teacher and ECE 350 instructor.

Once enrolled, students should monitor Canvas and their Los Rios email closely for placement, orientation, fingerprinting, and district volunteer-clearance instructions.

Students who are already employed in a qualifying elementary school setting may request permission to complete their field experience at their workplace.

Worksite placements require instructor approval and are not automatic.

The instructor will determine whether the proposed worksite provides an appropriate field experience for ECE 350 and allows the student to meet the learning objectives and requirements of the course.

Students should not assume that their employment automatically qualifies as an ECE 350 placement. The placement must be approved by the instructor before worksite hours can be counted toward the 54-hour field experience requirement.

Students interested in using their workplace should contact the instructor early in the semester and follow the worksite approval process provided for the course.

ECE 350 requires students to complete a total of 54 field experience hours.

Students should generally plan to spend approximately three hours each week in their assigned elementary classroom.

Consistency is important. Once a placement and schedule have been established, students should plan to attend the same classroom at the agreed-upon time each week.

Because elementary schools operate primarily during daytime hours, students should carefully consider their work and college schedules before enrolling in ECE 350. Students must be able to identify a consistent period of time during the elementary school day to complete their field experience.

Students completing their field experience in an EGUSD school must complete all district volunteer requirements and receive clearance before beginning their ECE 350 field experience hours.

This includes completing the required fingerprinting and background clearance process as well as any additional volunteer requirements established by Elk Grove Unified School District.

Students should complete these requirements as soon as instructions are provided. Processing times can vary, and delays in completing fingerprinting or other district requirements may delay a student's ability to begin field experience hours.

Important: Do Not Begin Hours Until You Are Cleared

Being assigned to a school or classroom does not mean that a student is cleared to begin field experience.

Students must:

• Complete all required EGUSD volunteer requirements.
• Complete required fingerprinting and background clearance.
• Receive district clearance to participate.
• Receive any required approval from the ECE 350 instructor.
• Wait for confirmation before beginning field experience hours.

Hours completed before required clearance and instructor approval will not count toward the 54-hour field experience requirement.

Because students cannot begin accumulating hours while waiting for clearance, completing the volunteer and fingerprinting requirements promptly is especially important. A delayed start may make completing all required field experience hours more difficult.

The participating elementary teacher is an important part of the ECE 350 field experience.

Students should approach the classroom as both a learner and a developing professional. This includes:

• Following the teacher's direction.
• Learning and respecting classroom routines.
• Asking appropriate questions.
• Being receptive to feedback.
• Participating actively and appropriately.
• Communicating professionally.
• Gradually becoming more comfortable participating in the classroom environment.

Students should recognize that each school, teacher, and classroom may have different routines, expectations, teaching approaches, and classroom cultures.

ECE 350 students are participating in a professional elementary school environment and are expected to demonstrate appropriate professional behavior throughout the semester.

Students are expected to:

• Arrive consistently and on time.
• Follow school and district policies.
• Follow the direction of the participating classroom teacher.
• Dress and communicate professionally.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding children and families.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Actively engage in the classroom experience.
• Communicate promptly when an absence or concern occurs.
• Complete required field experience documentation.
• Complete associated course assignments.
• Demonstrate respect for children, families, teachers, staff, and the school community.

Detailed attendance, communication, assignment, and make-up expectations are provided by the instructor in Canvas and the course syllabus.

Field experience is an integral part of ECE 350. It is not a separate volunteer activity.

Students use their classroom experiences to examine and reflect on concepts discussed throughout the course.

Field experience may help students consider questions such as:

• How does an elementary teacher create a supportive classroom community?
• How are elementary learning environments organized?
• How do teachers build relationships with children?
• How do teachers respond to children's different strengths and needs?
• How are curriculum, instruction, assessment, relationships, and classroom management connected?
• How do teachers support children's development and learning?
• What professional responsibilities are involved in being an elementary educator?
• How does what I observe in the classroom connect with what I am learning in my college courses?

Observation and participation in the elementary classroom provide important context for course reflection, discussion, and assignments throughout the semester.

No. The ECE 350 instructor coordinates placements with participating elementary teachers within EGUSD. Students should follow the placement process provided by the instructor rather than contacting schools or teachers independently.

Students complete 54 total hours of elementary field experience during the semester.

Students should generally plan for approximately three hours per week. The exact weekly schedule will be established as part of the placement process.

Yes. Students placed in EGUSD elementary classrooms must complete the district's required volunteer clearance process, including required fingerprinting and background clearance, before beginning field experience.

Previous fingerprinting does not necessarily mean that a student has met the current requirements for an ECE 350 placement.

Students must follow the instructions provided for the course and complete any volunteer, fingerprinting, or clearance requirements identified by EGUSD.

No.

Students must complete all required district volunteer requirements and receive clearance before beginning ECE 350 field experience hours.

Students should not enter the classroom as an ECE 350 field experience student or begin counting hours while clearance is still pending.

Students should complete all volunteer and fingerprinting requirements as soon as instructions are provided.

If clearance is delayed, students should communicate with the ECE 350 instructor. Because the course requires 54 field experience hours, a delayed start may make it more difficult to complete the required hours within the semester.

Students may be able to provide relevant information or preferences during the placement process, but a particular school, teacher, classroom, or grade level cannot be guaranteed.

Placements depend on participating teachers, available classrooms, student schedules, and the requirements of the course.

Possibly.

Students working in a qualifying elementary setting may request an approved worksite placement. The instructor must determine that the placement provides an appropriate ECE 350 field experience and meets course requirements.

Worksite placements must be approved before hours can be counted toward the course.

Employment alone does not automatically qualify as ECE 350 field experience.

Hours may count only when the instructor has approved the worksite placement and confirmed how the student's experience will meet ECE 350 requirements.

The instructor will determine which clearance and placement requirements apply to an approved worksite.

Existing employment, fingerprinting, or background clearance does not automatically mean that a worksite is approved for ECE 350.

Students who work full time may enroll in ECE 350, but they should carefully consider whether they can consistently participate during the elementary school day.

Most placements require approximately a three-hour block each week during regular school hours.

No.

The participating elementary teacher remains responsible for the classroom and the children. ECE 350 students are there to observe, participate, learn, and engage in appropriate classroom experiences under supervision.

Students should communicate promptly with their participating teacher and ECE 350 instructor and follow the attendance and make-up procedures established for the course.

Specific attendance and make-up policies are provided in the course syllabus and Canvas.