"It makes it more real.”: Teacher Candidate Perceptions of a Clinically-Rich Middle Grades Teacher Preparation Program
The persistent divide between theory and practice in teacher education has long been a subject of concern among researchers and scholars (Darling-Hammond, 2006; Zeichner, 2010). This paper explores teacher candidate perceptions of a clinically-rich (NASUP, 2021) middle grades teacher preparation pro...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Georgia Southern University
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Current Issues in Middle Level Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cimle/vol29/iss1/3/ |
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| Summary: | The persistent divide between theory and practice in teacher education has long been a subject of concern among researchers and scholars (Darling-Hammond, 2006; Zeichner, 2010). This paper explores teacher candidate perceptions of a clinically-rich (NASUP, 2021) middle grades teacher preparation program that has worked to create a “third space” (Zeichner, 2010) through a school-university partnership with a local middle school. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with teacher candidates (n=23) at the time of program completion. Findings suggest teacher candidates felt prepared and valued clinically-based activities and experiences. Teacher candidates suggest future improvements to the program should include more experiences tied to the school site. Implications and future directions are discussed. |
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| ISSN: | 1938-1611 |