Program Benefits

UW-La Crosse and area schools have worked together for the benefit of the clinical student, the school district, the cooperating teacher, and the PreK-12 student since the implementation of this program. We encourage the enhancement of this cooperative effort.

For UW-La Crosse students, clinical field placements may offer opportunities to:

  • Observe variety in learning environments
  • Observe variety in teaching styles of master/experienced teachers
  • Observe diversified student backgrounds, including multi-cultural, economic factors, and exceptional education needs
  • Observe practical applications/adaptations of course content
  • Plan, implement, and assess lessons
  • Experience teaching in diversified settings
  • Experience team teaching
  • Experience exposure to practical matters in education, such as salary schedule, union membership, materials production, and implementing IEP's
  • Experience growth as a professional
  • Receive evaluations and guidance from professional contact in the teaching field
  • Develop confidence in teaching
  • Establish a network of professional contacts in the teaching field
  • Self-evaluate choice of teaching career
  • Share observations/reflections/insights with supervising instructors

For School Districts, clinical students may provide a (an):

  • Source for updates on current trends in education
  • Contact with the university for resources and informal in-service
  • Opportunity for implementation of pilot programs
  • Resource for helping students needing individual attention at all levels
  • Resource for assistance with special programs and events
  • Resource as possible judges, referees, and coaches for Forensics, Debate, or Academic Decathlon

For Cooperating/Sponsoring Teachers, clinical students may:

  • Offer an extra pair of hands, eyes, and ears in the classroom, thus reducing the student-teacher ratio
  • Offer one-on-one assistance to special needs students in the classroom
  • Assist with field trips, open houses, dances, and drama
  • Provide opportunities for cooperating teachers to learn and practice mentoring skills
  • Provide judges, referees, and coaches for Forensics, Debate, and Academic Decathlon
  • Supply team teaching opportunities
  • Introduce new strategies and approaches to the classroom

For the PreK-12 students, clinical students may be a resource for:

  • Giving art and music lessons
  • Tutoring
  • Mentoring
  • Academic coaching
  • Providing a role model
  • Diversifying the learning process
  • Assisting special needs students
  • Encouraging the exchange of ideas and beliefs from a multicultural perspective