Lessons From the Second Grade: Scouting the Landscape of Clinical Practice

Abstract

This article relates the experiences of a seasoned teacher education professor who returned to the elementary classroom, where the students and his colleagues illustrated the complexities of teaching and learning. The year in second grade is analyzed using Moir's phases of first-year teaching. The analysis uncovers important ideas relevant for clinically based teacher education programs, including how relationships must be negotiated to successfully build learning communities.

Key words:

• administration/supervision
• clinically based programs
• cross-cultural education/multicultural education
• differentiated instruction
• elementary education
• higher education
• international and comparative education
• learning community
• teacher education/certification