Fieldwork & Coursework
Apprentice in an SFUSD Classroom
Residents spend at least 20 hours each week for one full school year learning to teach in the classroom of a Cooperating Teacher in SFUSD. Typically 3 or 4 residents are placed at each of our Teaching Academies – these are our partner schools in San Francisco. Over the course of the year, residents take over more lead teaching responsibilities from their Cooperating Teacher. Elementary School residents complete at least three full weeks of solo teaching (usually more), and all Math and Science residents take over all responsibilities for one class during the second semester.
Want to know more? Here’s a typical day in the life of a resident.
Coursework Focused On Teaching for Social Justice
All SFTR residents take a student teaching seminar taught by SFTR staff, SFUSD leaders, and university faculty. This course offers residents as a group the opportunity to build community, and as individuals to reflect on experiences at their teaching academy. The seminar also prepares the residents to teach in SFUSD classrooms by exploring topics that include:
- Restorative Justice
- Trauma-informed classrooms
- Family engagement
- Addressing current events as teachable moments
- The role of “play” in K-12 and teacher learning
- Culturally relevant classroom management
Check out an overview of the course sequences from the University of San Francisco and Stanford.