180 +1 Pathway Description

The 4+1 MEd. 180 Days Pathway, is a teacher residency predominantly based in the Springfield Public Schools. This initial licensure program prepares students to teach middle and high school students in either mathematics, history, science (biology, physics, chemistry, general science) and English. Students spend the entire academic year, full-time, in their placement school. The 180 Day teacher residency is grounded in several layers of mentorship. Students co-teach alongside a highly qualified mentor teacher for an entire academic year and receive additional coaching and training from both university and school site faculty. Coursework is highly integrated with daily practice in schools in this performance-based teacher education preparation model. Theory and practice are explored daily where students demonstrate and apply skills, knowledge, and the neuroscience of learning with guidance from multiple mentors. In the 180 Day residency, students complete an additional practicum after student teaching. The spring clinical teaching practicum allows an opportunity to gain classroom experience in a second subject area and apply for a second initial license upon graduation (optional). Students in the 180 Day residency receive a $3000 stipend for the clinical teaching practicum when placed in the Springfield School District. Students in the 180 Day 4+1 can transfer up to 12 credits into the 36 credit master's degree program. To learn more about the 180 Days 4 +1 residency pathway contact: Daryl Essensa; dessensa [at] umass [dot] edu (dessensa[at]umass[dot]edu)