An experience scheme for student teachers

SUMMARY. This “on the job” school experience scheme is complementary to a college-based programme for prospective teachers of children with severe mental handicaps. Much emphasis is placed on helping the children progress to higher levels in the developmental sequence. The 15-week school experience scheme has three phases. Phase One, orientation and observation, entails a one day a week school visit for six consecutive weeks. Phase Two, the use of assessment procedures, shows how these are an integral part of teaching and entails a half day a week school visit for six consecutive weeks. Phase Three, the use of task analysis and an introduction to behaviour modification techniques, entails an initial half day visit a week for three consecutive weeks. (This teaching is extended later).