Defining Types of Clinical Practice

Clinical practice opportunities are critical elements of teacher preparation. However, the landscape is extensive, encompassing an ever-growing variety of preparation models, from centuries-old traditional student teaching to newly minted registered apprenticeships. The purpose of this paper is to create a clinical practice lexicon for the profession that includes: (1) a definition for the two key types of clinical practice--(a) practice opportunities prior to full-time teaching and (b) full-time student teaching; and (2) an outline of the six common models of clinical practice, including defining characteristics and the efficacy of these models in preparing teachers for the classroom.