In this section you will find FAQs on:
Student Teaching
Student Teaching: General Placement Information
Can/will I teach a subject outside of my subject profile during my placement?
The Quebec Ministry of Education has accredited the Faculty of Education to offer our programs leading to teacher certification. Teacher candidates in the B.Ed and MATL programs must complete 700 hours of student teaching in their registered subject area in order to be considered for the eligible Brevet (teaching certification). We recognize, however, that in classrooms in English school boards, the Cooperating Teachers we work with do not always have a complete teaching load in the subject profile of the teacher candidate. In these cases, we first ask the school if it is possible for the teacher candidate to also work with a second Cooperating Teacher who teaches the same subject as the teacher candidate's subject area. If this is not possible, we examine the Cooperating Teacher’s full teaching load. If the Cooperating Teacher’s teaching load falls within the same field of study (e.g. English and Social Studies or Math & Science), we look at the number of available hours, the suitability of those hours, and the possibility of extending the placement (within the confines of the academic term) to ensure the teacher candidate attains enough hours in that placement. We cannot offer placements in subject areas that we are not accredited to offer (e.g. French in the MATL program).
Can I do my placement online?
The Ministry of Education has not endorsed online learning as option for most Quebec students. In keeping with this, no school is able to currently offer a student teaching placement online. If that situation changes, then we will work to secure those placements. Please keep in mind, that if these opportunities are permissible by the Ministry of Education and offered by schools, they could be in a very limited capacity. The ISA acts as the intermediary to coordinate teacher candidates’ needs and what placements schools are able to offer. We cannot offer teacher candidates a placement that is not offered to us.
When will I get placement details?
The ISA Office understands the anticipation students are experiencing in advance of receiving their placement details. We ask for your patience at this time in recognition of the realities that the pandemic planning has on school administrators and the added time it takes host schools to confirm placements with our office. We anticipate placement details will generally be released 1-2 weeks before the placement.
Student Teaching: In the Field
How will Field Supervision work this year?
The ISA respects the efforts of schools to limit the presence of non-school staff in their buildings as they strive to maintain social and physical distancing measures. As a result, we have exceptionally allowed for remote field supervision. In most cases, this will require you to either (a) livestream a video of you teaching directly to your Supervisor or (b) record a teaching episode then upload it privately to YouTube for your Supervisor to view. Ahead of your placement, once you are provided with your placement details including your Cooperating Teacher and Supervisor contact information, please discuss which option is preferable to you, your Supervisor and your Cooperating Teacher. To protect the confidentiality of the young people with whom you will be teaching, we have created consent forms that both you and your Cooperating Teacher need to complete. In situations where schools have requested that you obtain parental consent, we have included a specific consent form for parents. You will send these forms to your Supervisor along with the learning plan for your teaching episode. All consent forms can be found on the ISA website.
Instructions for asynchronously recording and uploading a video of your teaching episode to YouTube, or using WebEx or Zoom to synchronously livestream a teaching episode are also available on the ISA website. All Supervisors participated in a workshop in the Fall term that provided an overview of best practices in remote supervision. They have also been provided with clear instructions for how to facilitate video recording and livestreaming.
Can I do substitute teaching as a student teacher?
Given the current needs of schools, The ISA is prepared to exceptionally authorize McGill Student Teachers in FE3, FE4, IN1, and IN2 to substitute for their Cooperating Teacher in the event of their CT’s absence under specific conditions. Further information can be found here.
Student Teaching: COVID-19
If I have to quarantine, what will happen to my field placement?
Provided the constraints of the term allow, additional time may be added to your current or future placements to ensure that you have obtained the number of student teaching hours required by the Ministry of Education in order to be recommended for the Brevet. If you have quarantined as a result of a positive test for COVID-19, schools may require you to present a negative test before re-entering the school. It is possible that a prolonged absence may result in a field placement having to be retaken at a later date. It is important ensure that you are following the Quebec Government Health Guidelines related to COVID-19.
What will happen if I need to quarantine or am ill for a prolonged period (i.e. more than 2 weeks)?
Rest assured that the ISA's goal is always to support the feasibility of student teachers completing their fieldwork in the given term. To that end, as much as is possible and reasonable, we will work to accommodate any short-term absences and illnesses. Provided the constraints of the term and host school schedule allow, additional time may be added to a current placement to ensure that the student teacher has obtained the number of student teaching hours required by the Ministry of Education in order to be recommended for their teaching license. It is possible that a prolonged absence (generally defined as more than 2 weeks) may result in a field placement having to be retaken at a later date if make-up time at the host school or in the given term is not available/possible. Students would never "fail" a field experience because of an excused absence (e.g. illness); in these cases, a withdrawal (W grade) would be provided. However, please rest assured that these kinds of prolonged absences are quite rare; to date, we have been able to accommodate the few students in this situation to allow them to complete their fieldwork in the given term.
What should I do if I think I have COVID-19 during my field placement?
If you are showing flu-like symptoms, please call 1-877-644-4545 immediately and isolate yourself from others. Based on your symptoms and travel history, a health care professional will advise you on the best course of action.
- Call 1-877-644-4545 for instructions.
- Based on the instructions received from Info-Santé, the individual may be required to self-isolate for a certain period and/or get tested.
- Follow all school and school board protocols as required.
- Contact your Placement Coordinator as soon as possible to notify them.
Do I need to be fully vaccinated to do my student teaching? Can my host school require that I be fully vaccinated and/or show proof of vaccination?
Some schools in Quebec haven chosen to implement new health and safety policies and guidelines that, in part, require that staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Students completing a field experience may be placed in such schools and school administration may require that student teachers adhere to these same policies. Given this development, and per consultations with McGill’s Emergency Operations Centre, we can confirm that:
- While McGill University and the Faculty of Education do not require proof of vaccination to place students in a field experience, student teachers must ultimately abide by all health and safety policies and guidelines of the school they are placed, including any requirements related to vaccination. This is expected of all student teachers and, of course, is something that will also be a part of your eventual workplace and workforce expectations.
- Any individual schools with vaccination policies have the right to apply this policy to you and expect you to comply. In some cases, this may involve asking you to self-declare your vaccination status, show proof of vaccination (e.g. via the Government of Quebec’s vaccine passport), or undergo frequent testing if you are not or cannot be vaccinated.
- At this time, our office will not request, collect, keep nor share any information about your vaccination status. If a school does require that you share your vaccination status, it must be done in direct communication between you and your host school (e.g. through a school administrator). If we are made aware of a school with a vaccination policy, we will inform any student teachers placed there whom to contact; otherwise, you may be contacted directly by the school administration if the school’s policy necessitates that they inquire into your vaccination status.
- You ultimately have the right not to consent to the school’s inquiry; however, if you choose not to comply with a host school’s request for information or vaccination policy, then you will not be able to complete your field experience at this school. If the ISA Office cannot arrange a new appropriate placement for you, you may need to defer doing your placement until the next time it is offered.
- If a school does not have a specific policy or guideline concerning staff vaccination, then the school should have no reason to compel you to reveal your vaccination status, and it is entirely your choice if you want to disclose your vaccination status.
As you know, the health situation in Quebec is changing and new health and safety measures are being continually implemented. As future teachers, you are expected to be role models of active citizenship and to contribute towards a safe and productive school environment. Government measures and school policies are also subject to change, and your host school may eventually require proof of vaccination at some point during your placement. We therefore strongly encourage student teachers to get fully vaccinated against COVID before undertaking their in-school placement, to make sure we are all best protected against COVID and its variants.
Student Teaching: Fall 2022
When should I register for my placement (FE3 or IN2) that is scheduled for Fall 2022?
Students doing FE3 or IN2 in Fall 2022 in April during a special registration period. An email will be sent to students when registration is open. You should NOT wait until June (new opening date for the registration period for returning students) to register for FE3/IN2.
Why do I need to register in April/early for FE3/IN2?
Finding placements for the Faculty of Education's graduate and undergraduate student teaching population is a complex process that involves many stakeholders and can take many months. The ISA Office needs to know early in Spring who is registered for Fall placements so we can spend the Spring/Summer liaising with potential host schools to find placements for these students.
Do I need to be in Quebec for FE3/IN2?
FE3/IN2 need to be done in a Quebec school, according to Ministry guidelines. If you will not be in Quebec in the Fall and/or cannot travel to Quebec for your placement, please speak with your Placement Coordinator about whether we will be able to exceptionally accommodate you by placing you in a host school in your current location.
What do I do if I am not available to do FE3/IN2 during the Fall or don't want to do FE3/IN2 this year?
Please speak with your Academic Advisor (B.Ed. students)/Graduate Program Coordinator (MATL students) about the possibility of amending your program progression so that you can do the placement in a later year. Take note that, depending on your situation and reason for electing to defer your placement(s), this decision may ultimately affect your intended graduation date.
Can I do my FE3 in Fall 2022 if I have not yet passed the EETC?
The ISA Office will be exceptionally allowing students to complete their Third Field Experience (FE3) in the Fall 2022 term without having passed the EETC. Take note:
- This exception only currently applies to students who will complete their FE3 in the Fall 2022 term.
- Students are still strongly encouraged to register for and sit for the EETC and, as required, any future sessions offered in the 2022-23 academic year.
- All B.Ed. students must pass the EETC prior to the Fourth Field Experience (FE4).
- Current policy dictates that students who do not pass the EETC exam after the 4th attempt require permission to re-take the exam for a fifth and final attempt, which may be granted at the discretion of the ISA Director. If a student does not pass the EETC on the fifth and final attempt, they will be withdrawn from the program.
Can I do my FE3 in the same school / with the same CT as FE2?
FE2 Student Teachers are able to request to continue with the same host school AND same Co-operating Teacher for FE3 in the Fall term. Take note that this is completely optional and requires the Student Teacher to submit the request; if you do not submit the form, our Office will place you in a different school (likely), as planned. Student Teachers must advise the Co-operating Teacher of their intent to request a continuation prior to completing this form. The Co-operating Teacher will receive an automatic notification when this form is submitted.
Please take note and remember that submitting the form is a request to continue, not a guarantee that you can/will. The Internships & Student Affairs (ISA) Office is required to and will communicate with the host school administration to validate any continuation request. The ISA does not guarantee that we will be able to fulfill requests in all cases (e.g. some Co-operating teachers may not be eligible or available to take a student teacher again in the Fall) and requests are subject to approval by the host school administration. As with all student teaching-related requests, our Placement Coordinators make every effort to accommodate this request – provided it is not counter to ISA policies, and that there is an appropriate school with a suitable Cooperating Teacher, who is willing to host a student teacher, and that we can arrange for a supervisor for the placement. We trust that student teachers understand and appreciate that our office will try our hardest to accommodate requests, but of course we are subject to the availability and willingness of our partner schools.
If Student Teachers were paired for FE2:
- Only one Student Teacher may continue with the same Co-operating Teacher for FE3
- If one Student Teacher does continue with the same Co-operating Teacher, the other Student Teacher can be assigned to a different Co-operating Teacher in the same host school.
Student Teachers are INELIGIBLE to complete this Optional Continuation Form if:
- FE2 was completed in an alternative school
- FE1 & FE2 were completed in the same host school
- FE3 is not going to be completed in the immediate Fall term (please wait to complete this form in the Spring ahead of your FE3)
- The Student Teacher will have relatives working at and/or attending the host school for the duration of FE3
- Other restrictions may apply
Students interested in requesting to continue with their FE2 school and CT for their FE3 in Fall 2022 can submit the Optional FE3 Continuation Request Form.
Do I get to be absent from my placement during McGill's Fall Reading Week?
No. FE3 and IN2 Student Teachers should follow the schedule of their host school, and do not get time off from the field during McGill's Fall Reading Week.