Workplace Integrated Learning Guidelines for Mentor Teachers - BEd Foundation Phase Teaching

WORKPLACE INTEGRATED LEARNING
GUIDELINES FOR MENTOR TEACHERS
BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN FOUNDATION
PHASE TEACHING
Year 1
F-WIL 101

BEd (FOUNDATION PHASE TEACHING) i
WORKPLACE INTEGRATED LEARNING GUIDELINES FOR MENTOR TEACHERS
CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................... 1
2. THE RATIONALE FOR WORKPLACE INTEGRATED LEARNING (WIL)....................1
3. WIL ROLE PLAYERS....................................................................................................1
3.1 The student teacher............................................................................................2
3.2 The mentor teacher.............................................................................................2
3.3 The SANTS WIL assessor..................................................................................2
4. OVERVIEW OF THE STUDENT TEACHER’S PROGRAMME DURING THE WIL
PERIOD.........................................................................................................................2
5. THE ROLE OF THE MENTOR TEACHER....................................................................6
6. GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR MENTOR TEACHERS..............................7
7. REFLECTION WITH THE STUDENT TEACHER..........................................................8
8. EXPECTATIONS FROM STUDENT TEACHERS.........................................................9
9. HEALTH AND SAFETY.................................................................................................9
10. ILLNESS OR ACCIDENT............................................................................................ 10
11. ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES..............................................................................10
12. STUDENT DELIVERABLES - THE STUDENT TEACHER’S PORTFOLIO OF
EVIDENCE.................................................................................................................. 10
13. CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................11
14. LIST OF ADDENDA.....................................................................................................11
ADDENDUM A – PORTFOLIO OF EVIDENCE COVER PAGE.............................12
ADDENDUM B – PORTFOLIO OF EVIDENCE TABLE OF CONTENT.................13
ADDENDUM C – STUDENT DECLARATION.........................................................14
ADDENDUM D – SCHOOL PLACEMENT CONFIRMATION.................................15
ADDENDUM E – ATTENDANCE REGISTER........................................................16
ADDENDUM F – SCHOOL PROFILE.....................................................................17
ADDENDUM G – SCHOOL COMMUNITY PROFILE.............................................19
ADDENDUM H – CLASSROOM PROFILE.............................................................20
ADDENDUM I – PROFILE OF LEARNERS IN THE CLASSROOM.......................22
ADDENDUM J – LESSON PLANNING TEMPLATE – GRADE R..........................23
ADDENDUM K – GRADE R WEEKLY PLANNING TEMPLATE.............................32
ADDENDUM L – LEARNER OBSERVATION PROTOCOL: WEEK 1....................33
ADDENDUM M – LEARNER OBSERVATION PROTOCOL: WEEK 2...................34
ADDENDUM N – REFLECTION TEMPLATE: WEEK 1.........................................36
ADDENDUM O – REFLECTION TEMPLATE: WEEK 2.........................................38
ADDENDUM P – REFLECTION TEMPLATE: WEEK 3..........................................40
ADDENDUM Q – REFLECTION TEMPLATE: WEEK 4.........................................41
ADDENDUM R – REFLECTION TEMPLATE: WEEK 5.........................................42
ADDENDUM S – WIL ASSESSMENT RUBRIC.....................................................43
ADDENDUM T – MENTOR TEACHER OBSERVATION PROTOCOL...................47
ADDENDUM U – SUMMATIVE REPORT: MENTOR TEACHER...........................51

WORKPLACE INTEGRATED LEARNING GUIDELINES FOR MENTOR TEACHERS
BEd (FOUNDATION PHASE TEACHING) 1
GUIDELINES FOR MENTOR TEACHERS
1. INTRODUCTION
SANTS is committed to the provision of purposeful Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL) for
its student teachers. It values community engagement through Workplace Integrated
Learning based on partnerships with schools and the community and recognises the
important role of schools, school principals and mentor teachers in this endeavour.
Thank you for your willingness to mentor our BEd Foundation Phase student teacher. Your
teaching experience in this Phase is of utmost importance to support and guide our student
teacher. Our student teacher needs many opportunities to observe an experienced teacher
in his/her daily classroom practice. This allows him/her to compare what he/she observes in
the classroom with the theory in his/her degree programme.
The purpose of this document is to:
 Explain the role of mentor teachers at schools selected by SANTS.
 Provide guidelines for mentor teachers to effectively fulfil their role.
2. THE RATIONALE FOR WORKPLACE INTEGRATED LEARNING (WIL)
The Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL) module is central to teacher education as it
enables student teachers to integrate theoretical and conceptual knowledge gained through
their studies with practice-based knowledge in a professional context. WIL offers student
teachers the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the demands of the teaching
profession by allowing them to assume responsibility for the many and varied tasks
performed by teachers in the classroom, the school and the wider community. Student
teachers assume these responsibilities with the support of a mentor teacher such as
yourself, as well as with the support of the school and SANTS via the interaction with
SANTS tutors and SANTS WIL Assessors. The overall aim of the 4 years of WIL is to afford
the student teacher a smooth transition from the role of student teacher to the role of
beginner teacher, thus minimising the so-called ‘reality shock’ and maximising the
effectiveness and efficiency of beginner teachers from their first day in their own
classrooms.
3. WIL ROLE PLAYERS
The actual participants in the process of WIL, and the manner in which they carry out their
individual roles and responsibilities, is a major determining factor in the success of each
student teacher’s WIL experience. The individual role players in the WIL process and their
particular roles are explained in detail in the sections that follow.

WORKPLACE INTEGRATED LEARNING GUIDELINES FOR MENTOR TEACHERS
BEd (FOUNDATION PHASE TEACHING) 2
3.1 The student teacher
The student teacher is obviously at the centre of the WIL experience. Student teachers are
either in their first, second, third or fourth year of study (in this case, Year 1), and have met
the minimum requirements for registration for the WIL period and activities relevant to their
particular year of study. Some of the student teachers may already be ‘in practice’ as
teachers, while others are not yet practicing.
3.2 The mentor teacher
The role of the mentor teacher in the success of WIL cannot be overemphasised. He or she
is ideally an experienced teacher who is the student teacher’s main mentor and with
whom the student teacher works in close partnership during the WIL experience.
3.3 The SANTS WIL assessor
The SANTS WIL assessor is a qualified and experienced retired teacher who has been
appointed to support, supervise and assess each student during their WIL experience. Your
student teacher will be assessed by you as the mentor teacher in their first year of study,
and by both you and a WIL Assessor from their SECOND year of study onwards.
4. OVERVIEW OF THE STUDENT TEACHER’S PROGRAMME DURING
THE WIL PERIOD
During the FIVE weeks that the Year-1 student teacher will be in your care, he or she will
be required to fulfil a number of important and compulsory Workplace Integrated Learning
requirements. The requirements that the student teachers in Year 1 must fulfil are listed in
the table below. During this WIL period student teachers should be placed in a Grade R
classroom. All the addenda mentioned in this table are included in your student teacher’s
Guidelines and Requirements booklet as well as in this Mentor Teacher Guide.
WEEK 1
Activity
Hand your Mentor Teacher his/her Mentor Teacher Guide.
SMS your Mentor Teacher’s cell number to 076 564 8850
Together with your Mentor Teacher, identify the extra-curricular activities you will focus on
for the duration of your WIL period.
Make yourself available to assist your Mentor Teacher wherever possible (throughout the
daily programme).
Prepare a file in which to keep the documents for your PoE safe. Look at the Table of
Contents (Addendum B) and the guidelines for developing your PoE (see section 6.2 of this
WIL GR) for guidance with the compilation of your PoE, and then print and complete the
PoE

WORKPLACE INTEGRATED LEARNING GUIDELINES FOR MENTOR TEACHERS
BEd (FOUNDATION PHASE TEACHING) 3
Cover Page (Addendum A), the PoE Table of Content (Addendum B), the Student
Declaration (Addendum C), the School Placement Confirmation (Addendum D) and the
Attendance Register (Addendum E) and place them all in your PoE file.
Print and insert an ATTENDANCE REGISTER (Addendum E) into your file. Make sure that
this register is signed by your Mentor Teacher every day, and that it is stamped, signed and
dated by the principal before you leave the school at the end of your WIL period.
Complete a Profile of the School (see Addendum F) and place it in your PoE file.
Complete a Profile of the Classroom (Addendum H) and place it in your PoE file.
Complete a Profile of the Learners in the Classroom (Addendum I) and place it in your PoE
file.
Identify one learner and complete the Learner Observation Protocol for that learner, using
the Learner Observation Protocol template for Week 1 (Addendum L). Your observations
for the rest of the WIL period will be of that same learner. Place a copy of the completed
Learner
Observation Protocol for Week 1 in your PoE.
Complete a School Community Profile (Addendum G) and place it in your PoE file.
Observe your Mentor Teacher and record your observations using the Mentor Teacher
Observation Protocol (Addendum R). You will use this same template for your observations
throughout the five weeks of your WIL period. Place the completed Mentor Teacher
Observation Protocol in your PoE file for use again in weeks 2 and 4.
Develop at least three questions about teaching to ask your Mentor Teacher after your daily
observations.
Complete the first week’s reflection task on the Reflection Template Week 1 (Addendum N).
Place the completed Reflection Template for Week 1 in your PoE.
By mid-week, discuss with your Mentor Teacher a possible Weekly Plan for the following
week (Week 2) and ask him or her about TWO lessons you can teach for Week 2.
After this discussion, prepare a draft Weekly Planning Template (Addendum K) and TWO
Lesson Planning Templates (Addendum J). See the templates for advice on how to plan for
a lesson and complete the templates for Week 2.
Give these lesson plans to your Mentor Teacher for approval BEFORE your teach
them next week – ask him or her to SIGN and DATE each lesson plan. Please also
remember to ask your Mentor Teacher to sit in on the lessons you teach, and also to
provide you with advice and suggestions on what you can do to improve your
lessons in the weeks that follow.
WEEK 2
Activity
Teach the TWO lessons from the lesson plans you developed in Week 1. Make sure that
the completed Lesson Planning Templates PLUS copies or photos of the LTSM are also
placed in your PoE.
Continue to observe and reflect on your Mentor Teacher’s planning and teaching. Record
your observations and reflections in the Mentor Teacher Observation Protocol that you
started using in Week 1 (Addendum T). Place the completed observation protocol in your
PoE for use again in Week 3.
Develop at least three different questions about teaching and learning to ask your mentor
teacher after your daily observations. Complete the second week’s reflection task on the
Reflection Template Week 2 (Addendum O). Place the completed Reflection Template in
your PoE file.

WORKPLACE INTEGRATED LEARNING GUIDELINES FOR MENTOR TEACHERS
BEd (FOUNDATION PHASE TEACHING) 4
Continue your observation of the one learner you identified in Week 1 and record your
observations of the learner using the Learner Observation Protocol for Week 2 (Addendum
M). Place the completed Observation Protocol in your PoE file.
By mid-week, discuss with your Mentor Teacher a possible Weekly Plan for the following
week (Week 3) and ask him or her about TWO lessons you can teach (one a day for Week
3).
After this discussion, prepare a draft Weekly Planning Template (Addendum K) and TWO
Lesson Planning Templates (Addendum J). See the templates for advice on how to plan for
a lesson and complete the templates for Week 3.
Give these lesson plans to your Mentor Teacher for approval BEFORE your teach
them next week – ask him or her to SIGN and DATE each lesson plan. Please also
remember to ask your Mentor Teacher to sit in on the lessons you teach, and also to
provide you with advice and suggestions on what you can do to improve your
lessons in the weeks that follow.
WEEK 3
Activity
Teach the TWO lessons from the lesson plans you developed in Week 2. Make sure that
the completed Lesson Planning Templates PLUS copies or photos of the LTSM are also
placed in your PoE.
Develop at least three different questions about the challenges of the teaching profession to
ask your Mentor Teacher after your daily observations. Complete the third week’s reflection
task on the Reflection Template Week 3 (Addendum P). Place the completed Reflection
Template in your PoE file.
By mid-week, discuss with your Mentor Teacher a possible Weekly Plan for the following
week (Week 4) and ask him or her about TWO lessons you can teach for Week 4.
After this discussion, prepare a draft Weekly Planning Template (Addendum K) and TWO
Lesson Planning Templates (Addendum J). See the templates for advice on how to plan for
a lesson and complete the templates for Week 4.
Give these lesson plans to your Mentor Teacher for approval BEFORE your teach
them next week – ask him or her to SIGN and DATE each lesson plan. Please also
remember to ask your Mentor Teacher to sit in on the lessons you teach, and also to
provide you with advice and suggestions on what you can do to improve your
lessons in the weeks that follow.
WEEK 4
Activity
Teach the TWO lessons from the lesson plans you developed in Week 1. You should teach
one Mathematics and one Life Skills lesson, and they should also include a combination of
teacher-guided and child-initiated (free-play) activities.
Invite your Mentor Teacher to assess you for one of the lessons you teach during Week 4.
Remember to make him or her a copy of the WIL Assessment Rubric (Addendum S) to use
when assessing your lesson. Place the completed, signed and stamped WIL Assessment
Rubric in your PoE.
Your observation of your Mentor Teacher this week is targeted - observe and record all the
mathematics lessons taught for the week using the Mentor Teacher Observation Protocol

WORKPLACE INTEGRATED LEARNING GUIDELINES FOR MENTOR TEACHERS
BEd (FOUNDATION PHASE TEACHING) 5
(Addendum T). Use the same template for your observations that you used in Weeks 1 and
2 (there was no formal observation in Week 3). Place the completed Mentor Teacher
Observation Protocol in your PoE file.
Complete the fourth week’s reflection task using the Reflection Template - Week 4
(Addendum Q). Place a copy of the completed Reflection Template in your PoE.
By mid-week, discuss with your Mentor Teacher a possible Weekly Plan for the following
week (Week 5) and ask him or her about FIVE lessons you can teach (one a day for Week
5).
After this discussion, prepare a draft Weekly Planning Template (Addendum K) and FIVE
Lesson Planning Templates (Addendum J). See the templates for advice on how to plan for
a lesson and complete the templates for Week 5.
Give these lesson plans to your Mentor Teacher for approval BEFORE your teach
them next week – ask him or her to SIGN and DATE each lesson plan. Please also
remember to ask your Mentor Teacher to sit in on the lessons you teach, and also to
provide you with advice and suggestions on what you can do to improve your
lessons in the weeks that follow.
WEEK 5
Activity
Teach one lessons a day. Your lessons should be a combination of Mathematics, Life
Skills, and an aspect of language, and should also include a combination of teacher-guided
and child-initiated (free-play) activities.
Invite your Mentor Teacher to assess you for one more of the lessons you teach.
Remember to make him or her a copy of the WIL Assessment Rubric (Addendum S) to use
when assessing your lesson. Place the completed, signed and stamped WIL Assessment
Rubric
in your PoE – there should now be TWO complete, signed and stamped WIL Assessment
Rubrics in your PoE.
Ask your Mentor Teacher to write a Summative Report about your progress and
performance during your WIL period. Remember to make him or her a copy of the WIL
Summative Report template (Addendum U) to use when writing this report. Place the
completed, signed and
stamped Summative Report in your PoE.
Complete the fifth week’s reflection task using the Reflection Template - Week 5 (Addendum
R). Place a copy of the completed Reflection Template in your PoE.
Complete your FULL Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) – make sure it contains all the sections
and documents as prescribed by the Guidelines for PoE files (see section 6.2). Once it is
complete, extract the required documents (see Table of Content for ABRIDGED PoE in
section 6.2) to make up your ABRIDGED or shortened PoE. This ABRIDGED or shortened
PoE is what you will submit via e-mail – read again the instructions in section 6.2 carefully.

WORKPLACE INTEGRATED LEARNING GUIDELINES FOR MENTOR TEACHERS
BEd (FOUNDATION PHASE TEACHING) 6
5. THE ROLE OF THE MENTOR TEACHER
SANTS recognises Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL) as a purposeful, organised,
supervised, and assessed educational activity that integrates theoretical learning with its
applications during practice teaching in an authentic school environment. Workplace
Integrated Learning is underpinned by concepts of Teacher Education that draw on praxis
as an important competency that student teachers need to develop. The authentic school
context where student teachers conduct Workplace Integrated Learning provides
opportunities for student teachers’ professional development as future teachers. The
mentor teacher is a qualified and experienced teacher or HOD, nominated by the school
principal, who is the student teacher's main go-to person (mentor) at the school and with
whom the student teacher works collaboratively. But what is ‘mentoring’? According to
Okeke et al. (Eds.) (2016, p. 197):
“Mentoring is a process through which an opportunity is created for a
student teacher to learn by regular engagement and support from and with
an experienced teacher who has theoretical and practical understanding of
the teaching profession.”
Mentoring is critical in developing student teachers professionally. Through effective
mentoring during their WIL, student teachers (aspiring teachers) will grow in knowledge and
gain teaching and other valuable skills and values which are so very much needed in the
teaching profession. Because the role of the mentor teacher is to provide support for
student teachers in attaining professional development as future teachers, a mentor teacher
should be a more experienced teacher or a Head of Department at the school.
The mentor teacher should provide opportunities for student teachers to learn in and from
practice and in so doing develop student teachers’ competencies to teach effectively in
diverse classroom contexts. Under supervision and constructive guidance, student teachers
must be provided with opportunities to teach and reflect on their developing teaching
practice so as to enhance both teaching and learning. They must be offered opportunities to
apply their developing teaching practices under the supervision, guidance and leadership of
the more experienced mentor teacher.
Mentor teachers to support student teacher during WIL in terms of:
 Understanding the context of schools, including:
o Profiling the school itself; and
o Identifying contextual challenges of the school and surrounding communities.
 Understanding the diverse classroom context, including:
o Profiling the classroom;
o Identifying diverse learner needs in the classroom; and
o Profiling individual and/or select groups of learners for enhancing teaching and
learning.