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Thinking back to the previous practicums in the graduate program, there are many things I wish I would've known before getting started. The most important thing is how fast the semester goes, which is why one piece of advice I would give is, do not slack in the beginning and prioritize your time management. Another piece of advice I would give is work through assignments, especially your practicum log, as you go. Do NOT wait until the end to thoroughly fill out the practicum log and other assignments. It will make your last few weeks that much more exhausting. If you work on it as you go, assignments are much easier to manage. Good luck! I wish you all the best.

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My advice to you is to take advantage of the first few sessions with your students to get to know them. Reading intervention is a personal event. No two students are the same. Just because an assessment worked for one student who reminds you of your current student does not mean it will work again. Student interests are highly important within the practicum. I would suggest playing a game with the student to allow for casual conversation on top of interest inventories!

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Looking back at the three practicums I have completed, I have some advice to share with newer practicum students. The biggest lesson I learned is to add to your practicum log weekly and start bulleting some info into the intervention report as you go. It is easy to justify having so much time until the deadlines and waiting, but it is so much easier to add material as you go. It makes your report and log more thorough/detailed and makes it so much easier to remember if you set aside some time each week to contribute to your work. Another thing I learned is that it's okay if things change throughout the intervention cycle. I kept thinking I was stuck focusing on the pre-intervention goals I chose before really diving in with the student, but chances are any needs that arise will also be shown in the data. I changed by reading goal a couple times as I got to know the student and it made my intervention more effective.
-Jessica Losel

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One piece of advice is to make sure to keep up with your practicum log and tracking your hours. You want to make sure that you have accurate notes from each of the sessions, and it can be overwhelming if you get behind.

Like a lot of others have said, make it a priority to stay organized. Have folders or binders for each student to keep track of all of the assessments and interventions. It can be a lot to keep all of it organized, but just take it one day at a time!

- Emily Ludden

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I see that a few people have already mentioned this, but I'll say it too- stay organized! I know it's much easier said than done, but make sure to set aside extra time to really make sure you stay on track and on top of your assignments. It is very, very easy to get overwhelmed with the course load, but putting it off makes it much worse. It's much easier to take an hour or two each day throughout the week to get things done than it is to work on it for 6-8 hours on your weekends... trust me. To stay organized, I kept folders with hard copies of everything that matched what was in my Google Drive folder. This way I always had the materials I needed when I went to work with my practicum students. Make sure you plan out your time and really try your best to keep up with a solid routine that works for you. And like the other girls said, don't be afraid to ask for help!! Ask to schedule zoom meetings with your professors- it's a lot easier to get your thoughts and assignments figured out when you're talking face to face with your teacher. You got this!!

-Morgan Gumhalter

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My main piece of advice would be to make sure that you are organized with keeping your assessments data and intervention materials with your practicum students. If you get a folder for each student to keep all of their assessment data and intervention materials that will make you more organized.

I also encourage to ask your professors if you need assistance. I have also learned that your peers are also a great resource because they can give you advice or explain something in a way that may be helpful as well.

I think the main thing is to keep organized and up to date with things because if you procrastinate and put things off it only makes more work for you later on.

-Allison Richards

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I would say the best advice I can give is to communicate early and often. Throughout my graduate work, my "life happens" moments have been extreme and have made it very difficult to stay on track with school. Had I not reached out to professors and department chairs early, formed relationships with them, and communicated with them frequently about what was going on, I could not have possibly managed to stay on track and graduate on time. So no matter what the circumstance, reach out, it can't hurt!

Also, don't be afraid to take a step back and admit when things may be becoming too much for you. Even if you are the most organized person, things can still become overwhelming. Always prioritize yourself and your health first! Don't be afraid to reassess the speed or trajectory of your path if something isn't working right for you. An extra semester doesn't hurt if it means you are healthier physically or mentally!

-Abbey Monahan

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Make sure you stay organized and on top of everything! Don't put off completing assignments, asking for assistance or advice, get everything done as soon as you are able to!!

Keep your practicum logs updated. Take five minutes at the end of session to fill it out and make sure you're caught up because it can be quite easy to fall behind on those and forget what you did just last week.

Don't hesitate to reach out to professors, colleagues, even teachers you work with if you're stuck. No one wants to see you fail. Go to a person if you are struggling and they will help lead you into the right direction. Even former students.

-Abigail Bacon

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My advice to you would be to make sure you stay as organized as possible. Using a planner has been very helpful for me as I am able to write exactly what is expected from me for that specific week of class as well as note when my practicums are.

Along with that, I think staying on track with completing your practicum logs and intervention reports will only help you in the long run and eliminate any unnecessary stress at the end of the semester.

-Erin Henry

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My biggest piece of advice would be to ask for help if you need it! It's difficult to transition to a program that is completely online, so use your resources wisely. Every professor in this program is extremely knowledgeable and they want to help!

Also! Make sure you keep track of your practicum logs. It's easy to get behind on it, so update it after each session. It'll save you in the end, I promise!