The Teaching Partner is the key to the entire program, and serves as the catalyst for what happens (or doesn’t happen) in a participating school’s classroom.
Once a school signs up for SVS, a classroom teacher will be assigned as the Teaching Partner who works in partnership with the SVS course instructor. We strongly recommend using a certified teacher. He or she is expected to direct classroom activities and participate in the course, with no other assigned duties during the scheduled class time.
The Teaching Partner conducts the class each day school is in session. On non-videolesson days, the Teaching Partner implements the activities and assignments in the detailed lesson plans provided by the SVS course instructor.
Objective evaluations are scored on-site by the Teaching Partner who consults with SVS staff as neccesary. The SVS course instructor and staff score all oral evaluations and assistance and advice is always available. On-going communication with the instructor and the support staff is essential to the success of a distance education program.
Spanish I Teaching Partner with the program or must have had at least a year of college Spanish or 2 years of high school Spanish (exceptions can be made)
The e-SVS course utilizes a Facilitator, not a Teaching Partner. The Facilitator is only responsible for receiving and distributing independent-study materials and providing in-school assistance. e-SVS Facilitators are not involved in instruction.
The way a school selects the individual assigned to be the SVS Teaching Partner is vital to the ultimate success of the program. It is this person who makes or breaks the success of the program in the school.
Skillful Classroom Management is the most important quality of a successful Teaching Partner. It is reasonable to expect an adult learner to be self-motivated in a distance education experience, but that is not the norm for adolescents in high school, who often believe that video is designed for pure entertainment.
Motivation is the keyword, and is an important concept consider when selecting your school’s Teaching Partner.
Desire to Learn along with the students. The Spanish I Teaching Partner does not need to know any Spanish, yet the interest to study even a page ahead of them will make the critical difference. The learn-along-with-the-students responsibility allows the Teacher Partner to correct written student evaluations using answer keys and consulting with the course instructor. This provides feedback to the student in a timely manner, which is necessary in any course.
If at all possible, it’s best to NOT assign a first-year teacher as your Teaching Partner. Our experience shows new teachers are taxed enough with first-year preparations, without the additional responsibility of managing a distance-learning course.
Mandatory, separate training for new and returning Teaching Partners takes place of every year in August via a training teleconference. New Teaching Partners also receive a training DVD and packet with detailed information specific to their responsibilities.
During the teleconference training sessions, Teaching Partners reinforce the vital role of their
responsibilities with the course. These sessions provide:
The training video and detailed orientation packet is sent to every new Teaching Partner for viewing prior to their participation in the teleconference training. The video explains how the SVS program works and specifically outlines the Teaching Partner’s role and responsibilities.
Continuous training occurs through frequent conversations between Teaching Partners and the SVS High School Spanish staff. A toll-free telephone number and e-mail address are provided, and Teaching Partners are encouraged to call whenever questions arise or assistance is needed throughout the year. We offer support for our Teaching Partners (and students) Monday through Friday, 8:00 - 5:00 CST.