Practicum and Community Leadership Experience

BEd Practicum Schedule

The practicum is scheduled in blocks that are between 4-6 weeks in length over two years, giving you ample time to immerse yourself in varying classroom environments. Practicum experiences will be specific to your division and/or teaching subject requirements. The practicum requires your full-time commitment. Be prepared for early mornings and late evenings, as you assume all of the responsibilities of a teacher in, and out, of the classroom.

Classes on campus are not scheduled during practicum weeks, allowing you to focus on one thing at a time.

BEd Schedule Program Year 1/5 2024-25

BEd Schedule Program Year 2/6 2024-25

Explore School Boards used for Practicum 

We are proud partners with 59 school boards across Ontario, including public and Catholic school boards, as well as school authorities. Will you choose to return to your home community or will you live somewhere new during the practicum?

When completing your Practicum Registration form, please select your top three school board choices from this list. Please be aware that you may be required to provide a pastoral reference if assigned to a Catholic school board. Teacher candidates who are interested in completing a placement in a First Nation or federally administered school should contact the Practicum Office for more information (this opportunity is available to teacher candidates in years two and six). In year two, you may choose the same school boards, or try something new. It’s up to you!

• Algoma District School Board
• Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board
• Avon Maitland District School Board
• Bluewater District School Board
• Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board
• Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board
• Burkevale Protestant School
  (available in years 2 & 6)
• Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario
• District School Board of Niagara
• District School Board Ontario North East
• Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board
• Durham Catholic District Board
• Durham District School Board
• Grand Erie District School Board
• Greater Essex County District School Board
• Halton Catholic District School Board
• Halton District School Board
• Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board
• Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
• Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board
• Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board
• Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board
• Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board
• Keewatin-Patricia District School Board
• Lambton Kent District School Board
• Limestone District School Board
• London District Catholic School Board
• Moose Factory Ministik School
  (available in years 2 & 6)
• Moosonee Public School
  (available in years 2 & 6)
• Nbisiing Secondary School
  (available in years 2 & 6)
• Near North District School Board
• Niagara Catholic District School Board
• Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board
• Northeastern Catholic District School Board
• Northern Lights Secondary School
  (available in years 2 & 6)
• Ottawa-Carleton Catholic District School Board
• Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
• Peel District School Board
• Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board
• Rainbow District School Board
• Renfrew County Catholic District School Board
• Renfrew County District School Board
• Simcoe County District School Board
• Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board
• St. Clair Catholic District School Board
• Sudbury Catholic District School Board
• Thames Valley District School Board
• The Northwest Catholic District School Board
• Toronto Catholic District School Board
• Toronto District School Board
• Trillium Lakelands District School Board
• Upper Canada District School Board
• Upper Grand District School Board
• Waterloo District Catholic School Board
• Waterloo Region District School Board
• Wellington Catholic District School Board
• Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board
• York Catholic District School Board
• York Region District School Board

   

Health and Safety Requirements

All candidates in year 1/5 or 2/6 of BEd program in September 2025 must complete, and submit certificate of completion for Ministry of Labour Health and Safety and Concussion training (year 1/5 only), to the Practicum Office no later than 4:30pm on Monday, September 8, 2025. Failure to do so will result in a $75 late fee (per document) and the possible cancellation of the practicum. Cancelled practicum must be made up in its entirety and will be rescheduled at the discretion of the Practicum Office, causing a delay in program completion/graduation. An administrative fee may apply in these cases. Exceptions to the deadline will not be made. Click here for full details.

Additional school board Health & Safety requirements will be posted in September to Blackboard.

Police Vulnerable Sector Check Requirements

All candidates entering years 1/5 or 2/6 of the BEd program in September 2025 must provide a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) with an issue date of May 1, 2025 or later, to the Practicum Office no later than 4:30pm on Monday, September 8, 2025. Failure to do so will result in a $75 late fee and the possible cancellation of the practicum. Cancelled practicum must be made up in its entirety and will be rescheduled at the discretion of the Practicum Office, causing a delay in program completion/graduation. An administrative fee may apply in these cases. Exceptions to the deadline will not be made. Click here for full details.

School board assignments will be confirmed in late June. Teacher candidates assigned to Peel, Toronto or Toronto Catholic will be required to submit documentation directly to the school board office prior to placement. Complete instructions will be provided to you over the summer.

Practicum Handbook

As an associate member of the Ontario College of Teachers, you must accept the responsibilities assigned to you by the Schulich School of Education, your associate teachers, and your principals. Understanding your role and the role of others while on practicum is critical to your success in the BEd program. You are expected to thoroughly review the applicable handbook below, prior to participating in the practicum.

EDUC 4714 Practicum I Handbook 2024-25

EDUC 4855 Practicum II Handbook 2024-25

Lesson Planning Templates and Samples

Thorough planning is the key to delivering effective lessons to your learners. You are expected to complete detailed lesson plans, using the Nipissing University Lesson Plan Template, for every lesson you are responsible for teaching. 

Read the requirements here:

• A minimum of 60 hours of service completed in year two/six of the BEd program
• The placement must have a connection to human development and service to the community.
• The placement must include a teaching/learning component where teaching skills can be applied.
• The placement must be unpaid
• The placement must be completed within Ontario
• Cannot be completed within Nipissing University
• The placement must not be completed within an organization where the teacher candidate has previously worked or volunteered
• The placement supervisor cannot be an immediate or close family member of the teacher candidate
• Placement hours must be arranged according to the needs of the organization and/or the site supervisor
• The placement may not be completed in a publicly funded school board
• The placement may be completed remotely, upon approval from the Practicum Office

During the placement teacher candidates will:

• Demonstrate professionalism in all aspects of the community experience according to the OCT Standards of Practice
• Apply course-based knowledge and skills in a non-traditional setting
• Engage in reflection as a means of improving teaching practice
• Interact appropriately with clients and co-workers
• Demonstrate commitment to professional growth through collaboration with site supervisor(s) and acceptance of varied responsibilities in a non-traditional teaching environment