Teaching residency -
CO.LETIVO

In 2019, we conducted a pilot program for teaching residency involving undergraduate students, teachers and schools in the city of São Paulo/SP.

The program was aimed to prepare undergraduate students for the real challenges of the classroom. CO.LETIVO provided an immersive experience in pedagogical practice in both public and private schools, guided by mentors and complemented by reflective training sessions.

The residency took place within partner schools, where students observed their mentors in action, collaborated on lesson planning and conducted classes. This practical experience was supported by weekly training sessions with the CO.LETIVO team, during which residents shared experiences and studied the relevant topics for their development as teachers.

How does the program work?

1

Schools

We select partner schools based on their excellent pedagogical practices.

2

Teachers

We select experienced teachers from partner schools to serve as mentors in the program. These mentors receive training from the Canoa team.

3

Residents

We select undergraduate students, starting from their 2nd year of study. Each resident is assigned a mentor.

4

Training

Residents and mentors participate in a 5-day in-person initial training led by Canoa.

5

Residency

The pedagogical residency takes place over a semester or academic year. Residents have practical and real immersion experiences inside their mentors’ classrooms, along with formative CO.LETIVO’s formative meetings.

6

Network

After completing the program, residents and mentors remain connected through the CO.LETIVO network, sharing the same mission of ensuring the quality of learning for all children. This network supports its members in the teaching profession, offering exchanges of experiences, job placement support and continuing education.

Program structure
for Mentors

  • Role of the mentor
  • Collaborative planning
  • Classroom observation
  • Diagnostic assessment
  • Feedback

Time commitment:

  • Initial training: 5 days of in-person training
  • During the semester:
    • 1 hour per week for in-person meetings with residents
    • 1.5 hours every two weeks for mentoring training with CO.LETIVO (on Zoom)

Program structure
for Residents

  • Classroom management and organization
  • Adolescent identity and development
  • Student-centered teaching and learning
  • Curriculum planning
  • Classroom practices
  • Assessment

Time commitment:

  • Initial training: 5 days of in-person training
  • During the semester/academic year: 8 hours per week in their mentor’s classroom (for observation, collaborative lesson planning, teaching and feedback) and 4 hours per week of training with CO.LETIVO (in-person classes)

OUR FIRST COHORT

INITIAL TRAINING WEEK

A space for residents, mentors, and the CO.LETIVO team to come together for the first time.

The start of the CO.LETIVO 2019 mentor and resident cohort was marked by an in-person training week that brought together program facilitators, mentors and residents. This week was central to building alignment about the program and fostering the necessary bounds to create a learning community.

MENTORING TRIADS

Weekly, each pair of residents shadowed their mentor's classroom

Pre-service teachers need to be exposed to the actions of experienced teachers in the classroom, as well as to their thinking that lies behind these actions. Residents were given the opportunity for experimentation and autonomy, accompanied by a strong support structure as they progressively took on responsibility for the learning of the students they were working with alongside their mentors.

WEEKLY TRAINING

On Fridays, residents participated in training sessions with the CO.LETIVO team.

Our weekly training sessions provided a space for residents to exchange experiences and study topics relevant to their development as teachers. The curriculum for the first cohort covered themes such as classroom management and organization, student-centered teaching and learning, planning and assessment, and group work.

RESIDENCY IN SCHOOLS

In the schools, residents had the opportunity to connect theory with practice.

One of the main pillars of the program was the immersion of residents in their mentors’ schools. Weekly, they spent 6 to 8 hours in this environment, observing their mentors in action, collaboratively planning and conducting lessons, and reflecting with mentors in co-investigation meetings on what they were experiencing and learning.

Amparo - Teacher and mentor

I completed my undergraduate degree many years ago. However, I couldn’t effectively apply what I learned at the time when I started my teaching career. Practice is VERY different from theory when it’s only theoretical knowledge that has been read and studied without real-world application and testing. My career would certainly have been more productive if I had the opportunity to participate in a training process like this from the beginning. I am grateful for the opportunity and proud to have been part of this project!

Emile - Resident

Being part of CO.LETIVO means, to me, accepting challenges. It means mobilizing ideas and letting them flow for the common good. It means, above all, transformation. I have never had the opportunity to immerse myself in education in such a welcoming and inspiring way. With CO.LETIVO, I am certain that the classroom is where I belong and that I am capable of reigniting the hearts of many students who yearn for a better future.

ACCESS THE 2019 CO.LETIVO ACTIVITY REPORT

F.A.Q - Common questions

What is the CO.LETIVO preparation program like?

Mentors and residents undergo an immersive initial training session that lasts for 5 days.

Throughout the program, residents have weekly professional development sessions lasting 4 hours, held on a weekday. Mentors, on the other hand, participate in bi-weekly online training sessions lasting 1.5 hours.

How are residents assigned to schools?

Residents are assigned to mentors in the same field of expertise, and the program seeks to accommodate the residents’ preferences regarding the segment and type of school where they wish to carry out their activities.

How is the program schedule structured?

Residents have 4 hours of professional development sessions with the CO.LETIVO team, concentrated on one weekday. On other days, they dedicate 8 hours per week to planning and working in the classroom with their mentors, as well as studying and completing CO.LETIVO tasks. These 8 hours are distributed by mutual agreement between the residents and the mentor.

What does it mean to be part of the CO.LETIVO network?

Being part of the CO.LETIVO network means having a supportive and nurturing space for professional development, and members remain connected even after the end of the program.

Does the residency program count as mandatory internship?

CO.LETIVO cannot guarantee that the residency program will count as a mandatory internship, as it depends on the specific requirements of each Higher Education Institution.