Chapter 13: August Experience: A “Third Space” School–University Partnership

August Experience is a boundary-spanning initiative that connects the stakeholders in educator preparation including university professors, PK–12 classroom teachers, and teacher candidates in a “first days of school” experience. This chapter explores the university’s August Experience program which allows teacher candidates to experience the beginning of a school year even when it falls outside of their traditional clinical placements. Establishing and maintaining August Experience requires an intentional focus by all stakeholders as well as ongoing support to prepare teacher candidates for their future classrooms through time, effort, and collaboration through formal and informal gatherings at multiple venues across participants. Through this collaboration, a “third space” is created where all actors come together in an exchange of knowledge, practical experience, reflection, and resources. Establishing and maintaining August Experience requires an intentional focus by all stakeholders as well as ongoing support to prepare teacher candidates for their future classrooms.