Elementary Education

Candidates will student teach for 75 school days under the supervision of a certified special education teacher. Candidates are assigned to a school district and supervised by a certified teacher at the elementary level (K–8) and at secondary level (5–12). The student teaching will be divided in half at each level. During this period, they will fulfill obligations and responsibilities similar to those of the cooperating teacher. This course is part of the professional semester and is taken with a two-credit seminar, which is part of the 16 hours for degree candidates. Candidates also meet during the professional semester for seminar requirements. This course is offered Credit/No Credit only. The DWU Student Teacher Handbook and seminar syllabus serve as the course syllabus. Prerequisites: Completion of all coursework required for graduation, 2.6 GPA, admission from the education department faculty, submission of passing Praxis II examination scores for the required tests and approval for student teaching placement. Corequisite: EDU 475.

This course is designed expressly for the needs of elementary school teachers, including the structure of arithmetic, sets, elementary logic, number systems, relations and functions. Prerequisite: A course in intermediate algebra or another course approved by the education department or permission of the education department.

This course will involve the study of strategies for creating successful K–12 learning communities, planning for the school year, developing positive relationships with the students, working with families, establishing classroom procedures and rules, maintaining appropriate behavior, preventing, managing and responding to inappropriate behaviors, motivating students to learn and responding to inappropriate behaviors. Different practices of classroom management will be explored. School law, professional practice, and teacher ethics will also be covered. This course requires a field experience. This course is part of the spring practicum experience for elementary education majors. Courses include in the spring practicum for elementary education majors are: EDU 424, EDU 444 and EDU 465. Secondary education majors are strongly advised to take this course at the same time as EDU 424. Prerequisite: EDU 201. Corequisites for elementary education majors: EDU 424 and EDU 444. Corequisites for secondary education majors: EDU 424 or approval of department chair.

This course is designed to prepare candidates to integrate art, music and movement into daily classroom instruction. Upon completion of the coursework, all candidates will be able to successfully use music, movement and art in all subject areas and classroom settings throughout the school year. Prerequisite: EDU 201.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of various genres of literature for children in kindergarten through grade eight. Teacher candidates will examine the history of and current trends in children’s literature, explore ways of sharing books, and investigate effective strategies for integrating children’s literature into the general curriculum. Opportunities to read to children in actual classrooms will provide extended opportunities to develop knowledge and skills.

This course builds the K–8 candidate’s knowledge of evidence-based reading instructional practices related to students in grades 4–8. An investigation of reading diagnosis and prescription provides candidates with skills needed to identify reading levels and determine appropriate interventions for the struggling reader. Prerequisite: EDU 201.

This course builds the K–3 teacher candidate’s knowledge of evidence-based instructional practices of the five essential components of reading acquisition specific to the K–3 level. The study includes investigation of, diagnosis and prescription and intervention methods needed to prescribe appropriate instruction for the struggling reader. Prerequisite: EDU 201.