Elementary teacher candidates major in Education Studies: Elementary Education. These candidates will be eligible for K-6 certification. Candidates must successfully pass Praxis I and Praxis II (elementary). Candidates will complete a field experience in one of each of the following grade groupings: (K-2), (3-4), and (5-6).

Field Service (Clinical Practice)

Saint Anselm College's Teacher Education Programs require Elementary Education majors to complete 5 semesters of clinical experiences. The Coordinator of Clinical Placement works with the contact person at the partnership school to match the student with a cooperating teacher who is a model of professional practices, willing to serve as a mentor, and who holds an experienced educator credential in the content area that matches the endorsement for which the student is preparing. It is highly recommended that a variety of sites are used: parochial, urban, and suburban.

ED 130 Principles of Teaching and Learning

Students will spend 30 hours participating in an assigned classroom. Embedded in this course is Sophomore Early Field Experience (SEFE) which requires students to work in a classroom based on their content major. There are activities students will complete including teaching two lessons, one of which is observed by the Coordinator of Clinical Practice.

ED 322 Inclusion, Equity and Diversity

This course is designed to immerse students in the understanding of working with children with educational disabilities in the context of the general education classroom. Students spend 20 hours working in a general education classroom based on their major, assisting the classroom teacher with making modifications and accommodations to differentiate instruction.

ED 375 Methods of Teaching Elementary Reading

This course is designed to give intense direct instruction on how to teach reading at the elementary level. Students participate in a placement for 20 hours in grades 1-3, tying coursework and practical application (reading instruction and materials) with assignments in the placements.

ED 432 Supervised Student Teaching - is completed in the fall semester

Elementary student teaching occurs in the fall semester only. The Clinical Coordinator will contact schools one year prior to place students for student teaching. Students spend a minimum of 6 visits/10 hours during the spring semester junior year in a Bridge Experience acclimating to the school, classroom, and curriculum prior to student teaching in the fall semester of senior year.

The capstone project is an electronic portfolio due in the spring of senior year.

Course Sequence