This major prepares candidates to teach all core subjects in K-6 elementary classrooms. Candidates complete coursework in child development, instructional methods, classroom management, and assessment, along with multiple field experiences. Students may select additional endorsements to expand their certification area.
EDUC 100 – Introduction to Education
3 credit hours
This course is designed to acquaint students who plan to become elementary school teachers with the teaching profession, as well as William Penn University Education Division policies and procedures. Students will complete a 15-hour field experience and begin their education portfolios during this course. Fee required. Every fall and spring.
EDUC 200 – Social Foundations of American Education
3 credit hours
This course provides students with the historical and philosophical foundations of American Education (EDUC) education. In addition, the areas of school culture, organization, finance, and law will be explored. Offered every fall and spring.
Prerequisite: EDUC 100:01 or 02
EDUC 350 – Technology in the Classroom
3 credit hours
Designed to strengthen the student’s writing and critical thinking skills by providing a close examination of how the media constructs messages. Tailored to fit the student’s needs for a variety of future career paths, students will explore and compose in various genres such as social media, print journalism, advertisements, and documentary film. Offered spring of odd years.
Prerequisites: EDUC 100
EDUC 355 – Classroom Management
3 credit hours
This course is designed to equip educators with the tools necessary to create and maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment in which all students can learn. Students will learn how to identify and implement a variety of behavioral, instructional and management strategies. Every spring.
Prerequisites: EDUC 200, EDSP 100
EDUC 365 – Human Relations for Teachers
3 credit hours
This course provides prospective teachers with knowledge, skills and resources that will enable them to work effectively with the variety of students they will encounter in today’s multicultural society. Every fall.
Prerequisite: EDUC 200
EDUC 370 – Literacy Methods
3 credit hours
Students will learn and apply methods to teach the components of literacy (phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary and word knowledge such as syllable types and morphology, comprehension, and fluency). Students will learn how to implement scientifically based reading research to support the unique needs of all learners, including but not limited to dyslexia, ELL, and TAG. Students will understand how to utilize the MTSS framework to design and differentiate instructional groups. Students will become familiar with content area reading strategies, instructional technology, curricular materials, and assessments in reading. Students will deconstruct and utilize the Iowa Common Core Standards to create lesson plans. This course is part of a fall semester block and includes a 25-hour field experience. Offered every fall.
Prerequisite: EDUC 203
Co-requisites: EDUC 370FE
EDUC 372 – Elementary Mathematics Methods
Students review math topics taught in elementary schools, as well as explore a variety of ways to teach these concepts. Activities include working with manipulative, production of materials, unit and lesson planning, and sharing of instructional activities. This course is taught as part of a spring semester block and includes a 25-hour field experience. Every spring.
Prerequisite: EDUC 200
Co-requisites: EDUC 372FE
EDSP 100 – Introduction to Exceptional Learners
3 credit hours
This general survey course presents an overview of children and adolescents with exceptionalities. Students will be introduced to the history of special education; pedagogical, curricular, and social considerations involved in educating diverse learners in the general education and special education classrooms; the MTSS process; multidisciplinary teams, and IEPs. This course includes a 15-hour field experience in a special education setting. Offered every fall and spring.
Prerequisite or co-requisite (at the discretion of the professor): EDUC 100
EDSP 385 – Differentiated Instruction Methods & Strategies
3 credit hours
Students will learn and demonstrate ways to differentiate instructional strategies and methods for diverse learning needs including, but not limited to: at-risk students, students with mild/moderate disabilities, gifted students, and/or culturally and linguistically diverse students. Accommodations to address individualized needs, collaborative/co-teaching approaches, and accessible/assistive technology will be explored. Offered every fall.
Prerequisite: EDSP 100
PSYC 303 – Developmental & Educational Psychology
3 credit hours
This course focuses on human development of child and adolescent (K-12) including physical, personal, social and cognitive development. Psychological principles are applied to the educational process with units in learning, motivation, measurement, and evaluation. This course is required for all education majors.
Prerequisites: EDUC 100, Junior standing or consent of the instructor
EDSP 280 – Collaboration Strategies
2 Credit hours
Students will learn the strategies and dispositions necessary for maintaining communication and collaborative relationships with families, other educators, related service providers, individuals with exceptionalities, and personnel from community agencies. The elements of effective collaboration, the importance of collaborative team meetings, the role of the special education teacher as a consultant, and special education teacher as supervisor of paraprofessionals will be introduced. The importance of collaboration in the special education process is emphasized. Offered every spring.
Prerequisite: EDUC 100
EDSP 370 – Educational Assessment
3 credit hours
In this course, students focus on assessment, diagnosis and intervention evaluation of both general education students and students with disabilities. Legal provisions and guidelines for unbiased assessments and application of assessment results to individualized program development are introduced. Students will examine achievement, standardized diagnostic, informal, curriculum based, functional behavioral, and authentic assessments. They will learn the specialized vocabulary related to assessment for specific disabilities. Writing IEP’s and modifying assessments for students with special needs will also be examined. Offered Every fall.
Prerequisite: EDSP 100
EDUC 203 – Foundations of Reading
3 credit hours
Students will explore the foundational knowledge needed to learn to read. Instruction includes an introduction to: linguistic and sociocultural foundations; connection between oral vocabulary and learning to read; the stages of reading, writing, and spelling development; the alphabetic principle; the essential components of literacy instruction; dyslexia; and scientifically based reading research. Offered every fall on campus.
EDUC 218 – Elementary Physical Education and Health Methods
2 credit hours
This course is designed to acquaint elementary education majors with games and play activities appropriate for classroom use. Students will be informed of the components of fitness and how to encourage active lifestyles which meet the physical, social, and psychological needs of children. Basic health concepts to enhance personal, family and community health and wellness will be covered. Topics to be included are promoting and monitoring physical fitness, drug abuse education, classroom management, handicapping conditions, facilities and equipment, and integrating physical education and academics. National standards for elementary physical education will be discussed and examined. Offered every fall.
EDUC 240 – Elementary Fine Art Methods
2 credit hours
This course emphasizes the use of the fine arts in the regular elementary classroom. Students will explore ways to integrate fine arts (visual arts and music) into the elementary curriculum and how to use the arts to help students better comprehend core subjects defined by the Iowa Core.
EDUC 265 – Children’s Literature
3 credit hours
Students will examine the characteristics of children’s literature. This requirement includes the following competencies: The practitioner uses knowledge of children’s literature (K-8) for: modeling the reading and writing of varied genres, including fiction and nonfiction; technology- and media-based information; and nonprint materials; motivating through the use of texts at multiple levels, representing broad interests, and reflecting varied cultures, linguistic backgrounds, and perspectives; and matching text complexities to the proficiencies and needs of readers. Offered every spring.
EDUC 374 – Elementary Language Arts Methods
3 credit hours
Students will learn methods and strategies for planning and implementing meaningful Language Arts curriculum with an emphasis on writing instruction, including knowledge of reading-writing-speaking connections; the writing process; spelling development; writing development; types of writing; and connections between oral and written language development. Students will learn how to implement scientifically based writing research to support the unique needs of all learners, including but not limited to dyslexia, ELL, and TAG. Students will utilize the Iowa Common Core Standards to create lesson plans. Offered every spring on campus
Prerequisite: EDUC 200
EDUC 376 – Elementary Science Methods
3 credit hours
This course is designed to expose prospective teachers to a wide variety of elementary science resources, methods, and techniques. Activities include labs, research, unit and lesson planning, and activity presentations. Fee required. Every spring.
Prerequisite: EDUC 200
EDUC 378 – Elementary Social Studies Methods
3 credit hours
Students explore a variety of resources and techniques that can be used to facilitate learning in the areas of elementary history, government, sociology, anthropology, economics, and geography. Activities include research, unit and lesson planning, and sharing of activities. Every fall.
Prerequisite: EDUC 200
MATH 205 – Mathematics for Elementary Educators I
3 credit hours
A study of mathematical concepts related to topics taught in elementary schools. Topics include place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, negative values, and number properties.
MATH 206 – Mathematics for Elementary Educators II
3 credit hours
A study of mathematical concepts related to topics taught in elementary schools. Topics include geometry, measurement, ratios/rates, algebra, data analysis, and probability.
Prerequisite: MATH 205 with a grade of C- or better, or consent of instructor.
PHSC 100 – Physical Science for Elementary Educators
3 credit hours
This course is designed to provide the Elementary Education student with an introduction to the Sciences with content related to Physical and Earth/Space Science. This class cannot be used to meet Core science requirements. Offered spring semester.
Prerequisite: Elementary Education major
EDUC 400 – Elementary Student Teaching
14 credit hours
Students spend 16 weeks observing and student teaching in a K-6 classroom under the direction of a classroom teacher and university supervisor. During the semester, student teachers are required to attend professional development seminars. Fee of $450 required. Every fall and spring.
Prerequisite: Admission to Student Teaching