What is Elementary Education?
Elementary teachers (K-8) have a unique opportunity to make a difference in their communities by laying the foundation for both future academic learning and for future participation in democratic society. By helping students learn how to learn, develop problem-solving capacities, cultivate stamina, and learn the value of practice, they set the stage for successful life-long learning. By introducing students to key understandings and inquiry processes of subject matter disciplines, they set the stage for deeper learning through subsequent schooling. By helping students learn to appreciate each other, value their differences, and collaborate successfully, they help build healthy, sustainable, globally interconnected communities for tomorrow.
Elementary Education Degree(s)
Elementary Education, BAE
The Elementary Education major provides a combination of theory, methods and field experience that leads to a teacher certification K-8. The program centers an anti-bias, anti-racist, social justice philosophy.
Contact
Early Childhood, Elementary & Multilingual Education Department, Woodring College of Education
eled@wwu.edu | 360-650-3336
View in Catalog
Elementary Education Endorsement – for already certified teachers
Open to teachers who hold a valid WA state teacher’s certificate. This approximately 59 to 68+ credit Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½¹Ù·½Èë¿Ú program leads to an endorsement in Elementary Education based on Washington State Elementary Education Endorsement Competencies.
Contact
Early Childhood, Elementary & Multilingual Education Department, Woodring College of Education
eled@wwu.edu | 360-650-3336
More Information
Elementary Education Professional Program
The Professional Program provides post baccalaureate and current Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½¹Ù·½Èë¿Ú students enrolled in one of the 14 program aligned majors, to earn their teacher certification K-8. The program centers an anti-bias, anti-racist, social justice philosophy.
Contact
Early Childhood, Elementary & Multilingual Education Department, Woodring College of Education
eled@wwu.edu | 360-650-3336
View in Catalog
Western's Elementary Education programs are designed to prepare thoughtful, knowledgeable, and effective educators for a diverse society. The elementary education degree curriculum is a carefully sequenced professional program that is firmly backed by current research on effective teaching and learning and is consistent with national and state standards for what teachers should know and be able to do.
The department offers courses and certification sequences on the Western campus and at off-campus sites in Everett, Seattle, and Kitsap County. Students interested in getting their certification at these locations are encouraged to visit the Teacher Education Outreach Programs webpage for further information.
Related Majors
Related Minors
Wooding’s small class sizes, dedicated professors, and diverse curriculum made me a better educator, while the student-centered approach means I’ve had a real voice in my education.
Quinn Reno
Education student
Student Experiences
Internships
“The Office of Field Experiences coordinates school-based student teaching internships for all teacher education candidates.
An important experience for teacher certification candidates is the student teaching internship. Students will complete a one-year internship experience that includes; spending two quarters taking final classes in the program along with part time student teaching, and one quarter of full-time student teaching while under the direct supervision of a certificated teacher in a school setting. The internship involves intensive practice in integrating methods, content area knowledge, and classroom organizational strategies.
Students will be able to work part time during two quarters of the three quarter internship. However, one quarter of the internship involves full-time teaching responsibilities. It is our advice that candidates NOT work during the full-time internship so they may gain maximum benefit from the experience and perform at his or her highest ability.
Because the internship should be completed in a single classroom for all three quarters, it is likely that internship placement will be in a school site within Whatcom and Skagit counties.
Student Washington Education Association (SWEA)
The student chapter of the Washington Education Association is devoted to bringing professional experience, development opportunities, and community outreach to pre-service teachers at Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½¹Ù·½Èë¿Ú and in Woodring College of Education.
Compass 2 Campus
Compass 2 Campus is a youth mentoring initiative that prepares college volunteers to work in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms with underrepresented, low-income, diverse students, to provide positive role models and encourage students to view some form of post-secondary education as achievable.
“Graduates of the Elementary Education Program are in high demand for teaching positions throughout Washington State. The strong reputation of the program makes its graduates highly regarded for a career in education, including elementary and middle school teaching positions. After teaching for a few years, graduates often pursue graduate degrees in specialty areas such as literacy or math, sometimes in conjunction with earning National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.
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