Our Elementary Teacher Education Program requires field-based learning and academic coursework. You will be eligible for certification after four consecutive quarters and meeting all other state and program requirements.
Field-Based Learning
A hallmark of University of Washington (UW) teacher education, field-based learning provides significant work experience in school settings each quarter.
Summer: A significant portion of the summer quarter takes place in the context of a bilingual elementary summer school. Teacher Candidates (students) work one-to-one with elementary students. UW instructors collaborate with classroom teachers as teacher candidates take course work in methods of teaching social studies and the arts, literacy, and physical education as well as how to work with English Language Learners. You will learn about the social and political foundations of school and schooling. Classroom management is also covered, and you will engage in our Community, Families, and Politics strand every quarter of the program.
Autumn: Beginning in the new public school year, you will join the community of one of our Partner Schools, public schools with high levels of socioeconomic, ethnic, and racial diversity. You will spend the first month of the year immersed in your school, then continue at the school one day per week thereafter. Both literacy and math methods are taught in the context of urban partner school classrooms, which are public schools with high levels of socioeconomic, ethnic, and racial diversity. Candidates also study learning theory and its connection to elementary schools, as well as differentiating teaching and learning for students with disabilities.
Winter: During winter quarter, the school-based practicum increases to three days per week. You will study methods of teaching science as well as the foundations and methods of teaching English Language Learners. Full-time student teaching starts in late March.
Spring: Full-time student teaching extends throughout spring quarter and beyond. You are committed to your classroom until the final contracted day for your cooperating teacher. Spring is also when you complete the edTPA, a national performance assessment required for program completion. The term ends with a Capstone Project.
Academic Coursework
All candidates in a given cohort take the same course sequence. Below is a sample schedule that is subject to change.
Summer
Practicum and coursework located in a summer program for bilingual students.
EDTEP 501 Field Work (1 credit)
EDTEP 531 Teaching & Learning in Literacy (3 credits)
EDTEP 543 Teaching & Learning in Social Studies & Arts (4 credits)
EDTEP 544: Differentiated Instruction (1 credits)
EDTEP 503: Classroom Management for Elementary School Educators I (1 credit)
EDTEP 511: School & Society (3 credits)
EDC&I 324 Physical Education & Health in Schools (2 credits)
EDC&I 494: Issues of Abuse (1 credit)
16 credits; approximately 75 hours in the field
Autumn
EDTEP 502 Field Work & Reflection (2 credits; one full day in school)
EDTEP 544 Differentiated Instruction II (SPED) (3 credits)
EDTEP 541 Dilemmas of Teaching & Learning in Elementary School (3 credits)
EDTEP 532 Teaching & Learning in Literacy II (4 credits, taught in the field)
EDTEP 521 Teaching & Learning in Numeracy I (4 credits, taught in the field)
EDSPE 503: Classroom Management for Elementary School Educators II (1 credit)
17 credits; approximately 75 hours in the field
Winter
EDTEP 503 Field Work & Reflection (4 credits, three full days in school)
EDTEP 544 Differentiated Instruction III (CLD) (4 credits)
EDTEP 533: Teaching & Learning in Literacy III (3 credits)
EDTEP 522: Teaching & Learning in Numeracy II (3 credits)
EDTEP 523 Teaching & Learning in Science (3 credits)
EDSPE 503: Classroom Management for Elementary School Educators III (1 credits)
18 credits; approximately 215 hours in the field
Spring
EDTEP 601 Field Work Student Teaching & Reflection (7 credits; full time student teaching)
EDSPE 503: Classroom Management for Elementary School Educators IV (1 credit)
Capstone Project (3 credits)
Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA)
11 credits; approximately 440 hours in the field
TOTAL CREDITS: 60
